Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-12-30
Two Important Bills.
The following are copies of the two bills

NY MI hluuI6DtlSoA
4 Bill to provide for the more efficient cotlec-
ton of the Reve'aue, to support Govern
aaeat, maintain he..Publsc Schools, and to
91ay interest on the Public Debt.
Preferred to the Committee on Financed
BE 1t enacted By the General Assembly OF
Virginia, That the several tax collectors
of this Commonwealth shall receive in dis
charge of the taxes. license taxes, and 9TH
er dues. gold, silver, United States treasu-
ry notes, National bank currency, and
nothing else; provided. that in all cases in
which an officer charged by law with the
collection of revenue iue the State shall
take any step for the collection OF the
same claimed to BE- due from any citizen
or taxpayer, such person against whom
such is taken, If he conceives the same TO
be unjust or illegal, or against any statute,
or to be unconstitutional may pay tl- same
under protest, and under such pay 'hent the
officer collecting he same Shall p.y s.cii
revenue INFO the State Treasury, givins
notice at the time of such payment to tie
Treasurer that the same was paid una i
protest. The person so pawn such
revenue may at any time within thirty
days after making such payment, atd
not longer thereafter, sue the said
officer so collecting such revenue
in the court having jurisdiction of the par
ties and amounts. If it be determ med hat
the same was wrongfully collected for any
reason going to the merits Of the same.
then the court trying the case may certify
of record that the same was wrongfnlly
paid and ought to be refunded; and there
upon the Auditor OF Public Accounts shall
issue his proper warrant for the same,
which shall be paid in preference to other
claims GU the Treasury, except such as
have priority by constitutional require
ment. There shall be no other remedy in
any case of the collection OF revenue,
or the attempt to collect revenue in
funds receivable by said officers under this
law, the same being other and different
funds than the taxpayer may tender or
claim the right to pay than such as is
herein provided. and no writ for the pre-
vention of any revenue claim. or to hinder
or delay the collection of the same, shall
in anyWise issue, either Injunction, super
sedeas, mandamus, prohibition, or any
other writ or process whatever; but in all
cases if for any reason anyperson shall claim
that the revenue SO collected of him was
wrongfully or illegally collected, the reme-
dy for such person shall be as above provi-
ded. and in no other manner. In all such
cases, if the court certify of record that
the officer defendant acted in good faith
and diligently defended tho action, the
uoCcSodly CUcU luCullcu ny I'LL euAll OU
taxed to and paid by the State as in Grim
inal cases. The Commonwealth Attor-
ney of the county or corporation in which
suit is brought shall appear and represent
the defence. In every case where judg-
meEt is rendered for the defendant fee of
five dollars shall be taxed in favor Of said
attorney and against the plaintiff, and
whenever the court shall refuse to certify
to the good faith and diligence of the Office
defending the case like fee of five dollars
shall be taxed against the said officer. Any
officer charged with the collection of reve-
nue. who shall receive payment thereof in
anything other than that hereinbefore
provided shall be deemed guilty OF mis-
demeanor, and fined not less than one
hundred, nor more than five hundred dol
lars, in the discretion of the court; but
nothing herein contained shall be constru-
ed to subject any officer of the State to any
suit, other than is hereinbefore provided
for any refusal ON his part to accept in
payment of revenue due the State any
kind or description of funds, security, OF
paper not authorized by this act.
2. This act shall be in force from and af-
ter the LIST day of December, 1882.
A Bill to q3reue,at fraud upon the Conannom-
arealh and the holders of her securities an
the collection and disbursement of revenues.
Preferred to Finance Committed
Whereas, bonds purporting to be the
| bonds of this Commonwealth, issued by
authority of the act of March 80, 1871,
entitled ''An act to provide for the fund
| ing and payment of the public debt" and
'sAn act to provide a plan of settlement OF
the public debt,' are in existence, without
authority of law; and
| Whereas other such bonds are in exist
ance which are spurious, stolen or forged,
which bonds bear coupons in the simili-
| tude of genuine coupons, receivable for all
taxes, debts and demands due the Com
monwealth; and
Whereas genuine coupons from genuine
| hands, after having been received in pay
| ment of taxes. debts and demands, are
| fraudulently re-issued and received more
than once in such payments; and
Whereas such frauds on the rights of
| the holders of the aforesaid bonds impair
the contract made by the Commonwealth
with them-that the coupons thereon
| should be received in payment of all tax
| es. debts and demands due the said Com
| monwealth, and at the same time defrauds
| her out OF her revenues; therefore, for the
purpose of protecting the rights Of said
| bondholders and of enforcing the said con-
| tract between them and the Common
wealth and of preventing frauds on the
revenues of the same
l. Be 1t enacted by the General As
| senably Of Virginia, That, whenever any
taxpayer, or his agent. shall tender to any
| person whose duty it is to collect, or re-
ceive taxes, debts, or demands due the
| Commonwealth, any papers or Instruments
| in print, writing, or engraving, purporting
| to be coupons detached from bonds of the
| Commonwealth, issued under tha act of
| 1871, entitled an act to fund the public
| debt, in payment of any such taxes, debts
| and demands, the person to whom such pa
pers are rendered shall receive the same,
giving the party rendering receipt sta
| ting that he has received the same for the
purpose of Identification and verifcation.
| 2. He shall at the same time require such
taxpayer to pay his taxes IN coin, legal ten
| der notes, or National bank bills, and upon
| payment give him a receipt for the same.
| In case OF refusal to pay, the taxes due
! shall bs collected as all other delinquent
| taxes are collected.
| 3. He shall mark each paper or coupon
80 received with the initials of the taxpay-
| or from whom received and the date of re-
eeipt, 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 Com
monwealth-a summon, to answer which
petition shall be served on the Com
m0nwealth's attorney, who shall appear to
defend the same. The petitioner shall al
lege that he has rendered certain coupons
in payment of his taxes, debts, and de-
mands, and pray that jury be empan-
nelled to try the question ae to whether
they are genuine legal coupons which are
legally receivable for taxes, debts and de-
mands. Upon the petition an issue shall
| be made in behalf Of the Commonwealth,
which shall be tried by jury, and either
party shall have a right to exceptions on
| the trial and of appeal to the Circuit
Court and Court Of Appeals. II if be f.
| nollu daoida1 in Favor of Tho