Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-08-15
DEFINITE MOVE TO
SETTLE VIRGINIA
DEBT CASE
Before the Supreme Court of the U. ),
Northwest of Chaulnes on Picardy
the Payment

WASHINGTON, Aug. IA defin-
lite move to compromise the Virginia
debt case with the hope of bringing
about settlement before the Supreme
Court of the United States takes
drastic steps to enforce the payment
of the $12, 100000 judgement it has
rendered in this controversy has been
mace by the commissioners represent
ing West Virginia, Baltimore Sun
correspondent has been informed.
The West Virginia Debt Commission
has invited the Virginia Debt Com
mission to meet it for the purpose Of
seeing if an amicable adjustment can
not be reached outside of court. So
far as can be learned, the Virginia
Debt Commission has made no re-
Spouse to these overtures, but the OPP
inion is expressed in Washington that
Joint conference will likely be held
although some doubt is entertained
that any satisfactory settlement will
be reached.
1t is learned that the West Virginia
Commissioners will purpose that the
Virginia Commissioners allow their
State new credits on the debt prin-
cipal aggregating about $1,000,000
If these credits are allowed West Vir-
ginia will then agree to pay over the
money to the holders of the old debt
certificates without further ado. II
is not believed, however, that Virginia
will agree to credit aggregating ST.
100000 to be applied to the original
debt principal If they do, it will re-
duce the amount of the judgement
from S12 1000, 900 to about SS,000,000
There is a chance, however, that
the two commissions may be able to
get together on the amount of new
credits to be allowed-in other words
they may be able to meet each other
half way on the 81 100000, once they
get around {. table and start discuss
ing the matter.
The Supreme Court has intimated
in it's latest opinion that perhaps
some new credits should be allowed
West Virginia. The commissioners
from the latter State are banking or
that intimation as promising salts
factory settlement.
State officials and the people OF
West Virginia, it is now declared, real
ize that the judgement rendered by
the Supreme Court must be paid
sooner or lated. They understand
that it will not do to deny the highest
court in the land, and that the Sup
RENE Court will find way for the
collection of judgement. Chief Just
ice White warned West Virginia last
spring that if the states themselves
did not get together and settle the
controversy the Court itself intended
to take steps to force payment. Chief
Justice White then said the Court
would send representatives to West
Virginia to make survey and report
upon the best methods to be employ
ed for the collection of the money
The Virginia West Virginia debt
controversy has been dragging along
for nearly half century. Two years
ago Associate Justice Hughes, now re-
signed from the court, handed down
an opinion, fixing about $500 900 as
the amount of principal and interest
West Virginia should pay as its share
of Virginia's pre-war debt He also
held that West Virginia should pay
5 per cent. interest on this amount
until the judgement is satisfied
Since that opinion was rendered West
Virginia has been seeking to have
the case reopened for the considera-
ton of new credits, which she claims
will materially reduce the amount OF
the judgement
Not one cent Of this money will &c
to Virginia. When that state refund
ed its old state debt, it issued new
state bonds for abuot 70 per cent. Of
the debt and gave debt certificates
for remaining 80 per cent, saying il
would use its influence to make West
Virginia pay those debt certificates
The bulk of these old certificates have
been gathered up by bankers and in,
vestors on a long-shot investment. II
is said that about 100000 are held
by Baltimore investors