The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-25
SPECIAL SESSION
TO CONSIDER DEBT
Legislature Will Be Convened
to Receive Report OF
Commission.
STEP TOWARD SETTLEMENT
West Virginia Prepares for Dis
charge OF Obligation to
This State.
STEP TOWARD SETTLEMENT
Especial to The 1imos-Dispat ch. ]


Legislature of resolution creating
the Virginia Debt Commission, to be
composed of eleven members, means
that West Virginia is now preparing
for final adjustment of the debt diff
ferences between the old and new
States.
The resolution provides that tho COM
mission shall be appointed by tho Gov
ernor and that the Governor shall con-
vene the Legislature whenever tho
commission Is ready to make it's re-
port for consideration by the Lcgts-
iature. The commission, however will
NOT be named by Governor Glasscocls,
whose term expires on March 3. While
the resolution does not provide that
the incoming Governor shall make the
appointment, Governor Glasscock has
SAID he would not appoint q commits
SION whose duty il would be to report
to his SUCCESSOR
Many conferences were necessary be-
tween the two Legislative branches be-
fore a resolution was agreed upon.
The Senate would not agree to tho
one Delegate Hall, of the House, had
offcred, and tho House would not
agree to the one offered by Senator
adopted was the result of several con-
fcrenccs between the two branches
The resolution adopted is as follows:
creating commission, known as
the Virginia Debt Commission, to pro-
vide FOR arranging and settling with
the State of Virginia the proper pro-
portion of the public debt of the oriSi-
nal State of Virginia, If any should be
borne by West Virginia. to take into
consideration all matters arising be-
tween the state of Virginia and the
State Of West Virginia in reference to
said original public debt. and to re-
port it's proceedings to the Governor Of
the state.
Whereas, the Commonwealth Of Vir-
Einia instituted a suit in the Supreme
Court of the United States against the
state of West Virginia, to have the
State of West Nirginia's proportion of
the public debt of Virginia as il stood
before 1861 ascertained and satisfied
and.
Whereas, at the Octobe: term. 1910
the Supreme Court Of the United States
made a finding that tho share OF the
principal debt OF the original State of
Virginia to be borne by the State of
West Virginia WAS S7,1S2,607.46: and.
Whereas, said court did not fully
and finally decide the question in
volvcd, but suggested that such pro-
ceedings and negotiations should be
had between the States upon all the
questions involved in said litigation as
might lead to settlement of the same,
therefore, he it
Resolved By the Senate of West
Virginia, the House of Delegates con-
curing therein,
THAT a commission OF eleven mem
bers, known as the Virginia Debt Com
mission, is hereby created. The mem
bers of said commission shall be ap-
pointed by the Governor, two of whom
shall be chosen from each congress
sional district OF the State. and one
at large. not more than six of whom
oil ~ h.al. AL
and all designations vacancies In
the said commission as they occur
shall be filled by the appointment of
the Governor.
said commission is authorized and
directed To negotiate with the State OF
Virginia, or with any person or com
mittcc owning or holding any part of
the said Indebtedness for a settlement
of West Virginia's proportion Of the
debt of the original State of Virginia
proper to be borne by the State OF
West Virginia.
The commission is hereby directed
to ascertain and report upon and give
the utmost publicity to all the facts in
relation TO the pending suit instituted
against the State of West Virginia by
the Commonwealth OF Virginia and to
ascertain and report upon and give
like publicity to:
"All of the facts and conditions
ulucl WHICH the west Virginia GER
tiiicatcS are held or owned. together
with tho names and residences of the
persons having the legal ur equitable
right TO receive from West Virginia
whatever may be ascertained to be
payable thereon.
10 ascertain and report as to any
part OF the Virginia debt claimed
against tho State of West Virginia,
Which Is owned or held or claimed to
be due, at law or in equity, to the
Commonwealth of Virginia in her own
right; and having made the investiga-
ton required hereby, said commission
is authorized and directed to negotiate
with the State of Virginia for Il set
tlcmcnt OF West Virginias proportion
of the debt of the original State of
Virginia proper to he borne by the
State OF West Virginia
"A majority of said commission shall
have authority to act. The commits
sion shall CHOOSE its chairman and APP
point It's secretary and other necessary
officers.
The expenses properly incurred BY
the commission and its individual
members, including compensation of
said members at the rate OF $40 pcr
day for the time actually employed
shall be paid by the State out OF the
moneys appropriated for said purpose.
The commission shall make a re-
port 10 the Governor as soon as prac-
ticabIe. and upon receipt Of said re-
port the Governor shall convene the
Legislature for tho consideration of
the same.
Tho commission is hereby autho-
riZcd TO sit within or without the
state. and to send for papers and rec