Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-20
ASKED TO:TAKE STEPS
FOR PAYMENT OF DEBT
virginia commission Suggests to
Governor Hatfield That lie Call
Legislature In Extra Session.
LETTER FRIENDLY IN TONE
While No Threat Is Intended, 1t Is
Made Clear That Matter Should
Not he Permitted to Drag Indefi-
nitely.
Especial to The Times -pispat,h !,

Especial to The Times Dispatch1
WASHINGTON d. G.. October Ia
The Virginia Debt Commission. follow
,ihs contereBce here - to-day. with
represeSt IN fSTs-
Co. New; York bnfiiiEGrrss. drafted 4 LEI
ter To Governor H.. u. Hatfield. OF West
Virginia in which he is asked 10 take
Official steps for the payment OF the
Sl3.oo0000 Judgment rendered nguinst
! Wcs: Virginia in the Virginia debt
an extraordinary session of the West
Virginia General Asscmb he called TO
act mpon the decree handed down by
the supreme Court OF the United states
LETTER TO GOVERNOR
Is FRIENDLY IN TONE
The letter is friendly in tone 1t
makes ii clear that the Virginia Debt
Commission desires to bring to a iinnl
amicably as possible. 1t calls Governor
iiathold's official attention to the decree
of the supreme Court. and asks that
the debt certificate holders that the
courts Judgment will bo paid
The letter is in line with the former
attitude Of the commission IL docs
not desire 10 take any steps that smac,
Of an attempt 1" force payment by West
Virginia. IT is willing to give the Gen
rral Assembly Of West Virginia. MS
renrcsc natives OF the people. cu up-
Tn
the court AND say whether or not tho
obligation will he discharged. before.
any move il made in the Supreme Court
tc bring about payment
The commission. after consideration
and further conference with reprc-
Scntatives Of the bencficinrics Of the.
Judgment. agreed that the matter of
payment should not he held up until
1917. when the next regular Scsslo;. OF
the Legislature will he held
The. commission at its conference to
day with representatives OF Brown
Brothers & Co." said Chairman RI. II.
Downing. Of tho commission. decide.
to address n letter 20 Governor Hatfield
calling his attention To the Supreme.
Courts decree, and asking what action
his state viii tnkc in :hc matter. The
letter ia friendly II contains M
threats. and none is intended The Njr-
gina commission earnestly hopcs ana
desires that the final settlement OF In,
debt controvcrsy he made in t.c most
nmicable way"
Members of the commission to-day
declared that they knew nothing of
political conditions in West Virginia
ana tho effect their ac,ion would have
on politics in that State They said
that politics was not ta%on into con
sideration.
MAY PLACE QUESTION
SotARELI BEFORE: PEOPLE
West NirGinia.,s i'm Washington, who
are acquainted With politics in their
home state. say the action OF the Eir-
g.nia commission will force the uues-
ton OF final settlement of the debt
question before the people of that Com
monwcalth. They point out that il
Governor Hatfield refuses TO call an
extraordinary session rt the Icgisl.-
ture to provide for payment OF the
Judgment. 1t will be-. one IN issue I'm
the next legislative campaign This
VIII force the people u say whether
or not the mandate OF the hight II court
I'm the land shall be respected or dis
"bcycd. and IL dsoheycd. the court will
as II sees lit To collect the money.
Members Of the commission Il. not be
lievc. when the issue is suuarrly made.
that the people OF West Virginia will
defy decree OF the Supreme Court