Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-02-02
ALEXANDRIA, VA
TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 2.
The SUPREME COURT COUPON DECISION

spring by the Supreme Court of the Uniteo
States fixed unalterably the right of the
Virginia tax payer to pay his State taxes
in tax receivable coupons. The decision
rendered yesterday guarantee him the pro-
lection of the federal court in case his ten
der of coupons is ignored and the collector
attempts afterwards to enforce, by levy, q
-navment in money In the decision
last spring the court was divided
in opinion on the right of the tax
payer to sue the collector when coupons
were refused. Tho minority held that such
o suit was in effect suit against the State,
and therefore prohibited by the constitu-
tional amendment. The majority held
otherwise, and now, unanimous Court,
recognizing tho majority opinion as
having settled the law OF the case,
decided on yesterday that any COL
lector who should venture to levy after ten
derof coupons, was liable to exemplary dam
ages,as for a wi!ful traspass, and was so liable
in the Circuit Court of the United States.
Uoder this decision whoever owes State tax
of any sort little or much, license or prop
erty tax, may tender to the treasurer tax
receivable coupons-and after such teEuer
the Treasurer will modest him ut his peril.
The court declares it the duty Of the circuit
court to instruct the jury to assess such
damages against the offending treasurer as
will deter him from repeating his illegal levy
These decisions give the coup de grace TO
the ridiculous and humiliating attempts OF
certain members of the Legislature Of Fir-
cinia to override the constitution OF the
United States, and to subvert the tunda'
mental principles Of common honesty and
morality. Is there no member Of that body
who has the political sagacity- to put the
matter on no higher ground--lhe political sa.
gaci,y to affirm, in his place, that expedl-
ency aud principle alike require repeal o.
all the legislation Intended to hinder the
payment Of the public debt, and the adop'
ton Of plan for an honorable and satistac
tory settlement with The public creditors
---.---
MIR. INGALLS,, Of Kansas, is rs sectionn
aud partisan in his repuhlicanism SIS any
other republican Scnator, bat that fact does
not effect his natural Or acquired knowl
edge, and he i distinguished as much fo'
his common sense a. for his cultured educa'
ton. II ere is what he saya about the civi
service humbus:
81 belong to that school of republicanisn
which believes that President Cleveland Is
entitled, in the discharge OF his duties, to
have the revenues collected and discussed
and the practical operations of his govern
ment conducted by his party friends and
those who arc politically IL sympathy with
him. Regarding the doctrines Of civil ser
vice reform as announced by its apostles as
pernic;ous, and considering the tenure-oi-
office act to be unconstitutional, | ccncede
the power of the President to make such
changes in the patronage Of the different
executive departments of the government
as he>deems best. think tho republicans
of Kansas, and of the west generally, main
tain simiar views, and that they feel that
when the political power Of the country
was contded to President Cleveland gem
eral change in the public service was antici-
pated."
But it required the possession Of no education
nor of an extra amount Of common sense to in
duce Mr.. ingalls, to take his view of the civil scr.
vice question. 1t Is said the admi n!stration is
run upon business principles; but how can that
be if the men who are to carry out its principles
and policy arc opposed to both:
hn hos rt n