The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-13
ANSWER CHARGES
AS TO LOBBYING
AND TAX DODG|NG

In their individual capacities. the
undersigned. John Stewart Bryan, Rob
ert c. Bryan. Jonathan Bryan. j. St
George Bryan. and Thomas p. Bryan,
who are all the Messrs. Bryan. deem II
proper to answer the allegations OF W.
y. Land. printed In tho Blackstone
Courier. June %. 1913. which publica-
ton was. on July I. brought TO their
attention for the first time.
In the article referred to. II is
directly charged that the Messrs. Bryan
Plotted to rob the state BY SLIPPING, a
purpose OF giving proper value to GER
tain bonds owned by them" and that
they employed lobbyists for that pur-
pose.
These arc the facts:
The Messrs. Bryan. along with others
were Interested in some Chesapeake
been acquired by their father and
grandfather many years previous. Nir-
Sinia had guaranteed the punctual pay
and tho ultimate redemption OF the
principal This obligation had not only
been admitted as just debt by tho
by the counsel for the State Of Virgil
as one OF tho Items in the debt which
Virginia claimed was due her by West
The Interested parties at first intro
duccd special bin for the payment OF
that portion OF the State debt repre-
undcniable promise OF the State 10 pay
its obligations.
Thereafter, by and with the consent.
and approval OF the Attorney General
and the Assistant Attorney General.
who themselves passed upon the Ian
guaGc OF the act, and also with the
Auditor and the State Treasurer, and
also upon the earnest, voluntary and
uncompensaied suggestion and support
OF former Attorney General William *.
Anderson. who had been chief counsel
for Virginia In the debt settlement liti-
cation. this special bill was put in
general bill which had already been
Introduced.
After full consideration by the sub
committee of the Finance Committee OF
the House. and upon the presentation
OF printed brief and argument by
Murray NJ. Mcclure and w. d. Card
the above-named officials of Virginia.
this bill was approved by the sub
committee and by tho Finance Com
litigation before the said committee,
and passed the House and Senate with
out dissent.
the passage of this bill have the
Messrs. Bryan even contemplated usin g
any of the advantages that they are
The object of this amendment to the
general bill was solely to give the
holders OF guaranteed securities the
their legal standing, without deprivinG
the State Of any legal or equitable de-
lenses TO which It might have been on
titled II the bondholders successfully
proved their claim in open court. then.
and not until then, did tho State agree
to settle with them, as already provided
for in the act relating to the public
debt.
This act of Legislature was not
harmful to the STATE; It was vas not not In
hlaeRsto mot coa shsGa tsef ss mt
was for the PURPOSE of giving proper
state simply made 1t possible, for Its
creditors TO assert against her the
same obligations that the counsel gu for FOR
behalf in the litigation against West
Virginia.
been tax dodgers. but have been more
than once "caug hit red handed" and
without protest; except In single
sessments which we're higher than the
returns they had sworn to. This allie
cation is utterly untrue. ono ., ~
undersigned. in their private capacities
had thcir assessments raised by any
official Of yrginia .S or rs Of H assrss
mcnts: Nor have any one Of the under,
signed, as executors of the estates OF
Joseph Bryan and Mrs. Josep h b ai,,d
3
ton of such estates to be Increased
without either nling petition or in
structing counsel ,,, to take steps to
In 1911 the acting executor OF the
estate of Joseph Bryan and the estate
of Mrs. Joseph Bryan declined to make
Records. being advised by counsel that
the Examiner of Records was not nu-
/ thorizcd to receive such returns. The
/ returns were thereuDon given 10 the
Commissioner of Revenue.
In 1912 the acting executor for the
estate of Joseph Bryan and the estate
OF Mrs Joseph Bryan pursued the same
| course as in the previous year. lr
both instances the Valuation .la OF tn.
| Increased. and an excessive assessment
levied. Counsel advised that the quick.
| est and most effective way to tost tho
! Justice OF these assessments was tc
| pay the tax 80 Levied and then petition
| for restitution OF tho overassessment
Suit has already been instituted fol
the ovcrasscssment of 1911, and some
months ago counsel were instructed
to apply to the courts for reduction OF
the improper assessor ents mado In 1912
| "a This 10 hejnp dnna