Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1913-01-02
Washington Letter.
(From dow. summers.l


Washington Dec. 80.
By the time this weeks papers are
in the hands Of their readers the West
Virginia legislature will have convened
in extra session and the fight for the
Senatorship will have been begun in
earnest. As seen in Washington the
principal issue involved in the senator
ial fight is whether the Progressives
under the leadership of Dawson will
again be led into the Republican ranks
and voted for Republican candidate,
or whether they win follow the advice
of Theodore Roosevelt and make of
their party distinct and separate party.
refusing to ally themselves with any
other party. 1.-THE Progressives refuse
to unite with the Republicans in q
joint, caucus the chances are that their
will not be an election of Senator.
If the two>parties unite and go into
caucus, Davis Elkins viii be the strong
est man in the caucas and in the belief
of both Democrats. and Republicans in
Washington, his chances for election
to the Senate would be far ahead of
those of any other candidate, A dead
lock in the caucas might delay matters
for while, but a deadlock inAthe legis-
lature caused by refusal Of the Pro-
gressives to go into caucas with the
Republicans would prevent the cleo
tion of any candidate for Senator. In
view of this fact the indications at the
present time are. that it will be Davis
Elkins or no body,
Senator Chiffon and Congressman
Hamilton have discovered payment
by the federal government to the State
| of Virginis, which in their estimation
should be held as an offset TO the
amount of about 5000, 900 against that
part of the old Virginia debt for which
West Virginia may be held liable.
They have discovered that in 1909
Congress appropriated certain money
to pay different states for the amount
advanced by them and loaned to the
government during the war of 1872.
Instead of payidg the State of Vir-
ginia in cash the government returned
to that State certain Indian fund"
bonus, held by the government, amount
ing to $587.80O, and Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal bonds amounting to $13, 900,
The latter bonds were guaranteed by
Virginia and all the bonds were dated
prior to 1861. 1t is believed that West
! Virginia should be credited with third
of these bonds, which were part of
the State debt, at the time when West
Virginia was created, and if it should
be found that this is a legitimate credit
1t would save the state about $500, 900
Senator Chiffon has introduced bill
prohibiting tire granting of government
licenee to manufacture or II intoxicat.
ing liquors in any state, county, or loca
law. There is considerable question as
to the constitutionality of the Kenyon.
Shepherd bill, and Senator Chiffon be.
ieves that his bill abcut tie constitu
tionality of which there is no question
would be just as effective in prevent
ing the sale of liquors in dry territory
in violation Of the local or state laws
Senator Watson has offered amend
ments to the war claims bill now pend
ing in the Senate providing for the
payment. of the following West Virgins
war claims: Presbyterian Church.
IKeyser $500; Methodist Episco~ a
Church, Keyser, $500; Wildey Lodge
of. Odd Fellows, Charles Town, $2l0O
/ Congressman Brown has improved
very rapidly since his recent serious i'll
ness lid was able to go to his home at
Kingwood for Christmas. He did not
Eexrect TO stay long. IoWexer, and pro.
badly will return to Washington in 8
few days to be rear the physicians
who have been treating him.
Mr.. Browns first appearance in
public after his illness was when he
attended meeting of the Committee
to investigate the meney trust, OF
which he is member, on the day
when J Pierpont Morgan was wit
ness before the committee. He was
only able to sit with the committee for
a short time on that occasion but ex-
poets to be allie TO meet regularly with
the committee after the first of Janu-
airy.