Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1915-01-28
Washington Letter.
From Geo. w. Summers.)

Bel
Washington, Jan. &c Charles E. Lit
tlefield. Special Master of the Supreme
Court of the United States, has made
his report in the Virginia debt case,
which was referred to him by the Court
for Investigation of the claims made by
West Virginia for reduction of the
debt. His report reduces the amount
owed by West Virginia as found by the
Supreme Court in 1911 from 5, 1872, 507.
46 to $4,313, 667.96. but adds interest
on this amount from Jan. L., 1861,
which would bring the total amount
owed by West Virginia on January l,
1915 up to $l3 63l, 19O.3l. In reaching
the amount of the debt on January /,
1861, Mr.. Littlefield considered ali the
claims of West Virginia. as presented
to him in the hearing at Richmond, Va,
during last August. In fixing the debt
of West Virginia at 81 1872, 507.46. the
Supreme Court had fixed the total debt
of the old State prior to its division at
SIC. 563 861 Sc, of which it held West
Virginia should be liable for % s per
cent, or $7.182, 507 46. West Virginia
claimed offsets should be allowed in
fixing the original debt. amounting to
$40 8 0 1896 and it was this claim
that Special Master Littltsfiald was di-
rected to investigate and rak e report
npon. In Lis report Mr. LittI fi~ld ad-
MRS that part of these claims are Just
and allow them to the amount of $14,-
511. 845 "a AS West Virginia was
charged withs23 5 per cent of the debt,
it is credited with %. 5 per cent of these
offsets, amounting to S,410, 307 25. Mr..
Littlafield found, however, that West
Virginia had received from what was
known as the restored government Of
Vir- irIia, at the time of the division of
the State $541, 467. rs Deducting this
from West Virginia's portion of the
credi allowed. leaves So, 1868. 839 76,
West Vlrginia's net credit on the orig
inal amount of its debt as shown by
the report of the Master This cuts the
debt down to 81, 313, 667. 81. But Mr.
Littlefleld proceeds to tack on interest
amounting to more than the principal.
He says In his report: 1t is my con-
clusion, therefore, that the assets are
to be valued as of January 1, 1861, and
that the liability Of West Virginia for
interest begins on that date by virtue
Of the contract between her and Vir-
GINA and runs at the rate provided for
in the bonds that evidence the debt and
make the interest an inseparable part
thereof. = This rate of interest is I'M
derstood to be four per cent At this
rate, the interest on the sum found due
from Jan. |, 1851, to Jan 1, 1915,
would be So, BIT, 522.34, and would make
the total debt on Jan 1, 1915, amount
to $1S, 631. 190.31. Whether the Court
will adopt the report of the Special
Master cannot be foretold, but there is
no reason to believe that, without very
strong reasons, it would refuse to be
guidedby the man it had appointed to
investigate the details and make report
on them. The Supreme Court may act
on the report at almost any time and
bring the question of payment squarely
up to the legislature of West Virginia
now in session.
= II
Because of the inability to get the
witnesses who were wanted, the Inter-
state Commerce Commission has post
poned the hearing upon the question of
the ownership and control of the Little
Kanawha Railroad, which was first set
for Jan 20. Several of the most inn
portant witnesses had engagements
preventing them from appearing here
on that date and it has now gone over
|. till sometime in the latter part of Feb
ruary. The Commission intends to 90
thoroughly into thecase and make a
full report on the resolution of inquiry
introduced by Senator Chiffon and
adopted by the Senate.
Several postmasterships have monop.
olized the attention of Congressman
W. G. Brown during the last week,
After mature consideration of the cases
ne has recommended D. j. Moran for
appointment by the President as post
master at Thomas, Tucker county, and
T. E. Nixon for appointment by the
President as postmaster at Paw Paw.
Morgan county Mr.. Brown has also
recommended E. N. Channel for ap-1
pointment as postmaster at the fourth
class Office at HuttonsVille, Randolph
county.
Some six months ago, at the instance
OF Congressman Brown. a postoffice
was established temporarily in Mineral
county and named Champwood, in honor
of Champ Clark and Oscar Unde wood
the two Democratic leaders OF the
House of Representatives. It was I'm,
derstood the Office was to be tested and
continued permanently only if it proved
q success and worth the while. Mr..
Brown haa been notified that the test
was entirely satisfactory and the Office
will be permanently established.
The following fourth class postmas-
tiers have been appointed in the second