West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-01-28
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
Social Msstsr LittissIsId Makes ne
pestonv'reinls osst csss end tso,ds
thst West Virginia Should Pew SiA.-
900. 600 Now W 20 the Supreme
Count for FInsi Decision
(From Geo. WI. summers.l

Washington, January 20 Charles f.
Littlefield, Special Master OF the Supreme
Court OF the United States, has made his
report in the Virginia delft case which
vas referred to him by the Court for in
vestigation OF the claims made by West
Virginia for reduction of the debt.
His report reduced the amount owed
by Wrst Virginia "a found by the Supreme
Court in 1911 from 81, IS2, sos. 46 To 81
3l3.G67 81, but adds interest on this
amount from Jan. l. 1861, winch would
bring the total amount owed by Wet
Virginia on January l, 1915 mp to S13,-
63l 100 81. In reaching the amount OF
The debt on January I, 1861, Mr.. Little
field considered all the claims of Wee,
Virginia, as presented TO him in the
hearing at Richmond. Va during last
August In fixing the debt of West Vir-
sinia at 81. 49,, 507 40, the Supreme Court
had fixed the total debt IL the old State
prior TO its division at $50 1868, SCI SO, OF
which it held West Virginia should M.
liable for % per cent, or $7,IS2, 5O7. 40
West Virginia claimed offsets should he
allowed in fixing the original debt,
amounting To S20,Sl0,3 1857 96, and it was
this claim that Special Master Litlefield
~as directed to investigate and make re-
port upon. In his report, Mr.. Littlefield
admits that part OF tn, sc claims are Just
md allows them to the amount of $l4,
oil ,9i5 "a AS West Virginia was charv-
I'd with % per cent OF the debt. it Is
credited with % 5per cent Of these offsets.
amounting to 3.4l0, 1907 %. Mr.. Little
ield found, however, that West Virginia
had received from what was known az
he restored government of Virginia, at
the time of the division of the State
SOIL .467 20. Deducting this West Vir
kinia's portion of the credit allowed,
caves ~, S6S, S59.7 6, West viryinia's me-,
credit ON the original amount of it's debt.
as shown by the report of the Master.
this cuts the debt down ~ 81, 3l3, 667 97.
But MIR. Litth field proceeds to tack OH
interest amounting to more than the
Principal. He Gays in his report: Il,
my conclusion, therefore, that TIN,
'-sets are to be valued as of January |.
1861, and that the liability of West Vir
klnia for interest begins on that date b,
virtue of the contract between her and
virginia and runs at the rate provided
or In the bonds that evidence the debi
aud make the interest an inseparabl.
cart thereof" This rate of interest IL
understood to be four per cent At Thu
ate, the Interest OH the rum found due
rom Jan ], 1861 to Jan. |, 1915, would b.
s9,3l1 .522 "a. and would make the total
"bt on Jan. i, 1915, amount to $l3, 63l,
80 81. Whether the Court will adopt Tn,
report of the Special Master cannot be fore.
Gold but there is no reason TO believe that
without very strong reasons, il would re-.
use TO be guided by the man it had ap.
,ointed TO investigate the details anu
make report on them. The Suprem.
Court may act on the report at almos,
any time and bring the question Of pay
nent squarely up to the legislature oil
Vest Virginia now in session.
In many cases, recently, applicants for
postmasterships OF the fourth class have
allied to pass the required examinations,
and i'll some instances there have been
40 applicants for the examination. This
has left some vacancies and civil service
examinations to fl them have been cali
ID for February 20. They VIII be held nj
Buckley, Cas-, Charleston. Horton, New
MaItinsyillr, Welch and Williamson,
Vacancies are TO be filed in the eligibl,
lists for postmasters at Decota, Eckman.
| Filbert, Glrnaluni, Horton, Lester, PIN,
Grove, Quinnimonf, Raleigh, Spruce and
| Switchback.
Because OF the inability to get the wit
nesses who were wanted, the Interstate
| Commerce Commission has postponed the
| nearing upon the question OF the owner
|hip and control of the Little Kanawha
| Railroad, which was first set for Jan 20
Several OF the most important witnesse>
| had engagements preventing them from
| appearing here on that date and it has
'ow gone over till some time i'm the
latter part OF February. The Commission
intends to 20 thoroughly into the case
and make full report on the resolution
II inquiry introduced by Senator Chiffon
md adopted by the Senate.
Several poetmasterships have mono
pulled the attention Of Congressman W.
q Brown during the last week. After
mature consideration OF the CAGES he has
recommended ID. j. Moran for appoint
"ent by the President az postmaster at
Thomas, Tucker county, and 2. + Nixon
'or appointment by the President as post
master at Paw Paw. Morgan comfy
Nr. Brown has also recommended r. V
Channel for appointment az postmaster
At the fourth class Office at Huttonsville
Randolph county In addition to thea.
matters, he is still considering the Nor
gantOwn and Grafton cases for each of
which several applicants have appeared
Hood Phillips, formerly State Senator
residing at Grafton, spent day or so
here and had a talk with Mr.. Browns
regarding the Grafton postmastership.
for which it IL understood Mr.. Phillip.
is himself candidate. Charles Pell and
w. +. Weimer have been here from
Davi., Tucker county, and it Il under
stood they, also, discussed postofIice
matters with Mr. Brown, with special
reference 70 the postmaster-hip at Davis
Some elk months ago, at the instance
Of Congressman Brown, a postofIice was
established temporarily in Mineral county
and named Champwood, in honor of
Champ Clark and Oscar Underwood, the
two Democratic leaders Of the House Of