Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-12-13

STATUS OF STATE DEBT LEGIs.
LATURE.
The provisions Of the act of May
10Th, 1887, have been sustained
without exception by the State
courts. Cases, however, involving
the cOnstitutlonalIty of this law,
are now before the Supreme Court.
They were advanced and set for
argument at present term, but,
when reached on the docket, the
Chief Justice announced that, as
they involved the decision OF con.
sututlOnal questions, the Court
preferred to hear argument before
a full bench. Their consideration
was passed by until the vacancy
now existing in that court should
be filed by the President. 1t liz
possible such appointment may be
made upon the assembling of Con
gress, and these cases argued and
determined during the present
session Of the Legislature. Upon
the result of such decision will de-
pend the necessity for further legls.
laton. The principal questions
involved are
FIRST. The cOnstitutiOnality Of
the act of May 18th, 1887, requir-
ing suits to be brought against
taxpayers rendering coupons.
Second. The cOnstitutlonaIity Of
the act forbiding expert testimony
to prove the genuiness of papers
which are wholly printed or en-
graved and not signed mannally.
Third. The cOnstltutionality of
the act requiring the production OF
the bond to prove the genuIneness
of the coupon clipped therefrom.
Fourth. Tne CO 1stitutlonaIity Of
the act impos Ig a tax Of one
thousand dollars and twenty per
cent. Of the face value of the cou-
pons sold npon all coupon brokers.
Fifth. The constitutiOnality of
the act limiting the time within
which legal proceedings may be
instituted to prove the genulneness
OF coupons and have them received
for taxes to within a year from the
date of maturity of coupons.
Sixth. The validity OF the iudg-
ment OF the Circuit Court of the
CITY OF Richmond, that coupons
were not receivable in payment OF
fees of the officers of the court !;
taxed in judgments rendered In
favor of the Commonwealth.
Seuenth. The question, whether
the Commissioner of The Revenue
NAV he held responsible in an &C
ton of tresplss on a case IN the
Circuit Court Of the United States
10 recover pamaget against him
for refusing to receive the coupons,
when rendered, for the deposit re-
quired to be made in money, TO oO-
tam the certificate necessary be-
fore application can be made for
a hQuor license. Coupons were ten
dered the Commissioned OF the
Revenue of the City of Richmond
tor such deposit, and, upon his re-
iusal to receive them, he was sued
in the Circuit Court of the United
States, and the case Is now pend
ing IN the Supreme Court OF the
United states on appeal.
TIE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The recognized Importance OF the
Department of Education com
mends II TO the thoughtful atten-
tion Of the General Assembly. no
other department nccessitates the
expenditure Of 50 large a sum oi
money, or touches more generally
or more vlt4lly the interests oi tue
Commonwealth. 1t will be readily
conceded, that whatever exerts "a
material influence IN moulding the
citizenship OF the country and III
determining, IN great or less de-
oree lis economic and social con.
diuons, is at once a subject OF para
mount importance. =.
The practlcaMlity, or expedi'
ency. of Introducing and maintain
ing a system of popular education,
is no longer a question. Such a
svstem. organized and controlled
by legal authority, and supported
mainly, by direct taxation, already
exists IN every State aud Territory
of the Union, and il, therefore,
re,.opuized as the established policy
of the whole country. The only
question now is, what measures cal
friendly legislation devise to rem
der the system as efficient ahc
useful as possible Apubllc scnoo
system was inaugurated in Virginia
shortly after the close OF the recon
structlon period, when the soVer
eighty OF the State passed into th'
hands of her own people, anu i
has existed both in theory ant
nractlce. "for the equal benefit o
all the people of the State,' Win
out discrimination as to race o
color.
The official records of the las
, tour years furnish a gratifying 81
hibit Of It's continued progress ant
J present condition. The tots
amount expended 10 support OF th
public schools for the year, closlh
July 81, 1889, was in round nun nun
bers, 81 10000, an excess oil Sl?o
! 600 above that for the year closin
e July 81, 1885.
: The estimated value OF scho'
, property, when | came INTO olnC
!, and when 90 out, Is as iollows
p, In 1889 it is S2,20S,ll4, IN 1859
5 was 81 ,Sl0, ,2j6 increase, S3So, 80 ol
Il humber of public schools IN ioo
il 74lO: number OF public schools
d 1881 & Ga: increase so. lot