The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1915-06-11
MAKES A VERY
GOOD RECORD
Biennial Report of At
torney General Lii
ly at Hand.
Gives Concise and Interesting Facts
Concerning the Conduct Of
Affairs of State.

The Twenty fifth Biennial Reprot of
the Attorney General Of the State which
contains five hundred and ninety three
p~rsS has bcen issued 10y the depart
nent
Tins report covers the period begin
ning October LIT. 1872. and ending June
,sth, l9l4. both inclusive. and gives in
detail the work done 10y the department
rial- Ia the late ten Clarke W. May
and General Rnmeo IIoyt Fr,Sr.
The report shows that in tlse period in
iicat''d there were rendered 10y the de
partment four hundred and three writ
ten opinions
Ths-e opinions ARE largely given IN
e 'npliance with requests of the heads of
the departments AMI state institutions.
the duty OF rendering them being impos
ii upon the department 10y statute
Othrr- ARE rendered u pri, ate individ-
nails and are 81 public interest and mo.
nent
The rrport also contains li-t oi
criminal and civil suits. which came un
'ler the attention of the department.
Among the most interesting of these IL
that of the COMMONWEALTH of Virginia
the stat of West Virginia. tile Norfolk
X Western Roilway Company v. Con
ley. and the Chesapeake n OHIO Rail
way Company v. Conley. The-e tire,
cazss were lIugstei in the Unlted State
supreme Court, and Of the three the
ca-e Of Virginia v. Vest Virginia alone
remains undecided.
In all there were forty seven civil ca-s-
IN which tie department. appeared.
forty-lOur Of which were determined in
the Supreme Court Of Appeals and in
the various Circuit Cour1s Of the STATE
the remainder. A. stated. being i'm ths
supreme Court Of the United states
The department also appeared on lie
half Of the state in twenty-five criminal
ca-s-, I'ending in the Supreme Court of
appeals and in the circuit courts, all of
which have been determined.
The department also represented the
interests Of the state before the commit
TIE appointed u investigate the charge
Of bribery against certain memher. Of
senate and House, and before the com
nittse appointed 10y the senate Of the
United states To investigate the strik.
troubles on Paint and Cabin Greeks, re-
portS Of all these cases being given.
There IL also shown the amount Of
moneys collected during the period. In
the suits against delinquent corporations
there was collected t2l. .:gI4.5j; i'm stat.
CASES tz7O.vj. and on state claims S2O,-
$500, making a total Of Sl2, ,ggj.Js. IL
will thus appear that General Lilly col
lected considerable more than the entire
est Of his department.
The report also contains list Of stAte
county and district ofIicer-. also federal
officers, together with their po-tofIice AL
dresses and political affiliations. This j.
a very much needed source Of nforma
ton and Il j. the only information Of the
kind obtsinable from any Of the state
departments. Tie report, considered A.
a whole, makes a very interesting docu-
ment.
Taking into consideration the work the
Attorney Generals Office - done i'm the
Virginia debt, the various rate case-, in
the bribery Investigations. Paint Greek
strike troubles and it, duties imTo-ei
and performed D. tine Public Service
Commission by virtue Of recent legisla-
ton In idItion o. the usual and orIi-
nary requirements Of that department
and considering the great pumler Of
written legal opinions rendered IL would
appear that the Attorney Generals Of
ice has made a record in the amount Of
work accomplished.
While u does not make much noi-e
about what is being done, and proceesI.
IN an orderly and professional manner.
JET u = conce.ie'i Il hss t,een one of the
busiest departments Of stat government.
and taking everything into considera-
ton, has established record of which
General Iilly and bis entire Office force
should - proud.