The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-06-14
From the Alexandria Gazette,l
The Tax Coupon Middle.

Probably few people in Virginia outside
OF those who are Immediately interested in
the contest which is now icing carried on
between the State and those who have ten
dered her tax-receivable coupons in pay
ment of their taxes. have any clear idea of
the present status of affairs. Suits have
been instituted in the various circuit
courts throughout the State against some
| three thousand taxpayers who have only
acted in strict accordance with the law as
laid down by the Supreme Court Of the
United States. Up to May of last year the
prosecuting those who used her coupons
was by levying Oh and selling their prop.
erty. Where this was done suits were at
once entered in the Federal circuit court
against the States officers, and in every
instance the taxpayer was awarded dam
ages. Finding that this method of annoy
ing taxpayers did not answer, the act
known as the coupon crusher was passed
about this time last year. The object of
this act is to enable the State to bring
succession Of suits against parties who
have used coupons, and by piling up inter
est and costs terrify the taxpayer into
withdrawing his tender. Large fees are
given to the different officers who are en-
ployed in bringing these suits, SO that the
more suits they bring the better it pays
them. Reports have even reached us that
the board of indemnity is backing up some
of these officers, but we can scarcely be-
lieve that they would venture to use the
money in the treasury for any such pur-
pose. as there is nothing in the act which
created the board that contemplate any such
proceeding. A taxpayer who has rendered
a So coupon for So of taxes finds himself
sued in the circuit court, and when he
produces bis coupon in court he is told
that he will not be allowed to produce evil |
dence to establish its genuineness, but |
that when he can produce the bond from |
which the coupon was cut (Which, of |
course, he cannot do, having bought the
coupon loose from the bond) his coupon
ment entered against him. He. therefore,
finds that about 500 of costs, interest, ETC.,
have been piled against him. and for doing
what? For doing what his own State |
specially contracted with him under the
most solemn pledges he should do, and |
what the Supreme Court of the United |
States has declared, time after time, that I
he has an indefeasible right to do. 1t |
would seem that, in addition to refusing
to pay her creditors the money she bor-
rowed from them, the State IS endeavoring |
to extort money from theml At Peters
burg the jury refused to bring in verdict
that the coupons were spurious and found |
for the taxpayers, and we believe their
verdict is approved by all right thinking
people. No wonder that capital is fright
ened out Of the State when people hear |
that this law, which forbids the employ
ment of expert evidence in proving the |
genuineness of engraved paper. is applica |
BILE not only to the States own coupons
but to all engraved paper. In their eager
haste to destroy the States own coupons |
the legislature which passed the act refer
red to has cast slur on all paper belong
ing to any company or corporation in the |
State, and which is not signed by hand. |
The sooner this foolish and unhappy law |
is openly condemned by the voice, not only
of the luries, but of everyone who wishes
we'll to his State, the better it will be for
Virginia and Virginia enterprises.