Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1916-02-01
WASHINGTON Letter.


Washington. d. D., Jan. "a, 1916
Firmly believing in the right of W
Virginia to sue the United States fol
| its share Of the proceeds of sales b,
the federal government of lands which
formerly were part of the old North.
west Territory, and with the intention
of pushing his bill to authorize such a
suit, Senator Chiffon has been pushing
his Investigations into the conditions
surrounding the cession and sale of
these lands. The Senator believes and
hopes to convince Congress that Vir-
ginia has right to a portion of the
proceeds of the sales which were coded
by Virginia originally to the federal
government on condition that the pro-
| ceeds of any sales of the lands should
be distributed among the 13 original
States. He believes as a daughter of
Virginia that West Virginia is entitled
to part of the proceeds and that this
amount would be sufficient to pay w.
Virginia, share of The Virginia debt.
Much new information has been gained
by Senator Chiffon in his recent inves-
LEGATIONS on this subject and he is of
the opinion hat some newiand favora-
BILE develoi nonts Will BE- disclosed in a
few days which will considerably
strenp then his D, sition that w. Vir.
GINA may profit from this situation.
He Is not trying to get the federal gov
eminent to pay W. Virginia's part of
the old State debt, but is trying to
have the federal government pay to
w. Virginia what it owes, in the be-
lief that this will be enough to pay off
the State debt
The Shackelford good roads bill has
been under consideration in the House
for several days. 1t provides an APP
preparation sufficient to guarantee that
the United States will duplicate any
amount spent by State or minor civil
division of a State in the construction
of permanent good roads en- post routes
The w. Virginia Democrats in the
House are supporters of the measure
and Congressman Brown is contempla-
ting making speech in its favor. The
passage of the bill would give a great
impetus to road building in W. Virgin
ia and materially assist in the greatly
needed construction of some perma-
nent good roads in the State
Rural credits have been the subject
of consideration before the House
Banking and and Currency committee
recently. In the absence of Chairman
Glass W. G. Brown. of West Virginia,
has been presiding over the delibera-
tons of the committee as acting chair
man. The rural credits bill would pro-
vide rural credit banks. in which re-
ceipts of the postal savings system
would be deposited, and which would |
loan to farmers on farm mortgage Sc
curity, os building and loan associa-
tons, loan on city property, taking
wing 'IhiC uOtSo III lStuiH. Inc puE-
pose is to assist the tenant and poor
farmer to own his own farm and home,
paying for it during a long term Of
FEARS. Mr.. Brown will try as a mem
Ter of the committee to have a strong
ill reported, prefering even a more
ar reaching bill than is now being
A dollar day pension for every
Union soldier of the Civil War who
erved so years and was honorably dis
harged is what Congressman Nicely
proposes in bill he introduced few
avs ago. The present age and serv-
&c bill requires one to have served col
avs to get pension and to be rs
ears old before he gets $50 month.
lajor Nicely will try to get a dollar
or every old soldier who served sixty
avs and was honorably discharged.
A bill introduced by Senator Golf, at
he instance of persons interested in
he Southern District of West Virgin
a, would provide an auxiliary Judge
or that district of the United States
court, to assist Judge B. F. Keller,
whose health is not sufficiently robust
e enable him TO handle all the business
If the court, Several similar bills for
,ther districts are before the Senate
md the judiciary committee OF which
senator Chiffon il member. Infor-
nation has been asked of the Depart
nant of Iustice az To what federal ind