West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-05-06
WEST VIRGINIA WOULD
REFUSE TO SETTLE DEBT
State May Defy Court in Antc-Bcl-
lum CONTROVERSY Claim Officials
--Contcndcd the Supreme Court
Has No Authority to Enforce the
Payment

WASHINGTON. April S0.-Wcst Vir-
ginia officials who are in Washington
I'm connection with the argument OF
the Virginia debt case before the Su-
prome Court of the United States, ex-
pressed doubt today that the voters
OF that state will agree to the pay
ment of it's part of the Old Dominion's
antebcllum state debt I'm the event
the court finds Judgment for large
sum.
II is contcnded by these men that
the Supreme Court has no constitu-
tioal authority to cforcc the payment
of moneys by one state I'm favor of an
other, and any degree Il may hand
down would constitute moral and
not binding obligation upon West
Virginia To pay
This turn in the unofficial discus
sion of the debt case. showing the at
utude and temper OF the people OF
West Virginia toward the old debt
controversy, formed an interesting
feature OF the case. No talk along this
line was advanced in the court room.
but the discussion was entirely In an
undertone on the outside. When one
prominent West Virginia official was
asked In regard TO II, he said:
"Of course. | cannot be quoted: but
| do not believe the people of West
Virginia will stand for the payment
OF large sum I'm the event the court's
findings are against us. They may
agree to the payment of small sum"
Another official would not answer
the question directly, but he also said
judgment could not be enforced
against West Virginia.
Representative OF Virginia i'm the
debt case, when asked in regard TO this
sentiment among West Virginians. ex-
pressed the opinion that should n
Judgment be found against West Vir-
ginia the state would pay. One Vir-
ginia official connected with the case
declared the Supreme Court ALWAYS
had found means to enforce it's de-
crees. He added that should the court
lack necessary machinery to compel
payment of such a judgment. Congress
VIII be asked TO provide IL.
1t is also pointed out that there Is on
record only one case where the Su
preme Courts judgment was defled.
and In that case the court sent dep
uties and enforced it's order. That
case involved ownership of property in
Missouri. Another view advanced ia
that the court could call on Secretary
Garrison to place the army at It's dis
posal so that IL could take possession
OF the tax-collectlng machinery of
West Virginia and thereby collect the
judgment should such methods become
necessary.
The old debt certificates, the bone OF
contention in the present legal battle.
are mostly held in New York and Bal
timore. Many OF them were bought
for a few cents on the dollar. They
are now worth 56 cents on the dollar.
a member OF Congress from West
Virginia in explaining recently the
feeling against paying the debt said
the people of West Virginia have been
educated in the belief that the debt is
not a genuine one.
There is a feeling that the case will
be compromised ultimately by an
agreement between the bondholders
and West Virginia.
Arguments were concluded yester-
day. Former attorney William a. An
derson closed Virginias case. and
Judge John n. Holt made the final
statement for West Virginia. They
elaborated upon the arguments sub
mitted by the counsel during the two
previous days. II would not be sur
prising should the court hand down it's
opinion before II adjourns in June for
its summer vacation