Chap. 70.—JOINT RESOLUTION Tendering to West Virginia an Arbitra-
tion for the Apportionment of the Public Debt.

Approved February 11, 1871.

Whereas, the constitutions of both Virginia and West Vir-
ginia imposes upon the respective legislatures of said states the
duty to provide, by law, for the adjusting between them, the
proportion of the public debt contracted prior to first Janu-
ary, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, proper to be borne by
each of said states; and whereas, it is essential to the financial
interest of Virginia that said settlement should be obtained as
soon as practicable: therefore,

Be it resolved by the general assembly of Virginia, That
the governor of this commonwealth be and he is hereby au-
thorized to tender to the state of West Virginia an arbitra-
tion of all matters touching a full and fair apportionment be-
tween said states of the said public debt; and in the event of
the acceptance of stich offer of arbitration by West Virginia,
then the governor, lievtenant-governor, president of the court
of appeals, auditor of public accounts, and the secretary of the
commonwealth, shall appoint two arbitrators on the part of
this state, who shall not be citizens of this state, to meet any
two arbitrators selected by West Virginia, not citizens of said
state. The arbitrators so appointed shall, if they deem it ad-
visable, appoint an umpire. Said arbitrators and umpire shall,
as soon as practicable, proceed to adjust, award, and decide,
upon fair, just, and equitable principles, what proportion of
said public debt should be paid by West Virginia, and what
part thereof should be paid by this state. Said apportionment,
when ascertained and made, to be reported by said arbitrators
to the legislatures of said states, to enable them to carry out
such award or apportionment by appropriate legislation. Each
state may be represented by counsel, and the board hereby di-
rected to appoint the arbitrators for Virginia, shall be and are
hereby authorized to draw on the treasurer of the state of Vir-
ginia, out of any money not otherwise appropriated, a sum suf-

cient to defray the necessary expenses of this arbitration on
the part of Virginia.