Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-18
The Vlrgnia Debt Gases

The Virginia Debt Cases.
II is regarded rs likely that the United
Rtates Supreme Court Will tomorrow de-
eide the Virginia debt cases which have
been before il for several months. II
even scanty remnant Of the dignity OF
statehood is TO be permitted TO exist, the
court is bound 10 give its judgment tor
this State in the most important of these
suits. At any rate. our resources OF de-
fence against 1.-THE cut-worm of the Trea'
sury" are by no means exhausted. 1t was
only few months ago that the General
Assembly could convince itself of the safe
" Of creating boards OF excise to pass upon
applications for licenses 20 sell liquor 10y
PETAL Yet the experiment has been won
derfully successful. From the dealers
themselves there has been little or no OPP
position. Their ready acQuiescence in the
will of the Legislature has given them
friends where they had mono before and
made old ones more hearty.
By the new system double safeguard
is thrown around the granting of these
privileges, inasmuch as both the board and
the Court must concur before license can
be issued. II so happens that only one
applicant in Richmond and three or four
IL Norfolk and none elsewhere have failed
30 send in currency with their applications.
II would be joyful day for Virginia il
the Supreme Court of the United States
would give such a qmetus 70 the debt
legislation as would cause the bondholders
q, from, "a op6 look 10
This Commonwealth has always been
willing TO strain itself to the utmost point
consistent with maintenance of its life
and dignity to pay the claims against it,
and the best policy of the creditors would
have been TO cultivate this sentiment
rather than extirpate 1t.
If these Virginia cases are not decided to-
morrow, then they will 60 over to the fall
term of the court. As the retail-liquol
licenses have now nearly all been paid and
In money, and tho landowners never did
use coupons TO any considerable extent,
che decisions, if now given, can hardly
force an extra session of the General As
sembly; at least not until the two houses
are ready to proceed TO reapportion the
State for representation i'll Congress.
The questions before the Supreme Court
of the United States, rs stated 10 Governor
LRE's last message. are as follows:
First The const,utionslty OF the act OF May
~, 1887. requiring suits TO DO brought egaihs
yaX-pAyeTs rendering coupons
second. The constituiOnality OF the act Tor
bidding expert testimony 10 provo the genuine
ness Of papers which are wholly printed or on
graved and not signed manually.
Third. The constitutiOnality OF the act re-
curing the production Of the bond 10 prove the
Kenuineness Of the coupon clipped therefrOm.
Fourth. Tie cOnstltutiOnality OF the act I'M
posing a tax VI one thousand dollars and 90 per
cent Of the face value of the coupons sVld upon
all coupon brokers.
Fifth. The consiiutionRity OF the act limiting
the time within which legal proceedings may be
instituted 90 prove the genuineness OF coupons
tni have them received for taxes 20 within a
year from the date OF maturity OF coupons
sixth. The validity Of the Judgment OF the Cir
cult Court OF the city OF Richmond that coupons
we're not receivable in payment OF tees OF the
officers Of the court taxed In judgments rendered
an favor 81 ths Commonwealth.
Seventh. 1he question whether tho Commits
rioner Of the Revenue may be held responsible
fn an action OF trespass on case In the Circuit
Court a the United States 70 recover damages
against him for refusing 30 receive the coupons
when rendered for tho deposit required 10 be
made In money 10 obtain the ceruncate neces'
cary before application can be made Tor n nQuor-
urtpsc. Coupons wore rendered the Commits
sioner OF the Revenue az tho city OF Richmond
for such deposit, and upon BIS refusal 10 receive
them he was sued in the Circuit Court OF the
the supreme Court OF the United States on ap'