Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1916-02-08
West Virginia Can Sue Virginia.

West Virginia Can Sue Virginia.
Washington. d. c., Feb. 2-It vii
be the State administration if Yves
Virginia does not bring suit against The
United States for ils share of the pro
eeeds of the sale of the lands in the Ole
| Northwest Territory, amounting sp.
proximately to enough to pay West
Virginia's part'of the old State debt OF
Virginia. Senator Chiffon has just dis.
covered, and has notified Governor
Hatfield and Attorney General Lilly,
that the statute of limitations has not
begun to run in this case and that suit
may be Instituted 10 the Court of
Claims regardless of whether. Congress
passes his bill authorizing the suit to
be brought in the Supreme Court of
the United States. 1t was Senator
| Chiffon who discovered that the pro-
ceeds of the sale of the vast North
west Territory ceded to the general
government by Virginia were required
| by the conditions of the cession to be
distributed among the thirteen origi-
and in the Senator's opinion a trust
has been violated. for which the Unit
ed States can be held accountable by
the thirteen original States or any of
the States created from them In ex-
plation or the 81 atus of the case, Sem
ator Chiffon said:
Il have made an important discov-
cry regarding the claim of West Vir-
ginia against the United States gov
eminent on account of the Northwest
Territory and have communicated the
facts to Governor Hatfield and Attor-
ney General. Lilly. fiud that the land
conveyed by the State of Virginia to
the federal government there remains
in the hands of the government. as
trustee, the following: In the State
of Michigan about 10000 acres; in the
State of Minnesota about SO, 600 acres;
and in the State of Wisconsin about
6, 700 acres, making a total OF over
no, 900 acres unappIopriated and I'M
disposed of, which, if the claim of Vir-
ginia and West. Virginia be correct, is
now held by the federal government
as trustee. That being true, of course
the statute of lin itations has not be
gun to run. If | am correct in my
construction of the Court of Claims act
West Virginia and Virginia can now
sue in the Court of Claims to have an
adjustment of this question. whether
Congress acts or not. Of course, |
would prefer to have the act passed, so
that suit could be brought IN the Su-
preme Court Of the United States and
settle the question once and for all.
But it is com forting to know that w.
Virginia's rights can not be concluded
by abe failure of Congress to act. The
illness of Senator Golf constrained me
to postpone the hearings before the
4
anxious for him to be present, and he
assures me that he is anxious to take
art in the hearings. He will be out.
| hope, In few days and then the ju-
ditiary committee will take up my bill
and dispose Of it. In the meantime,
think it is matter of the greatest i'm
portance for West Virginia to be on
the alert and to do the necessary thing
to have. settlement OF this claim Our
rights are so clear and the justice of
our claim is so apparent that / cannot
believe the State will lfail to insist that
everything possible be done to bring
this matter to a speedy conclusion. If
my bill does not pass, certainly the
State will take steps to take the other
course of bringing the suit in the court
of claims.
The selection of Louis d. Brandeis
for Justice of the Supreme Court was
a surprise to official Washington. Wig
orous opposition has developed to his
confirmation by the Senate. Senator
Chiffon probably will be member of
he subcommittee of the judiciary
committee which will consider his fit
ness for the place.
It is urged by West Virginians
here that County Courts do not over
look the requirement of the new law
that registrars to list the voters be APP
pointed the first Monday 10 March.
The charge Of the hearings before
the House committee on banking and
currency on the rural credits bill has
been practically turned over to Con
gresham Brown. He has been acting
chairman at all the hearings, two more
being held within the past week. Mr..
Brown is greatly interested in the sub
ject and is trying to get good bill
framed as result of the sugg estions
and information brought out at the
hearings.
T. NJ. Conner has been recommend.
ed by Congressman Brown for appoint
ment by the President as postmaster
at Harpers Ferry, 1t is expected the
appointment will be made soon after
the Presidents return from MS trip
into. the west.
Jacob Schiff, addressing the Repub
iican Club, Of New York City a few
days ago, attributed the present pros
perity of the Unitsd States to the
Democratic tariff laws. Mr.. Schif is
one of the leaders of the banking house |
of Kuhn, Loeb & Co. He is Repub-
lican and was speaking at meeting of |
a Republican club. at which some Of