Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-10-21
VIRGINIA URGES
WEST VIRGINIA
Commission Suggests That
Gov. Hatfield Call the
Legislature
LETTER IS FRIENDLY
Made Clear, However, That Matter
Should Not Be Permitted to Drag
on Indefinitely.

Washington, Oct. 21.-The Virginia
Debt Commission, following a con
ference here with representatives OF
| Brown Brothers & Co., New York.
bankers, drafted letter to Govern
,r H. D. Hatfield, of West Virginia, ir
| which he is asked to take official steps
for the payment of the S13,OOO,OO0
Judgment rendered against West Viz
ginia in the Virginia debt litigation.
The letter suggest that an extrord-
mary session of the West Virginia
General Assembly be called to act
upon the decree handed down by the
Supreme Court of the United States.
The letter is friendly in tone. il
makes it clear that the Virginia
Debt Commission desires to bring 70
final settlement the old debt ques-
ion as amicably as possible. 1t calls
attention of the governor
to the decree of the Supreme Court,
and asks that something be done to
give assurance to the debt certificate
holders that the courts Judgment
will be paid.
The letter is in line with the for
mer attitude Of the commission. II
does not desire to take any steps that
smack of an attempt to force payment
by West Virginia. 1t is willing to give
the General Assembly Of West Vir
ginia, as representatives Of the pco-
pie, an opportunity to pass upon the
decree nf the court and say whether
or not the obligation will be dis
charged. before any move Is made in
the Supreme Court to bring about
payment.
The commission, after consideration
and a further conference with repre-
sentatives of the beneficiaries OF the
Judgment, agreed that the matter of
payment should not be held up until
1917. when the next regular session.
Of the Legislature Will he held.
"The commission at its conference
today with representatives of Brown
Brothers & Co.." said Chairman II.
II: Downing, of the commission. 'de-
cided to address letter to Governor
Hatfield. calling his attention to the
Supreme Courts decree, and asking
what action his State will take in the
natter. The letter is friendly. 1t con-
tains no threats. and none is intend
ed. The Virginia commission earn
estly hopes and desires that the final
settlement of the debt controversy he
made in the most amicable way"
Members of the commission de-
Jared that they knew nothing of po-
litical conditions in West Virginia and
the effect their action would have on
politics in that State. They said that
politics was not taken into cons!d-
Grafton.
West Virginians in Washington,
Who are acquainted with politics N
fheir home State, say the action Of
the Virginia commission will force
the question of final settlement of the
debt question before the people of
that Commonwealth. They point out
that if Governor Hatfield refuses to
call an extraordinary session of the
Legislature to provide for payment Of
the judgement, it will become an is
sue in the next legislative campaign.
This will force the people to say
whether or not the mandate Of the
highest court in the land shall be re-
spectcd or disobeyed. and if disohey-
] ed. the court will then be in position
to take such steps as it sees fit to col
!ect the money. Members of the COM
mission do not believe when the issue
is squarely made. that the people of
West Virginia will defy a decree of
| the Supreme Court