The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-12-21

inecs Last Night-Mr. webb's school Bill.
Yesterday, just before he was elected to
the United States Senate, Mr.. Riddleberger
introduced the two following bills. They
are the "forerunners - of the Riddleber-
/ ger bill, and are intended to prevent the
reception Of coupons for taxes. One OF
them will become operative (having no
commencement clause) by law on the 1st OF
July, 1882. That is intended TO be passed
upon by the present Court OF Appeals.
! The other is TO 20 into operation in De-
cember next, and will be passed upon by
/ the new Court, which goes into office jan
| uary !, 1888:
A Blu TO Prerent Fraud Upon the Com
mOn,reoM and the Holders Of Tier Sc
curities in the Collection and DisbWSe-
nent Of ReUenucS.
[Ieferre1 10 Finance Committed
Whereas bonds purporting to be the
/ bonds OF this Commonwealth, issued by
authority Of the act Of March 30, 1871. en-
I titled "An act TO provide for the funding
and payment Of the public debt" and un-
der the act OF March %, 1879, entitled "An
act TO provide plan Of settlement OF the
public debt" are in existence without
/ authority Of law; and
/ Whereas other such bonds are in exist
ence which are spurious, stolen, or forged,
which bonds bear coupons in the simlitude
OF genuine coupons, receivable for all taxes,
debts, and demands due the Common
wealth; and
whereas genuine coupons from genuine
/ bonds, after having been received i'm pay
ment OF taxes, debts, and demands, are
/ fraudulenty reissued and received more
/ than once in such payments; aud
Whereas such frauds on the rights OF the
holders Of the aforesaid bonds impair the
contract made by the Commonwealth with
/ thcm-that the coupons thereon should DO
received in payment OF all taxes, debts,
and demands due the said Commonwealth,
and at the same time defrauds her ont OF
| her revenues; therefore, for the purpose
Of protecting the rights OF said bondhold-
ers and Of enforcing the said contract he
tween them and the Commonwealth and Of
preventing frauds on the revenues OF the
same
l. BE Il enacted on the General assembly
Of Virginia, That whenever any Taxpayer
or his agent shall tender to any person
whose duty it is to collect or receive taxes,
debts, or demands due the Commonwealth,
any papers or instruments in print, VIII
ting, or engraving purporting to be cou-
pOns detached from bonds Of the Common
wealth, issued under the act Of 1871, enti-
/ tied an act to fund the public debt in pay
ment OF any such taxes, debts, and de-
mands, the person TO whom such papers
are rendered shall receive the same, giving
/ the party rendering a receipt stating that
/ he has received the same for the purpose OF
/ Identification and ycriiicalion.
/ q. He shall at the same time require such
| taxpayer to pay his taxes in coin, legal
| tender notes, or national-bank bills. and
/ upon payment give HIM receipt for the
same. In case OF refusal TO pay, the taxes
/ due shall he collected as all other delinquent
taxes are collected.
| 3. He shall mark each paper or coupon
so received with the initials OF the tax
payer from whom received and the date OF
receipt, and shall deliver the same, securely
sealed up, to the Judge of the County
/ Court OF the county or Hastings Court Of
/ the city in which such taxes. debts, or de-
mands are payable. The Taxpayer shall
/ therefore be at liberty TO file his petition in
said County Court against the Common
wealth-a summons TO answer which petit
tion shall be served on the Commonwcalthfs
attorney, who shall appear to defend the
/ same. The petitioner shall allege that he has
rendered certain coupons in payment OF his
/ taxes, debts, and demands, and pray that n
Jury be empanelled to Try the question
as TO whether they are genuine legal cou-
pons which are legally receivable for taxes,
debts, and demands. Upon this petition
an issue shall be made in behalf Of the
/ Commonwealth, which shall be tried by a
/ Jury, and either party shall have right TO
/ exceptions on the trial and Of appeal TO the
/ Circuit Court and Court Of Appeals. II il
be finally decided in favor OF the petitioner
/ that the coupons rendered by him are gen.
uine legal coupons, receivable for taxes,
&C., then the judgment Of the court shall
/ be certified TO the Treasurer, who, upon
receipt thereof, shall receive said coupons
for taxes, and shall refund the money be-
/ fore then paid for his taxes by the tax
payer out Of the first money in the Trca-
sury. i'm preference to all other claims.
/ 4. Whenever any Taxpayer shall apply
/ to any court in this Commonwealth for q
/ mdnddmuS to compel any person author
lied TO receive or collect taxes, debts. or
demands due the Commonwealth toreceiyc
coupons for taxes, it shall be the duty Of
such person to make return TO said man
dQnuS that he Is ready TO receive said cou-
pons i'm payment Of such taxes, debts, and
demands as soon as they have been legally
asccrtained to be genuine, and the coupons
which by law are actually receivable.
Upon such return, the court before
whom the application is made shall re-
quire the petitioner to pay his taxes to
! tbe taX-collcciOr OF his county or city. or
TO the Treasurer Of the Commonwealth,
and upon filing the receipt for such taxes
i'm such court the said court shall direct the
petitioner 10 file his coupons in such court,
which shall then forward the same to the
County Court OF his county or Hustlngs
Court of the city where such taxes are pay
able, and direct said court 10 frame and Is
sue between the petitioner rs plantiif, and
the Commonwealth as defendant Is TO
whether the coupons so rendered are
genuine coupons, legally received for
taxes. On the trial OF the cause the At
torney for the Commonwealth in the lower
courts, and the Attorney-General
In the Supreme Court OF AI-
peals, shall appear for the COM
monwcalth, and require proof OF the gem
uincneSs and legality Of the coupons in
issue: either party shall be entitled TO eN-
ceptions and an appeal to the Circuit Court
and Supreme Court OF Appeals ON the trlal
OF this issue. II the decision be finally in
favor OF the petitioner, the mGnddmuS shall
issue requiring the coupons to be received
for said taxes, &C., and they shall be so re-
ceived, and on the certificate OF such iudg-
ment the Treasurer Of the Commonwealth
shall forthwith refund to the taxpayer the
amount Of currency or money before then
maid bv him for taxes out OF the first money
in the Treasury, in preference to all other
claims.
A Bill TO Prouide for The More Efficient
Collection of the Revenue, 10 support
Government, Maintain the Public schools,
and 10 Pay Interest on The Pubic Deot'
[Referred 70 The Committee on Flnance.l