The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-09-19
INDICATIONS THAT THE FEEDER
Al GOVERNMENT WILL
AGREE TO PAY STATES
PORTION.
WEST VIRGINIA MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS HAVE THE MAT.
TER WELL IN HAND.
WOULD BE FOLLY TO CHANGE
REPRESENTATIVES, WITH
so MUCH AT STAKE.

Virginia than that of the Virginia
debt, and for the first time in the
history of the State the representa-
tives of West Virginia have taken up
in Congress the matter of It's pay
ment with view to providing for iB
settlement in some manner othAF
than by a direct payment by the
State of West Virginia
Senator William E. Chiffon intro
duced bill in the Senate giving
jurisdiction to the Court of Claims to
adjudicate any suit, which may be
brought against the United States py
any State interested, to enforce
claim for its portion of the proceeds
Of the old Northwest Territory"
All the territory northwest of the
Ohio river which once belonged to
the State of Virginia was transferred
by Virginia to the United States I'M
der provision that the proceeds of
all sales of land from this grant
should be paid over to the States then
in the Union for their individual use
and not for the use of the United
States as nation. The proceeds of
these sales, amounting to many mil
lion dollars, have never been distri-
buted among the thirteen original
States and Senator Chiffon believes
these states have a right to sue the
Government for their proportion of
the proceeds of the sale of this land.
He contemplates in his bill that
West Virginia, as a portional of the
original State of Virginia, shall have
a right to sue for it's share of this
money, and in his speech upon his
bill he explains that any money re-
ceived by West Virginia would be an
Offset against this States part of the
Virginia debt. Senator Chiffon made
speech in the Senate in support of
his bill and expects to be heard on it
by the Senate committee on the Judic-
larry at the coming session of Con-
gress.
Federal Government Obligated.
In addition to this bill of Senator
Chilton.s, Congressman John M.
Hamilton, of the Fourth West Vir-
ginia District, introduced a resolution
in the House Of Representatives pro-
viding that the United States govern
ment, having been responsible for the
creation of West Virginia as a war
measure, should pay any part of the
debt of the old State of Virginia for
which West Virginia may be found
liable. Mr. Hamilton made a speech
before the House Judiciary Committee
in support of his resolution and every
Democratic member of the House of
Representatives from West Virginia
has taken an active part in assisting
Mr.. Hamilton with his resolution.
The resolution was referred, as is
customary with measures of special
Importance, to subcommittee and
a letter which amounts in effect al
most to a favorable report on the
measure has been addressed to Con-
gressmen Davis, Brown, Littlepage
and Hamilton, the four Democratic
members of the House from West
Virginia. In this letter the sub-com-
mittee explains that until the total
amount for which West Virginia may
be held liable is ascertained it would
not feel justified in reporting in favor
of the assumption of the debt by the
Federal Government The language
OF the letter, however, is such that
the position of the subcommittee is
seen to be clearly in favor of the
resolution.
Folly to Change Men Now.
The four Democratic Congressman
from West Virginia-Mr. Hamilton
who introduced the resolution, and
Messrs. Davis, Brown and Littlepage
who assisted him in bringing it to the
attention of the subcommittee with
such success-are in a position to
push the measure along to its adop
ton by the next Congress, If they are
reelected. The next House OF Repre-
sentatives is certain to be Demo
cratic, and If reelected the West Vir
ginia Congressman will have a goot
deal of influence in it's deliberations
But ii Republican congressman should
be sent from West Virginia to a House
OF Representatives with Democratic
majority, they would have about al
much chance of getting the debt reso
luton through Congress as they Moult
have of passing it through the Brit
ish Parliament.
West Virginia will have to Lay Ger
tainly as much as $7,000,0O0 of thu
Virginia debt. That much has alread,
been determined. 1t may have to pay
$28,00O,000. If the people of the Stat,
want the Federal Government to as
sumo and pay this debt, they will re
turn to Congress the men who hav,
introduced and pushed along tn,
Hamilton resolution to the point wher,
1t is about ready to be reported fav
orably. They have taken care of tn,
measure and looked after the people,
interests. They have the matter wei
in hand, with written communica
ton from the subcommittee which
has the resolution under consideration
practically to the effect that it will
recommend the adoption of the reso
luton when the full amount of thu
debt Is ascertained. The matter is il
good shape, with such excellent pros
poets that these men will succeed il
getting the Federal Government Il
assume West virginia's part of tn
State debt that it would seem lik
folly to send some one else to Con
gress In place of any one of the me-
who have pushed this measure alon
to the position where success is as
sured II the case is properly manage
In the future. The men now repre-
senting the first four districts of tn
State In Congress have done SO WEI
l.