Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-20
GOVERNOR HATFIELD
SENDS DEBT MESSAGE
Says West Virginia Is i'm Union to
Stay, and VIII Live Up to
Its Obligations.
ssETT FOR REpUDI,TION
Governor Says Legislature Should
Ask Rehcaring in Order TO Bring
Forward Counterclaims Not Pre-
>ented to Supreme Court.
iRy a .soc!a,ed rrc.sl

sented to Supreme Court.
'By Associated prc.s.l
| 'lIAELESTON. ". VA. January 10
t-Gov"rnor H. -. Hatfield In a specia,
iature here to-day favors the payment
OF the Virginia debt by the State Of
West Virginia only SO far as Il settle
ment can hc made on an equitable
basis arrived at through fairness, and
recommends that the Commonwealth
/ present a petition 10 the Supreme Court
OF tho United States asking for Il re-
/ hearing on the part OF the case affect
ing the amount Of interest TO he paid
iIe also expresses the hope that some
suggestion VIII nc Forthcoming at the
present session that will result in the
protection Of the interests OF the state
and bring shout tho consideration oc
further equities which West Virginia
/ Ii" says. is entitled To receive
II, is no use to warn the people OF
West Virginia against any spri, Of
.
f, authority in this connections" Governor
Hatfield says. This State is in the
tnion TO stay aud will patrioticaliy
live M to every obligation demanded
by constitutional authority"
After reviewing the hiStorr Of The
4 litigation thc mcss.g" in part SAYS
"l'rovsion should also be made for
having presented 10 tho supreme Court
Of tn United states the contention Of
West Virginia why tho state Of Nir.
riNia should be restrained from press
/ ing her claim, until the State Of Viz
ginia sues in the Court OF Claims for
the purpose OF recovering her claim
growing out OF the ccssion OF the
Northwest Territory and thereby re-
duce III" joint assets OF the two States
10 common fund which will place
these States in position TO receive
;heir proportionatc credits and end
| further litigation.
SUBSTANTIAL Equities
NOT YET PRESENT
"Ii is the duty of the Legislature to
leave with the Virginia Debt Commits
sion and the legal department, Of state,
specific instructions as TO the steps il
desires To have taken in protecting tho
interests OF West Virginia There are
substantial equities which have not
been hcrctofor" presented to tho Su-
prcne Court. and could not have been
! reasonably presented any sooner
| Had we received a. statement of ac-
count when the Bennett Commission
OF 1871 requested il OF tho State of
! Virginia there is no question that this
/ long -drawn-out litigation would have
been At An end many years ago.
Making immediate provision for the
payment Of the debt as indicated by the
! supreme Courts las; opinion without
discount or further controversy by
West Virginia involves :. serious qucs-
tion Of ways and means.
! II am confident that West Nir-
! Snians are willing To pay when Nir-
! cnia and her bondholdcrs comccdc to
| West Virginia the proper credits to
| which she is entitled, which include
liquidation Of ali joint assets, and
| proper aPportionment in the way Of
| credits. Any residue OF or balance West
| Virginia owes thereafter She is willing
! to assume.
ITO decline to pay the debt means
re6udiation--and this course do NOT
believe West Nirginians arc willing to
adopt. feel justified that our ci,izcnry
| Will he willing to assume any equitable
or reasonable amount that their ability
! to pay will permit for the sake OF the
Constitution under which we live and
| for the high regard in which they hold
the highest tribunal I'm tho land re
! GardlcSs OF the unfairness OF the c,u-
barrassing position which /, has al
ways been our States misfortune to
occupy in the debt controversy"
Bill. IS INTRODUCED FOR
REPUTATION or DEBt.
The suit was instituted by Virginia
on February &c. 1906. in an effort 10
collect West Virginias share Of the
| public debt OF the mother State The
case was heard by tho United States
| Supreme Court. which. on June H. 1918.
decided that West Virginia should pay
| to Virginia sl2.393.929.50. which in
cluded principal and interest
Following the reading OF the mes
sage, Delegate James Bnssctt, Demo-
crat Of Lewis County. introduced it,
resolution providing for the rcpudia-
tion OF the Virginia debt. No action
| Will be taken on the resolution until
n report is made by the Virginia Debt
Committee. which is to no appointed
for the purpose OF considering all
|