West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-02-18

tels 30 tnat west virginia can collect
from the United States government
enough money TO pay OF any part of
the Virginia debt for which the Su-
preme Court may eventually find West
Virginia to be liable. It has been al
most three years since he first intro
duced his bill to authorize any one
| OF the thirteen original states of the
union. and including West Virginia
and Kentucky as originally part OF
virginia. to sue the United States for
settlement OF the claims each or
any OF these states may present in
connection with the sale of the lands
embraced In what was known as the
Northwest territory. In the early
days OF the republic Virginia coded to
II all Its possessions northwest of the
Ohio river under an agreement that
the proceeds from any part OF It
which might be sold would be dis
tributed among the states forming the
union. This agreement was disre-
garded and the proceeds OF the sales
were applied to the national uses.
Senator Chiffon holds that millions
OF dollars should be distributed among
the original thirteen states for the sale
OF these lands and that the portion
distributed to Virginia should be ap-
portioned among Virginia, West vir-
GINA and Kentucky, the two latter
states having been part OF vir-
ginia when the cession was made. III
this should be done he believes West
| Virginia would receive enough to pay
its part of the Virginia debt, with such
interest as may be called for by the
Supreme Court. Senator Chilton's
bill. introduced almost three years
ago, has met with opposition,
but he has found a way now by which
he thinks he can get It through both
houses. He has offered an amendment
to bill authorizing the payment by
the government of claims for cotton
seized by the United States from
southern planters at the close of the
civil war, and will not let the bill to
pay for the cotton go through unless
1t carries his amendment authorizing
any state having a claim against the
federal government to sue the gov
eminent in the United States Supreme
Court. He feels confident he will get
his amendment through and that the
result of suit brought by West Vir-
ginia would be judgment against the
United States for enough to pay West
Virginia's part of the old State debt.
| The subcommittee of the House
Judiciary committee, appointed to
make the investigation as to the judi
cial conduct of Judge Aston G. Day
ton, Of the United States court for the
northern district of West Virginia,
under the provisions of the Nicely
resolution, adopted by the House, lost
no time in getting down to work. The
| committee consists of Congressman
McGillicuddy of Maine. Warren Gard
OF Ohio, and Danforth of New York.
They have taken testimony at Park
ersburg and expected to be in Wheel
Ing and Philippi later. After today
the committee has but 13 days in
which to make its report and have Il
| acted upon by the House and conse-
! quently there was necessity for bur-
ried action, II the matter were to be
disposed OF at this session Of Con-
gress. The report OF the committee
probably will determine whether the
House will impeach Judge Dayton or
not.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion has announced that It will give a
hearing before Chairman Harlan on
February 10 in connection with the in
vestigation ordered by the Senate at
the instance of Senator Chiffon as to
the ownership and control of the Lit
tie Kanawha railroad. The Interstate
Commerce Commission is directed by
the Senate's resolution to report upon
the ownership of the road and as to
whether the road is being held to pre-
vent development of coal territory I'm
the upper Little Kanawha valley.
The West Virginia Society of
Washington held banquet on Satur-
day night, the first one since the So
ciety's organization. Senator Chiffon
was POSTMASTER. Solicitor General
John w. Davis. Senator Con-, Con-
gressmen Nicely and Sutherland spoke.
| Congressman Brown, Avis and Hughes
were also Invited to speak, but Mr..
Brown was not well enough to attend
and the other two were out of the
city.
| Consul General John RI. Snodgrass
OF Wheeling, now stationed at Mos
COW, Russia, has been nominated by
the President for promotion I'm the
| consular service, with an increase in
salary. Consul George G. Cole of
Weston, located at Dawson, Yukon
territory. has also been nominated by
the President for promotion with an
increase in salary II is expected
there will be no opposition in the
Senate to their confirmation.
Congressman Brown has not com
pleted his recommendations for post
masters yet and he is besieged fire.
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