The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-01-22
PLAYING POLITICS
WITH The VA. DEBT
Cornwen Trying to Pass the
Buck, Republicans
Say.

Especial Dispatch to West virginian. J
CHARLESTON, an. 22.-The alleg
ed attempt of Governor Cornwell, as
exofficio chairman Of the Virginia
debt commission, to pass the buck Ia
the Republican legislature on the debt
question has found strong resentment
among leading Republicans in the Sen.
ate. They are aroused to such an ex.
tent that action is expected soon, Sen.
ator Sanders, Of Mercer county, chair.
man of the Judiciary committee, and
Republican floor leader, having intro.
duced resolution calling upon the
governor to make concrete recommen.
dations to the legislature. The resoIu.
ton is now in the hands Of the Senate
Virginia debt committee.
The governors special message on
the debt question said nothing more
than, Here is the situation; do what
you please about it." Leaders in the
Senate contend that the debt commits.
sion was created for the purpose Of in.
vestigating the situation and making
recommendations to the legislature,
which it has failed to do so far.
Senator Sanders resolution and his
motion for immediate consideration of
1t brought about the first purely politi-
cal scrap in the Senate. Partisan lines
were drawn sharply, Senators Fox and
Morton, Democrats, opposing The reso-
luton. Senator Fox declared that the
responsibility was upon the legislature
and denied that the governor had ne.
elected his duty, as he interpreted the
resolution to charge. Senator Sanders
replied that there was no intention to
imply that. the chief executive had
been derelict in his duty.
Senator Morton requested Mr.. San.
ders to withdraw his motion for imme.
date consideration and let the reso.
luton go to committee. There is no
disposition to rush this resolution
through" said Senator Sanders. 81
am willing for it to be referred to the
debt committee He then withdrew
his motion. n
The resolution reads as follows:
Whereas the governor Of this state
In his bienniel message to the West
Virginia Legislature Of January 8,
1919. stated: I'm few days will
transmit to you report Of the Vir-
ginia Debt Commission, setting out the
result Of its correspondence and nego.
tiations with the Virginia commission
since the last session Of the legisla-
ture, together with certain recommen-
dations for your consideration; and
Whereas on the seventeenth day
of January, 1919, the governor, togeth.
er with his special message to the leg.
islature .of West Virginia, transmitted
the report of the new Virginia debt
commission, and,
Whereas the said report Of the new
Virginia debt commission merely sets
forth the corresponds It has had
and the opinion OF the United States
Supreme court, together with a few
other documents which had come into
its possession, but does not submit any
recommendations whatsoever for the
consideration Of the legislature: and,
Whereas, the governor in his said
special message so transmitting said
report Of said commission does not
make any recommendations wfatso-
ever for the consideration Of the legis-
lature; and,
Whereas the legislature, before TAX.
ing any further action concerning the
Virginia debt, feels that It should have
full and complete recommendations
from the governor in regard thereto,
Now. therefore, Be It resolved, that
1t is the sense OF the legislature OF
West Virginia that the governor rec.
ommend and report to the legislature
as follows:
Whether or not there wore any
other, negotiations with the Virginia
commission except those set forth and
embraced In the report OF the new Wiz.
ginia debt commission transmitted to
the legislature on the 17th day Of Jan.
nary, 1919, together with the special
message OF the governor.
"2-If there were any other or fur.
Their negotiations with the Virginia
commission. besides those set forth In
said report, what were they7
"a- Whether or not the Virginia
debt should be paid. "a
"4-If the Virginia debt should be
paid, how and In what manner should
payment thereof be made? r.
elf the payment of the Virginia
debt should not be made, why not and
how can the payment thereof be avoid.
ed?"