The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-01-20
Declares State Will Practi-
caIly Live Up to Every
Obligation.
IELLSOF CHIITON'S BILL
Retiring Senator Says He Is
Sure 1t Will Be
Passed.

CHARLESTON, W. Va, Jan. 20
The message OF Governor Hatfield on
the Virginia debt, promised in his
general message submitted at the be
ginning of the session, was yesterday
sent 20 the two houses OF the Lcgis.
lature, The message for IS pages re
views the history OF the debt case, re.
cites the credits which were allowed
through the energies of the present
West Virginia administration and Vir.
gina tyvYl commission, and then saws.
The narrow limits that have been
imposed leave few alternatives. To
decline TO pay the debt means repu.
diatton, and this .course1 do not believe
West yirgtnians are willing to adopt.
feel Justified in saying that our citi.
zenry WIN be willing to assume any
equitable and reasonable amount that
their ability to pay will permit, for the
sake of the constitution under which
we live, for the sake of the Union of
which we are part, and for the high
regard in which they hold the highest
tribunal of the land, regardless of the
unfairness OF the embarrassing posi-
ton which 1t has always been our
states misfortune to occupy In the
public debt controversy.
am confident that West Virgin.
ians are willing to pay when Virginia
and her bondholders concede to West
Virginia the proper credits to which
she Is entitled, which include the
liquidation of all joint assets and their
PROPER apportionment In the way of
credits
Governor Hatfield then recites that
rknmediate provision for the payment
Of this debt, without discount or fur
Their controversy Of West Virginia, in
Wolves serious questions Of ways and
means He states that there is 10
present fund for the payment and says
further: "A direct levy would be oner
Gus, ifpermissible;;" that therefore, he
turns at once to bonu issue, tne
only method left" and that the Ques-
ton has been raised as to whether
bonds could be issued under the con-
stitution, or whether the present Leg.
islature has the right to act Under the
authority of the old constitution, or
whether any acts on it's part regarding
the issue OF bonds would be constitu-
tional under the consuLution of 1872,
and whether Section of Article Y. of
the constitution gives the Legislature
power to authorize the issuance OF
bonds in the absence Of vote of the
people,,
THE Legislature" says Governor
Hatfield, must meet the responsible
ity of determining what the tuLure
COURSE Of the state should be in this
important matter" Then follows long
correspondence in relation to the case
and long letters which passed be.
Tween Governor Hatneld ana United
States Senator William E. Chiffon re-
garding the pressing OF West Nirginia's
claim Tor damages on the Northwest
Territory issue as presented in the
United states Senate by Chiffon.
IN 8 letter OF September ., 1915,
written by Chiffon 10 the governor,
the senator says: II consider it my
duty 70 write you concerning the stat
us of West Nirginia's claim against
the United States and its relations to
the debt suit. In matter where the
best interests Of our state is concern.
I'd / have no politics. 1t Will do no
good to discuss che right or power
of the court 10 compel the state 10 pay
this Judgment. While the lawyers are
arguing this question 1t seems to me
that the friends of the state who are
charged with responsibility in the
premises should be working upon the
practical way to what statesmanship
would seem to dictate"
Chilton's letter. then recites his eff
forts 10 have hearings on this states
.lnttt tN, IN I
introduced the bill and made my first
speech in the Senate on the question
+ 1 was ioked Tor my supposed impu-
dence. He pictures his efforts, con-
iinuing: 1At one time Senator Suther-
land objected, at another Senator
Brandegee, and so on. know from
personal interviews with senators that
! have large majority in Tue sen...e
tor IL. Every Democratic senator will
vote for it except possibly Senator Gull
person, and senators Lodge, Gallinger,
Sterling and others have told NE they
favor the BILL
Its failure to pass at the present
session ooes not cause 1t to fail, be.
cause when Congress meets in De-
rember II will still have its place on
the calendar with favorable report.
1 have talked about this matter to 9th.
or members of the Judiciary commit
tee Of the House, notably Chairman
Webb and Congressman Nicely (rep.
resenting the First West Virginia dis.
Erict) and It is so clearly s.u.r
rights bill and a matter of simple JUS
tice to all the states that these two
members feel some confidence in their
utility TO pass IL in the House. My
reason for wanting Jurisdiction in the
Supreme Court is to conserve time and
TO get the advantage of having the suit
fhreshed out in court Of full power"
Senator Chiffon then goes on TO say
that in the campaign for his re-elec-
ton, then on, he would present the
case and his efforts before West Vir-
ginians. Chiffon was defeated at the
polls for this reelection in November
by CongressInsll A4Ouard Sutherland,
SO that the fate of his bill to REIN.
burse West Virginia to the amount of
some $15,000.000 for northwest terri
lory claims Is now matter of how
eguch he can do in the present session