West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-08-27
OUR WASHINGTON lET1EB
Final Hearing In che Virginia Debt
suit 10 on st RIehmons Bssess
Special Master LIttlsnsId In Which
Testimony 10 Heard Regarding West
VIrsInls's Claims for Credits Due
the State
FRoM Gkonax w. SUMMERS.

West Virginia affairs has been transferred
from Washington, the capital OF the
United States, TO Richmond, the capital
of the old Southern Confederacy, and
present location OF the federal reserve
bank with which almost all of West vir-
ginia will be associated. While Congress
has been doing little OF special interest to
West Virginia, the final hearing in the
Virginia debt suit has been on in Rich
mond. Charles +. Littlefeld, special
master OF the Supreme Court of the
United States, has heard the testimony
OF West Virginia regarding the claims
which it has made for credits on the
amount set aside by the court as West
Virginia's part OF the old State debt. For
nearly two months West Virginia has
had about dozen accountants going over
the books and the result of their investi-
cations has been presented as testimony
before the master, in support Of West
Virginia's contention that the amount OF
the debt, for which West Virginia has
been found to be liable, should be reduc-
ed by at least 1000, 900, because of as
sets owned by Virginia at the time of the
separation Of the States, for which West
| Virginia has received no credit. The
testimony of the witnesses for West Vir-
ginia shows that West Virginias portion
OF the debt, as already fixed, should be
cut down by about 81, 900, 900 and that
the amount due by the State should not
exceed So, 900. 900. Counsel for Virginia,
finding that West Virginia was about to
prove its contention as to credits, under
took TO have the value of these credits
ascertained as OF June 20, 1868, the date
OF the admission of West Virginia to the
union, rather than of Jan. 1. 1861, the
date already fixed by the Supreme Court
Tor ascertaining the State debt. Stocks
which had enormous values in 1861 had
deprecated by June 1858 till many of
them had no value at all, and Virginia
is taking this method OF having the
credits cut down. Master Littlefeld an
nounced that he would take testimony as
to the value on both dates and determine
later which to recommend, or make an
alternative report, leaving the date for
the Court to fix.
The campaign of 1914 will soon open
in West Virginia. The nominations are
all made and the candidates are known.
Democratic, Republican and Progressives
are getting in shape for the fray and
from now till the third day OF November
the State is expected to be battle ground
for the three political parties. Theodore
Roosevelt, the founder of the Progressive
party and its guiding spirit, has promised
to make speaking campaign in West
Virginia in behalf of the Progressive
candidates there. 1t is believed that he
will speak in half dozen of the more
important cities of the State. Plans OF
campaign for the Democrats have not
been made or at least, have not been
announced, further than that Congress
man Nicely has again selected his partner,
Henry Lively, of Fairmont, for chair
man of his congressional committee, with
headquarters at Fairmont, while Con-
gresham Brown has been authorized to
select the chairman of the second district
| Democratic committee, but has not done
80 yet. 1t is expected that all the
machinery will soon be started for the
campaign and that it will be kept up
vigorously till election day.
Both Democrats from West Virginia in
the House Of Representatives have been
remaining steadily in attendance upon
| the House. The situation brought about
by the European war situation, is such
that it is considered impossible for Con-
gress to adjourn. Many members of the
House have left for their homes to get
into their campaign, but Congressman
| Nicely and Brown have remained here,
and expect to remain so long as Congress
remains, and that probably means that
they will not be able to make much OF a
campaign this fall.
The search for West Virginians who
have been travelling in Europe is being
continued by the State Department, act
ing through the consular and diplomatic
service. A good many persons from the
State have been abroad and many OF
them have not been heard from since the
war started. The State Department is
trying to locate all Americans for whom
request has been made for information
and no pains have been spared by the
government in its efforts to locate the
friends OF persons on this side the ocean,
who make requests for assistance in locat-
ing and assisting their friends abroad.
In addition to those for whom assis-
lance has already been asked, Congress
man Nicely has asked the State Depart
ment 10 assist in the location OF Mr.. and
Mrs. s. S. Block, OF Wheeling, and their
daughter, Miss Dorothy, who were last
| heard from by friends from Munich; and
OF Mrs. +. Killermyer Of Wheeling. who
was last heard from at Remshausen.
Germany; and John j. Finnegan and
John Kahn, both Of Wheeling, last heard
from at Mannheim, Baden. Congress
man Brown has asked for assistance in
locating Misses Grace Courtney and Rose
Sweeney, Of Morgantown, last heard
from in Zurich, Germany. Friends OF
these young ladies are said 10 have heard
from them since the request Tor news Of
them was fled by Mr.. Brown, and il is
presumed that they are out Of the danger
zone.
Miss Martha Kalecl, sister Of Thomas
kaleel, ofClarkskburg, who was detained
at Boston, on her arrival here to join her
brother, because she was said TO be
suffering with trachoma, has been adj
mitted 10 hospital at PhiladelphIa for