Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-03-03
DEBT commission
!. 70 CONFER AGAIN
Representatives of, Virginia
and West Virginia Meet
Tomorrow.
HOPE OF SETTLEMENT.
Believed That Compromise Offer
will be Made to Conference by
Agents of West Virginia.

Richmond, March 3.-At the re-
quest Of West Virginia, the commits
sions from Virginia and West Vir-
ginia, which were named to negoti-
ate a settlement of the West Viz
ginia debt case along the lines sug-
gested by the United States Su-
preme Court, will meet in Washing
ton tomorrow for another confer
ence. The last conference held by
the two commissions IN Washington
on July %, 1913, adjourned after
two days of futile endeavors to open
negotiations upon grounds accepta-
bic to both sides. AT that time the
Virginia commission notified Chair
man Mason, of the West Virginia
commission, that Virginia would not
negotiate upon any issue except the
amount Of interest due, holding that
the Supreme Court had established
the liability of West Virginia and
set the amount Of the debt at 81
lS2,507.46.
West Virginia's representatives
insisted that the Supreme Court in
tended the entire question to be
submitted 10 compromise, principal
;.s well as interest, and upon this
rock of contention the negotiations
split. On September %, 1913,
Chairman Mason notified Chairman
!. E. Moon. OF the Virginia commits
sion. that the West Virginia COM
mission was working on plan Of
compromise 10 submit to the Vlr-
ginia commission within four
months, which was expected TO
prove equitable and acceptable. 1t
is presumed that the object of the
conference tomorrow is to let West
Virginia offer its plan of settle
ment.,
On receiving notice that West
Virginia wished four months IN
which to prepare its proposals, the
VIRGINIA commission applied to the
Sunrcme Court for final decree in
tho litigation, with view to with
drawing the matter from compro-
mise and having the amount OF the
interest established by court. Inc
c,,nrema Court rendered a reply on
November 10, 1913, allowing west
Virginia until April 13, 1914, to re-
sumo negotiations with virginia
looking toward a settlement OF the
question at issue.
Since this six months Of grace was
allowed West Virginia has intlmated
is intention. through its comm's
sion of asking the Supreme Court
on Anril 13 to reopen the entire ~
ination. Virginia will oppose TINS
and press its prayer for a final. de-
cree Contrary to the general op'n-
ion the State of Virginia will re-
coivo hut little of the West Virginia
,,ebt in case of settlement. The DEBT
is in the form of West Virginia GER
+iGc,tes which are held almost eS-
crnsivelv by English bondhoiderS'
virginia entered the litigation only
bocause individuals may not sue d
sovereign State, and the Virginia
stockholders would have been unaoie
=, collect at law their claims against
West Virginia. virginia's right as
:. nartv TO the suit was established
bv fhe fact that small amount o.
West Virginia certificates are heo
bv the State Literary Fund,
The VIRGINIA Debt Commission Ia
composed of John B. Moon, char
man: Joseph Button, secretary;
Henry T. Wickham. ". F. Rhea' p
II. Downing. H. D. Flood, Randolph
Harrison and ]. Thompson Brown
Acknowledgement John Garland Pol
iard i.,, an ex-officio member of the
tccmmissinn. oaj