The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-03
virginia Gets No Money From Judgment


to move and control events-Roanoke World.
Virginia Gets No Money From Judgment.
The Virginia debt commission and many Nir-
ginia newspapers are growing impatient at the
delay of West Virginia in paying the judgment
awarded against her in the Nirg.Aia and West
Virginia debt litigation decided nearly two years
ago in favor of the contention of the mother
State that West irgina liable for her pro-
portion of the antebellum debt of the old State
incurred prior to the partition of the old COM
monwealth Ii is true West Virginia assumed
naughty and arrogant air with respect to its
share of this old debt and pleaded nil debit when
brought to an accounting and settlement. .The
evidence of her co-responsibility for the debt
clearly and ConClusively established her liability
however and the United States Supreme court
has so held. Some of the papers are questioning
the power or the means of the United states IN
enforcing the execution Of its DEGREES and judg-
ments in such matter This suit was instituted
early in the year 1906 and adjudicated by
the highest court fully three years ago. the de-
ciston being against West Virginia.
We are not quite sure from memory whether
Virginia has fully discharged her responsibility
10 the certificate holders. for whose benefit she
instituted this suit. 1t may be we'll for AS to re-
member that not dollar Of the sum received be-
longs to the state OF Virginia, save that we are
now and hereafter discharged from any and all
liability we may have had for the unltquidated
portion of this old debt Virginia long ago fund
ed her proportion of this old debt determined
under the several settlements made thereof with
the bondhOders and certificate holders. The
matter has passed beyond aAthnrt+ that
the Supreme Court of the United States has held
and proclaimed that Virginia docs moi owe no
amount represented by the certificates deposited
with her State treasurer a condition precedent
to the institution of the suit. In a word. we sued
for, and in behalf OF the bondholders. who could
not themselves sue SOVEREIGN state, our only
real benefit from the suit being our absuiCticn
from any responsibility for the unfunded and an
hQ6lualcd portion or the debt. 1t may &c how
ever, that our obligations TO the cerifcate-ho1d-
ers require us to Intervene by petition other
wise for The payment of the Judgment awarded
In the name Of the State. Oar understanding is
that when we ger the money We are obligated
10 turn il over 10 the elders enr1,t-
q FftAg tEalt
West Virginia is dilator} in needing the SY-
preme courts mar date. but We cannot conce. ne
II the condition wherein the highest court Of he
ana mas not the power TO enforce its mandate
when it is the only tribunal In which a suit
against State may be prosecuted. our neigh
boring state may have to issue new bonds 10 dis
charge this debt. but she must discharge it.
Otherwise our Judiciary system would become q
merry farce Virginia might expedite payment
of the judgment by appearing by counsel before
the supreme court and laying the facts before
that Danvlle Bee.
Dead In Earnest ON The Tax Question
In yesterdays Daily News a telegram from
Richmond stated that the members of the
Richmond Chamber OF Commences had decided
to hold State convention in the spring at
which representatives Of all business interests
Of Virginia viii gather to draft new tax laws
to be Submitted To the next State legislature.
With this early start it is certain that tex re-
form will far overshadow all other issues this
+ Rockingham county Tax reform clubs are
. being organized at various points and here IN
HarrisonbFrR and the STREETS and in the
+ stores tax reform is a common topic of CONVEX
sdtiou. The people not excited and '.fe-
yerish. but they dead in earnest and arc
talking and discussing the situation and are
determined to Law politics" aside this wear
and get at the tan question In a common sense,
bushes like way
The DAILY News always likes to emphasize
the educational value of things political TIE
discussion Of taxation everywhere helps to
stimulate thought among young people and
proves Of incaleuable benefit Modern democ-
facy IS a process Of education In jtseH.-Horri-