The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-31
> H.
ATTORNEY GENERAl
REVIEWS DEBT CASE
In Annual Report Gives History
OF Famous Litiga-
ton.
OPINION AS TO JAILBIRDs
No Right to Keep ble-Bodied
Men in Jail When Needed
on Roads.
OPINION AS TO JAlLBIRDs

Samuel w Williams was filed with
ernor Mann yesterday, and was
led over to Superintendent OF Public
ntinE Davis Bottom for publication
is Of unusual interest. as II contains
complete review Of the negotiations
"a litigation I'm regard to the West
!rginia debt case. AS showing the
progress of this litigation during the
ear covered by the report, Judge Will
iams states that the Legislature OF
Vest Virginia adopted joint resolu-
Ion In January. 1913. appointing n
commission 10 represent that State, TO
lroat with Virginia IN an effort 10 ad-
just and settle, IL possible. questions
involved In the litigation now pending
I before the Supreme Court of the United
States. y Joint meeting of the COM
missions of the two States was held at
the New Willard Hotel, In Washing ton.
on July 25, but failed to reach any
agreement
Record of Conferences.
Tho report includes the full steno-
graphic record OF that conference. to-
gether with the addresses OF Chairman
Mason, OF West Virginia, Chairman
Moon. OF Virginia. the argument of
Randolph Harrison. as attorney for tho
Virginia cimmlssion. and thu response
West Virginia. II goes on to show
that on November 10 the Supreme
court of the United States, In an opin-
ion by Chief Justice White. reaifirmed
its former decision as 10 the principle
involved, and assigned the case for final
hearing on April ls. 1914. at the head
at the docket for that day.
Judge Williams also reports in detail
IN regard TO tho compromise contract
entered into with the Richmond,
Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad
on March 2, 1913, by which tho state
realized for back taxes sl65.546.S3. and
there was paid 10 the counties and
cities sl73.422,37. and the railroad
waived all claim to future exemption
from taxation. The report indicates
that so far as the Attorney General has
heen advised, the contract has been
fully carried out, the railroad having
obtained new charter waving all
claim for tax exemption.
Fee for Major William A. Anderson.
The report rccites that when Judge
Williams took office. the case had al
ready been argued before thS Supreme
Court OF Virginia. The court directed
e reargument. Having had short
kline In which TO prepare IL. Judge VIII
Hams engaged Major William a. An
dPrson, the former ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
WHO was familiar with the case, 10
represent the state. As Major Ander-
SON bore tEe burden OF the reargufnent
and represented the State during the
entire negotiations. Judge Williams
recommends that he be paid n fee by
the state Of not less than 81 900
Tho case OF the Dalton Adding Ma
chine Company against the State Cor
poretion Commission, which Involves n
number of interesting law points, is re-
ported as still pending before the Su-
rremc Court nj Washington.
some OuiniunS nenIcrcd.
Tho report reprints Il large number
OF written opinions gwen by tho At
torney-General, or his assistant. Major
Richard b. Davis. 10 the Governor. the
state Auditor ana other officers OF the
state government. Opinions rendered
-tpe = Governor include those as to the
rights OF nonresident automobile own
ers to use Virginia State roads; the
method Of acquisition OF property In
this State by the Federal government;
power of the Governor IN regard to spc-
cial elections TO 'nll Senate vacancies
and very interesting opinion on the
power OF the Governor 10 remove mem
Ders OF the penitentiary board. \ dozen
or more opinions have been rendered
Auditor Moore In regard to the In
yulved tax laws OF the state a very
Interesting opinion was rendered under
date OF March % to J. II. Mastin. OF
the State Board OF Charities and Cor
rectionA; =. st. Julien Wilson, then
otttc II NNay COMMISSIONER, ana
James b. wood. Superintendent of the
Penitentiary. in which tho Attorney
General holds that the law requiring
ia!lers TO deliver to the Superintendent
of the Penitentlary for the convict road
force, oil except such prisoners as show
to the Judge good cause why they
should not be put on the roads.
Must Work on Ron,is.
Tho law Is mandatory" says the
opinion and the judge Is required to
deliver all prisoners referred to in this
section. No city or county has the
right to work on local changing any
person confined in Jail for mlsdemcanor
or other violation OF State law, where
demand has been made for delivery to
n. convict road force"
Notwithstanding this opinion, State
Highway Commissioners Coleman has
recently reported to the Senate Finance
Committee that it Is practically I'm
possible to get jail prisoners for road
work-that the sergeants and jailers.
anxious for their fees. hold the men In
jail. He stated that at the tiInc there
were largo number of -hodied
men in the Richmond Jail. who should
have been working on the ronds.
Other opinions relate TO the acoui-
ston of property for school purposes
and ItSci,aa rori.fv ne ofbar cat,