The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-15
DEBT SETTLEMENT
BETWEEN STATES
AGAIN IN COURT
West Virginia Files Brief in
Reply to Mother States Re-
quest for Final Decree in
Long Drawn Out Case
Attorney General Lilly Declares
State Was Hailed Into Court
Just as Negotiations for Set
tlement Were Progressing
Satisfactorily

Especial TO The Richmond Nirginian.)
WASHINGTON. Oct 14.--Attorney-
General a. A. Lilly, of West Virginia,
today filed in the United States ST.
preme court, on behalf OF the West
Virginia debt commission and the
State of West Virginia, II brief, In re-
ply to the appeal made last week by
Attorney General Samuel w. Will
liams, Of Virginia, for a final decree
in the now famous virginia West VIZ
gina debt case.
Mr. Lillys brief IS plea for time
and an effort. apparently TO have
the court believe that West virginia
was hailed into court just at time
when she was negotiating for set
tlement of the matter out of court,
in accordance with the decree OF the
Supreme court in 1911, when 1t de-
cided that West Virginia should pay
Virginia 81 600. 600 as her part Of
tho debt contracted for internal i'm
provenents before the Old Dominion
was divided and left IL with the States
10 reach an agreement as 10 the claim
OF Virginia for $4,000. 600 interest.
Two Questions at Issue.
After stating in a general way that
West Virginia had been brought into
court, to her establishment and sur
prise, at a time when Il seemed some
thing tangible might result In the way
of a settlement, Mr.. Lilly's brief de-
clarcs there are TWO questions a. Is
sue:
is the West Virginia commission
making present effort, in good faith.
TO negotiate settlement ~ West
Ttrgtufz.s equitable portion -of --t the
Virginia debt. in accordance with the
suggestion of this court. and If there
be a present and sincere effort to that
end on the part of the West Virginia
commission. does the fact that II is
under the necessity Of reporting back
to the governor and the legislature
Of West Virginia the result of It's
negotiations eInasculate the commits
sion and render It's negotiations q
mere empty form ?"
Mr.. Lilly answers the first ques-
ton In the affirmative and the sec
oud by saying mo"
Has Not Ceased Action.
The reasons for reaching such con-
clusions are then set cut at length
and II is said
The response fled to the motion
herein. together with exhibits there
with shows that the West Virginia
commission has not ceased it's action
from the time of its organization.
June 10, 1913, to the present time,
and that ii Is still active along the
line OF negotiation, Notwithstanding
the tendency Of the present motion.
Indeed. upon the very date that this
motion bears date, and before notice
thereof had been received by the State
Of West Virginia the chairman of the
West Virginia commission. in conse-
quence of resolution adopted by a
subcommittee. mailed n letter to the
chairman Of the Virginia commission,
In dryg1fng tho N{rr{nia ~oY,1~r1 "a
that the West Virginia commission has
in course or preparation 81 PROPOSE
zion looking to n settlement 10 he
presented In your commission at the
earliest moment"
Take Several Months.
II In then stated that II would prob
Continued on Sc, ond Page.)