The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-02-15
Still Believes Congress Should
Settle the Old Virginia
Debt Case.
MAY REsOR I 10 4 CLUB
In the Shape Of Preventing
Payment for Cotton unless
Southerners Agree
...se,.. = rss r.lsss..,,


WASHINGTON, D. G.. Feb u.s.
Senator Chiffon has not abandoned The
hope that he may vet bring about
settlement Of the debt owed by the
United States to Virginia for the sala
of lands In the territory northwest
OF the Ohio river, and that West Vir-
ginia's part Of the set lemeit Will be
sufficient to pay on such part 81 tho
Old Virginia debt as may eNenfually
be decreed against West Virginia IN
the face OF Opposition BY senators. he
mas patiently awaited HIS opport.inity
to put through a bill author king West
Virginia to sue the United tSates for
Its part Of the amount VIII ch ne clainis
is due to. Virginia as o result OF the
agreement made at the Time The
Northwest territory was coded 70 the
government by Virginia, and he now
thinks the time has come when he
can get 1t through.
Senator Chiffon hrst Introduced liis
bill on April 10, 1919. nearly thfeo
years ago. 1t provided that any 6np
OF the thirteen original states OF tho
Union, or West Virginia or Ken lucky,
as children Of Virginia, might bring
suit against the federal government
for the settlement OF the claims which
any Of these states might set UP grow
ing out Of the sale OF land s IN the
Northwest territory The lands west
Of the Ohio river were ceded by Vfr-
ginit to-. the United States soon after
the formation Of the nation, II ith an
agreement that the proceeds from ans
sales of such lands were to- be tifpitled
among the states Instead AN such
porceeds have been used by the fedci;l
government and Senator Chilton be
lieyes the amounts due to enc Il 8isiif
should be paid He also eifeN<s tim
u the part due to Virginia Is naid AM
West Virginia y port Ion is SiEen To- II.
the amount win Sbe sufIicieat to- na3
West sVirginia's part Of the ate debt
Fearing the effect upon the national
treasury. Of such measure, S6nat6tt
have succeeded. in sidetracking SEN
ator Chilton's bill for about three
years, but the senator believe liz 4
now In q position to force 1t through,
Just after the close q the st a WI
The United States seized vast 5naitfi
lies Of cotton. much OF which be-
onged to individ uals and the record
show the quantities and ~ vasi of
cotton seized from infviduais. sd
payment has ever been made beca iiSc
t has always been required that The
owner should first givs proof ~ lcys
Atty to the United States at the 4 tisIs
he cotton was seized Now there x
! bill pending, providing Tor. the nay:
nent Of these amounts to the person
from whom the cotton was Ii iiSi, II
heir heirs. regardless OF sShd ii,df
hey were loyal Of: not. and sa1f II
erE senators are anxious To have tift
". pass. as It would place a lot 81
money IN the hands; Of their ronsfi fii-
snts. Senator Chiffon has offefad an
amendment to this bill providine the
any state having q claim against tho
United States may bring suit In ID,
supreme court and have its tiaitn
heard there. Some of the other sen
.tors object to the amendment! "a "
ng 1t is only erimeans 81 Sbrifit
ng up the old attempt to collect Some
money from the government but
Senator Chiffon insists that an he
asks Is a chance for the case Il ns|br
presented to the supreme court FOR
adjudication and that the aman,i.
nent provides for nothing but an Or.
oortunity to have the courts pass ilp
IN the claim. He also has n formed
other senators that he viii object 4,
ne bill providing for, the payment 0t
he cotton claims unless this amend
nent Is Inserted In The bill TIe can
prevent the passage Of the c0ttonspay
nent bill and the senators know
md as he has informed them th2t he
means business and will not, under
my circumstances. permit their bin 70
PASS unless his measure Is added 10
i, he is hopeful that the present con-
yress will provide for the hearing by
he supreme court Of the claims Of
Vest Virginia against the federal GOV
'rnment for an amount sumo dent b
'ay It's part Of the state debt
AusIRIAlINs R(llRARl