The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-04-28
e "a. DEBT
CASE OPENS
FINALLY REACHED ON SU.
PREME COURT DOCKET
LATE YESTERDAY.
Virginia Attorneys and Bankers
Counsel Open Arguments-Chief-
ly Question of Interest
Inssiiis.nssr sers.a-

Washington, D. C., April az.
AIter waiting since April 18th for
the case of Virginia VS.. West Virginia
70 De called In the Supreme Court OF
the United States, those who had d.
rect interest in the case witnessed
the nnal round OF the celebrated liti-
cation. which began at ;: 80 this after
noon The FIRST speaker was Holmes
conrad. for Virginia. His speech was
characterized more by the fact that
because OF his physical infrmities he
was allowed to address the court
while sitting In a chair. Occasionally.
when he was stirred by n depth OF
ieeling, he arose. but soon lapsed into
MS chair because OF physical weak
ness. He spoke for 80 minutes. and
his address was entirely confined to
historical resume of the case. He
dealt with no figures at any time. He
VAS followed by Sanford Robinson, OF
New York. an attorney for the bank
ers who hold the West Virginia GER
tificates. Mr.. Robinson took up the
matter OF equities and reviewed the
hgures which have been set for the
briefs filed in the case.
Resisted Settlement Claim.
As matter of fact. there was moth
ing discussed before the court to-day
that was new. So far as the case
was developed. Virginia resisted the
claim OF a settlement upon January
Tomorrow Mr.. Robinson has twen-
ty minutes TO conclude his argument
and he will be followed by Attorney
General Lilly. OF West Virginia. tor
an hour and thirty minutes. After
him will come General Anderson and
Randolph Harrison. of Virginia. each
OF whom will have one hour and hf-
teen minutes. The argument will be
closed by John II. Holt. OF counsel
for West Virginia. who will consume
two hours and thirty minutes. me
case will close and be handed to the
court on Thursday afternoon.
The contention now Is upon the
question largely OF the interest West
Virginia combats any argument tor
intSrsst. II also objects TO the last
report OF Master Lttleheld, which
places its obligations 10 Virginia at
A.OOO.OO0. The argument OF the
counsel for West Virginia will Do
upon a question OF interest, which
they will oppose. and in favor OF GER
tain equities which. II accepted, Will
reduce the Masters report from, in
round numbers. $4.0OO.O0O TO s2.sOO.-
600. This latter figure is the figure
that West Virginia offered to pay TO
Virginia in settlement OF this suit.
without interest.
Not Considered.
In the brief filed by the counsel
for Virginia during this hearing an
Interpretation, which is not agreed
to by both sides. was to the effect
that Virginia had offered TO compro-
mise. TO settle the suit on the basis
OF four million dollars with interest
TO be determined by the United States
Supreme court. This proposition
was not formal one. IL has not been
considered by the members OF the
debt commission from West Virginia.
and II Is perfectly safe to say will
not be referred to in the arguments
that will be made. to the court this
week.
From West Virginia the members
OF the commission that are here are
Governor Hatfield, Joseph Miller. John
w. Mason. John T. Harris, Secretary
Elmer Dover. expert accountant, and
several others, among whom Is y
Hall OF New Martinsville. a member
of the legislature. who Is the last sur
viving member OF the constitutional
convention which presided at the
separation OF the states