Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-12-11

present term, but when reached on the
docket the Chief Justice announced that as
they involved the decision of constitutional
questions the court preferred to hear argu-
ment before full bench. Their cousidera-
tion was passed by until the vacancy now
existing in that court should be filed by
the President. 1t is possible such appoint
ment may be made upon the assembling of
Congress and these cases argued and de-
termined during the present session of the
Legislature. Upon the result of s'1ch de-
cisieD will depend the necessity 90 urther
legislation. The principal { ms in
volved are:
First. The constitutionality of the act of
May 12, 1887, requiring suits to be brought
against tax payers rendering coupons.
| Second. The constitutionslity Of the act
forbiddipg expert testimony to prove the
genuineness of papers which are wholly
printed or engraved and not signed manu-
ally.
Third. The censtitutionality Of the act
requiring the production of tho bond to
prove the genuineness Of the coupon clipp-
cd thersfrom.
| Fourth. The constitutionality Of the act
imposing tax Of 81. 600 and 30 per cent Of
| the face value of the coupons sold upon all
coupon brokers.
Fifth. The constitutionality of the act
limiting the time within which legal pro-
ceedings may be instituted to prove the
genuiDeness Of coupons and have them re-
| ceived for taxes to within year from the
date of maturity of coupons.
Sixth. The validity of the judgment Of
the Circuit Court of the city of Richmond
that coupons were not receivable in pay
ment of fees of the officers of the court
taxed in judgments rendered in favor Of
the Commonwealth.
Seventh. The question whether the
Commissioner of the Revenue may be held
responsible in action of trespass on a case
in the Circuit Court of the United States to
recover damages against him for refusing
to receive the coupons when rendered for
the deposit required to be made in money
to obtain the certificate necessary before
application can be made for a liquor-leense.
COUPONS were rendered the Commissioner
of the Revenue of the city of Richmond for
such deposit and upon his refusal to receive
them be was sued in the Circuit Court of
the United States, and the case is now
pending IN the Supreme Court of the Uni
ted States on appeal.
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The recognized Importance of the depart
msnt of education commends it to the
thoughtful attention of the General Assem-
bly,. No other department necessitates the
expenditure of SO large a sum of money or
touches moro generally or moro vitality the
interests of the Commonwealth. It will be
readily conceded that whatever exerts a
material influence in moulding tho citizen
ship of the country aud in determining, in
a great or less degree, its economic and so.
cial conditions is ct oncs subject of para.
mount impOrtaace.
The practioability, or expedieucy, of in
Producing and maintaining system of pop
ular education, is no longer q question.
Such system, organized and controlled by
legal authority, and supported, mainly, by
direct taxation, already exists in every State
and Territory OF the Union, and is, there
fore, recognized as the established policy of
the whole country. The only question now
is, what measures can friendly legislation
devise to render the system as Efficient aud
useful as possible. A publc-school system
was iuargurated in Virgiaia shortly after
the close of the reconstruction period when
the sovereignty OF the State passed into the
hands Of her own psople and it has existed
both in theory and practice ''for the equal
benefit of all the people Of the State" with
oat discrimination as to race pr color.
TIE official records of the last four years
furnish gratifying exhibit Of its continued
progress aud presect condition. The total
amount expended in support of the public
schools for the year closing July 81, 1899,
was IN roan6 numbers, 81 800 900, an ex-
cess Of $4,000 above that fo- the year
closing July 81, 1885.
The estin sted value of school property
when came into Office and when l go out
is as follows: