Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-04-17
Virginia Counsel Contends
Amount Of Interest is
Only Question,
FOUGHT TO A FINISH.
@E5Is#sS
Asks Supreme Court to Deny Peti-
tiOn-ArGument is Expected to be
Concluded Today.

Washington, April 17:--The long
fought Virginia West Virginia state
debt case was presented to the Su-
preme court again yesterday in oral
arguments.
The point is what share Of the
Virginia debt existing at the time Of
the formation of West Virginia should
be paid by West Virginia. Several
years ago the Supreme Court held
that West Virginia was liable for
sotre 100000 to Virginia, but West
Virginia now claims that this should
be reduced to about S2,000,000 by rea-
son of assets in the hands of Virgil
MIA in which it should be allowed to
share.
Virginia claims that the only ques-
ton now before the court is the
amount of interest which West Vir-
ginia shall pay. When the Supreme
Court fixed the amount Of principal
around $7,000,O00 it suggested the
creation of debt commissions by the
two states to fix the amount of In
,terest. Tn two states could not
agree on the interest question.
Former Attorney General Ander-
son, in presenting Virginia's case to-
day, declared the Wheeling ordinance,
creating the State Of West Virginia,
and the WestN Virginia constitution
both recognized the, fact that West
Virg;nis.' should assume a part OF the
Virginia State debt. Mr. Anderson
then contended that the State debt
was am itterest-bearing debt and
when West Virginia assumed a por-
ton if that state SHOULD feel I'M
PEELED to pay the accumulated inter-
est on her share. Computations made
by the special commissioner, former
Congressman Littlefeld, fixed the
interest amount around $14,000,000.
The aggregate principal and inter
est which West Virginia will=ipay
should the case go against them will
be a little over s21,oOO,oo0.
In referring to the new plea made
before the court by West Virginia
that a number of assets have been
discovered which should be used as
setoffs in favor of West Virginia
Judge Anderson denied that Virginia
had received the credits set forth IN
the statement filed by West Virginia
as. a basis for completely reopen,
inng the case, and stated that while
said credits are represented to have
existed, they are, in fact. mere estl
mates as of January l. 1861, baset
upon unwarranted assumptions.
"Now, after the case has beer
liti'gated for more than eight years,
said Judge Anderson, "upon lines o.
the defendants own selection, upor
records prepared with infinite pans
,and labor, with the assistance Of
,trained and able counsel, and th'
cause fought to a finish and decls
ion rendered upon the main question
involved, which decision has beer
reiterated ard affirmed by this court
the defendant comes into this cour
in the ninth year; and asks to be per
mitted to assert a new line OF de
fense, which has been all along opei
to her for adoption, and to lltlgat
the case upon these alleged neV
grounds. We submit. that the mo
ton of the defendant allow such rat
of interest for such period of TIM
as in its Judgment will meet the end
OF justice" -.
John H. Holt, associate counse
for. West Virginia, later took up. tn
,argument proceeding on the line tha
in view, of the new evidence brough
forth the; court should reopen tn
whole case and allow the setoff
which will bring the debt down
about s2,OOO,OOO.
| He was followed by Attorney Sar
ford Robinson, of New York, cour
sell for the bondholding creditor!
VINO. proceeded upon the line take
| by the Virginia counsel.
! The case was taken up today b
/: Attorney General Lilly, of Yves
iIE:.r;,,in r-hn nnnrnn,nd tho hn,,