Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1916-01-11
Washington Letter.

washington, Jan. S.-The Demo-
Gratis of the West Virginia delegation
IN Congress are back on the job after
the Christmas vacation, each with an
especial line of work which he will I'M
dertake and try to push through at
this session. Senator Chiffon has been
busy with the preparation of his re-
port on the investigation by his spec
ial committee of the fiscal relations of
the District of Columbia to the United
States and as soon as that is out of the
way he will undertake to push through
his bill to permit West Virginia to sue
The United States for its part of the
proceeds Of the sale of the Northwest
Territory, which is estimated to be
sufficient to pay West Virginia's part
of the State debt of Virginia. Con-
gresham Nicely wants to get through
bill authorizing the working of fed
eral convicts on roads in the States
where they are imprisoned. AS many
| federal prisoners are always at Mounds
vile, this would provide good deal of
work on the roads eff West Virginia
Mr.. Brown expects to devote consider
able time to pushing bill for extend
ing rural credits, so farmers may Dor
row on their growing crops sufficient
funds to harvest them and keep things
going until the crops are sold. Con
gresham Littlepage will devote his
first efforts to assisting in the protest
against increased freight rates on coal
from West Virginia mines to the west.
The formal protest has been filed and
he will assist at the hearing, appear
ing as representative in Congress of a
district dependent almost entirely upon
the coal industry. The charges against
Judge Aston G. Dayton, of the United
States Court for the northern district
of West Virginia, are expected to be
filed soon, They would have been filed
before the holiday recess but for a
misunderstanding, and those behind
them are eager to have them filed at
once.
While it looks as though West Vir-
ginia would not be represented in the
Republican national convention n June
still The national committee of that
party has gone through the form of
Approaching 16 delegates to the State,
two tor each congressional district and
-four at La Z. If the Is delegates
irgin ". VI, mia reach the convention
befar. il IS " and have the proper
c. eos initials ih-y will be admitted, but
as Ire prIraI election for their selec-
ton '. III nct * held until the day be-
fore the COW nJioD meets, there is lit
tie y, sSibilIts that the result of the
e ection VIII known in time for t 4 G
StaUr 10 be- Up scented in the selec-
ton OF a i. ~O.Ican candidate for the
presidency. mat fact seemed to make
little difference to W. Virginia's men,
Der OF the Republican national commit
tee. fer he Is associated with politicians
who do not care whether the people
are represented or not, so long as they
can put their own programs through.
Actual figures for 1914 show that W.
Virginia continues to lead all the States
in the production of natural gas, pro-
ducing in 1914 total of 2l8, TAO, 1852, :
900 feet valued at $35. SIS, 329. This is
light decrease in the quantity pro-
duced, but an increase in it's value
Pennsylvania continues second and
Ohio third in gas production. West
Virginia ranks but third. however, in
the consumption of natural gas, both
Ohio and Pennsylvania using more.
West Virginia ranks second only to Ok
lahoma in the production of casing
head gasolene.
West Virginia farmers have profited
by the Underwood tariff on wool, as
shown by figuresiof the Department of
Agriculture, While the average weight
of the fleece was but five pounds in
1915, one-tenth of pound less than in
1914, the number of fieeces produced in
the State increased from 668, 900 in
1914 to 581, 900 in 1915. The Depart
ment of Agriculture, speaking of con-
ditions generally throughout the coun
try said: The average price to pro-
ducers for unwashed wool has averaged
about 23.4 cents per pound as compar.
ed with Is A for 2914 and 1877 for 1913.
So the farmer has not been hurt on his
wool, nor have the dire prophecies of
what would happen to the wool indus
try should the tariff on it be lowered
been verified. Apparently the wool in
dustry was never in better condition.
Formal protest against the propos ed
increased freight rates on coal shipped
from West Virginia mines to the west
has been filed with the Interstate Com
merce Commission by the West Vir-
ginia Coal Association, the Kanawha
Coal Operators Association and the
Public Service Commission of West
Virginia. Control of the Norfolk and
Western Railroad by the Pennsylvania
and desire to prevent reduction in
the rates between points entirely in
Ohio are alleged in the protests to be
back of the proposed advanced rates,
rather than any economic reason for
the increase. 1t is probable a hearing
will be given on the protest by the In
terstate Commerce Commission.
Word has just been received of the
promotion to lieutenancy of artillery
in the British army, of Alexander Por-
terfield. son of Mr.. Charles Porterfield.
formerly of Charles Town, but now
resident of Northport, l.. l. Mr.. Por-