West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-06-18
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
Program OF the Administrator About
CompIeted-lmpeaehment Charges
Against Judge Dayton OF the North
ern District OF West Virginia
Formally Presented by Congress-
man Nicely Last Friday
GRo. w. SUMMERS

Mediation has about succeeded m getting
the Mexican problem to a point where
legislation will not be required. Senate
and House have passed the bill repeating
the tolls exemption law in regard TO the
Panama Canal, and the foreign program
seems to be pretty well taken care OF.
The tariff law is in effect. The Federal
Reserve banking law is in effect and the
Federal Board is about to organize. The
antitrust legislation is about 10 be enact
ed and the conservation measures are
about to come up for consideration and
passage. A short while and both the
foreign and national programs will have
been carried out. In the mean time
appropriation bills and bills for minor
matters are TO be considered i'm the House
and Senate, but practically the program
OF administration has been carried out or
is about to be, so that an adjournment
may be had at almost any time within
the next two months without interfering
with the plans OF the administration.
Two matters of special interest i'm West
Virginia have come up in Washington in
the last week. One is the opinion of the
Supreme Court in the State debt case
and the other is the matter OF the inn
parchment OF Judge Aston G.. Dayton,
OF the northern district OF West Virginia.
Two views are had of the debt decision.
Some are pleased that West Virginia won
its contention that it should be allowed
to present the alleged credits which it
claims, and others feel that the language
OF the opinion is such as to make in APP
parent that West Virginia has lost the
suit, but that the court wants to prevent
the State from saying at any time in the
future that it was not given every OPP
portunity to present Its claims. The
case was again referred to Charles f..
Littlefeld, as Special Master, to ascertain
what weight should be given to the claims
OF West Virginia for credits, all OF which
Virginia claims have been already passed
upon. The investigation is to be made
by MIR. Littlefleld so that report may
be made by him not later than the second
Monday in October next. The court
stated in its opinion that the amount OF
the principal debt owed to Virginia by
West Virginia has been fixed by it, and
that the considerations OF the credits
claimed is TO see whether any of them
should be allowed, thereby reducing the
amount already found to be due. The
question OF interest on the principal
found TO be due has not yet been deter
minded.
The impeachment charges against
Judge Aston G. Dayton, of the United
States district court for the northern dis
trict OF West Virginia, were formally
prese nted by Congressman Nicely last
Friday. He had made several efforts to
get them but had been prevented from
doing so bv various reasons till last Fri
day when he formally impeached Judge
Dayton. The charges embrace various
kinds OF alleged judicial misconduct and
are backed up by sworn statements and
charges made by Sam b. Montgomery,
former State Senator, and Albert NJ.
Belcher, former member of the West
Virginia House Of Delegates. The charges
of Mr.. Nelly, went direct to the com
mittee on the judiciary, to which the
sworn statements of Mr.. Montgomery
and Mr.. Belcher were also referred.
Chairman Webb, OF the House judiciary
committee, has stated that he will ap.
point sub committee at once to investi-
gate the charges and report to the full
committee. The subcommittee probably
will go to West Virginia to hear the
charges as it will be more convenient
and more economical to 90 to the wit
nesses rather than have the witnesses
come to the committee. Judge Dayton
has reply to make to the charges and
will fight the impeachment. In spite OF
busy program the House is expected
to give immediate consideration to the
impeachment and its committee will be
busy going into the question Of proof OF
the charges Tor some time.
Favorable report has been agreed upon
by the House judiciary committee on the
bill which has passed the Senate for the
holding Of two terms of United States
court at Elkins and one term a year at
Williamson. The bill is a consolidation
OF the bill introduced by Congressman
Brown for Elkins and the one introduced
by Congressman Sutherland for William
son. II is expected TO pass the House
before long.
The second district Democratic con-
vention 20 be held at Charles Town this
week is certain 70 nominate Congressman
W. g. Brown for another term in Con-
gress he having majority Of the dele
gates 70 the convention already pledged
or instructed for him. Champ Clark.
Speaker Of the House Of Representatives,
IL to be present at the convention and
make a speech which undoubtedly will
be well worth listening 70.
The Post Office Department has re-
quested Congressman Brown to get some
one 10 accept the postmastersbip at
Nome, Pendleton county. The post
master there has resigned and no one can
be found 10 accept the office. n no one
IL found within about a week the Office
will be discontinued. The Office pays
SO a year.
The Post Office Department has direct
cd an extension Of rural route No. 2 ont
81 BelIngton 10 accommodate eight
families. The order was obtained through
the efforts Of Congressman Brown.
A petition for change in rural route
NO. J ont d Thornton, Taylor county,
~ extend two miles and benefit four
iamilies, has bern fled BY Congressman
Brown with the POST Omo. uo,.,.t,,.,...