Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1913-04-24

appointed the Virginia Debt
Commission authorized by the
Legislature, under the following
resolution:
Creating q Commission, known as the
Virginia Debt Commission, to provide
for arranging and settling with the
Commonwealth of Virginia the proper
proportion of the public debt of the
original Commonwealth of Virginia, if
any should be borne by West Virginia,
to take in consideration all matters
arising between the Commonwealth of
Virginia and the state of West Virginia
in reference to said original public debt
and to report its proceedings to the
governor of the state.
SAID Commission is authorized and d.
rected to negotiate with the Common
wealth of Virginia, or with any person
or Committee owning or holding any
part of said indebtness for settlement
of West Virginia's proportion of the
debt of the original Commonwealth of
Virginia proper, to be borne by the
State of West Virginia.
The Commission is directed to ascer-
tain and report upon and give the utmost
publicity to all the facts in relation to
the pending suit instituted against the
state of West Virginia by the Common
wealth Of Virginia and to ascertain and
report upon and give like publicity to
all of the facts and conditions under
which the West Virginia certificates
are held or owned, together with the
names and residences of the persons
having the legal or equitable right to
receive from West Virginia whatever
may be ascertained to be payable there
on.
To ascertain and report as to any of
the Virginia debt claimed against the
state of West Virginia, which is owned
or held or claimed to be due, at law or
in equity. by the Commonwealth of
Virginia in her own right; and having
made the investigation required hereby
said Commission is authorized and d-
rected to negotiate with the Common
wealth of Virginia for settlement of
West Virginia's proportion of the debt
of the original Commonwealth Of Vir-
ginis proper, to be borne by the state
of West Virginia.
The Commission shall make report
to the governor as soon as practicable.
and upon receipt of said report the gov
ernor shall convene the legislature for
the consideration of the same.
The Commission appointed by the
Governor is as follows:
First Decentralization Golf, Repub-
lican. and A. B. Fleming, Democrat.
Second district. A. Lenhart, Re-
publican, and w. B. Ice, Jr., Democrat.
Third District-U. S. G. Young, Re-
publican, and William E. Chiffon, DEM
ocrat.
Fourth District-R. j. Foreman, Re-
publican, and B. M. Amber, Democrat.
Fifth District-W. D. Ord, Republic
can, and John H. Holt. Democrat.
At Large-W. E. Wells.
The selections made, seem to
be good and will be .favorably
received, and tend to inspire CON
fidence in whatever recommenda-.
ton may be made to the Legis1a-
ture. While the personnel in
cludes some of our ablest lawyers,
1T is essentially a business mems
Commission, men of high stand
ing, who can be depended on to
dispose of what is, after all,
business matter, in business like
way.
Had Governor Hatfield selected
the membership for political rea-
sons, or had included in it those
who, whether unjustly or not,
might be suspected of having ul-
terror motive in reaching their
conclusions, there is little doubt
but that their verdict would have
been repudiated, if not by the.
Legislature, by the people of the
State, should it be found neces-.
sary to submit the final decision
to them for confirmation.
AS long as this sword of
Damocles remains suspended, the
State is in peril, its business in
terests suffer, and progress in it's
material development is impeded.
Even those who may take the.
position that the finding of the
Supreme Court is unjust, will be
willing to concede that if, after a
thorough Investigation, a Com
mission composed, as is this one,
OF high minded, patriotic citizens
should decide against their views,
then in such case they will sub
NIT to the arbitrament of the
Court, and the conclusion reached
by their fellow citizens.
,twere done, when tits done,
then 'twere done we'll, if 'twere
done quickly and it is hoped
that should the Governor convene
the Legislature in extra session
this year, that in his call may be
included the disposal of his vex-
atious question, that AitAmay bel