The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-13
Movement Started by Richmond.
Leather Manufacturing Company
SAID TO BE UNC0NsTlTUTl0 l0NAL.
Mr.. William l.. RoyalT Employed to.
Test tho AcJ in the Supreme Court
of Appeals The Opinions Of
Prominent Lawyers are Given.
one Way to Nj axe an Issue
Before That Tribunal

The constitutonahty of the Confmls-
sioners of Valuation law will be tested
in the courts of the State
The law, it Is alleged, will prove most
Objectionable measure.
The general public knew nothing of
the law until it passed the Senate and
was published in the daily papers Of
Sunday. March 4th.s It Immediately
brought forth the strongest sentiment
of disapproval from all parts OF the State
Governor Tyler attached his signature to
it and the bill Became law.
Many Of the ablest lawyers in the State
contended at the time that the vote was
unconstitution and could not be Tis1dly
enforced according to its provisions, and
they declared that the vote was not pro-
1perly counted and recorded.
WILL TEST THE LAW.
A test of the constitutionality Of the
law seems inevitable.
The Richmond Leather Manufacturing
Company has asked the opinion of Mr..
William I, Royal of this city. whether
the act for appointing these Commission
ers of Valuation ds a constitutional act
He has given the opinion that the act is
not constitutional. This company mas
employed Mr.. Royal to test the law in
& the Supreme Court of Appeals and dshe
will within the next few days be able to.
show the people .cF ia the decision
Of this court in tn heS matte
When seen last night MIR. Royal! de-
clined to talk any further than to State
that he had been employed by the Rich.
mond Leather Manufacturing Company.
and would therefore, not attempt ito.
nredict any of the future developments
in the matter. =
called on several of the most promi-
nent lawyers in the city last night and
asked for their opinion on the law. They
were heartily in favor Of the movement
to test it and declared very plainly that it
was unconstitutional
ALL THE STATE INTERESTED.
Everybody in Richmond and everybody
in the State of Virginia is interested in
having it finally determined what the law
of this case is, and, while the Richmond
Leather Manufacturing Company has
started the movement, 1T is very likely
that the company will be backed by all
of the commercial interests of the city OF
Richmond and of the State OF Virginia.
There are many ways in which, this mat
ter could be brought TO distinct issue
One is this: The law requires the Public
Printer to publish all the acts of the AS
sembly in bound volume as soon as the
I legislature adjourns. but he must publish
only the acts of the Assembly, and If a
.spretended act is not an act he should
not publish that. A body of taxpayers
may apply to the courts to restrain him
from publishing in the body of the acts a
.'pretended act,'' which is not an act, but
which does them an "irreparable" injury,
These Taxpayers can apply for an injunc-
ton to restrain the Public Printer from
Hoo n OF sly1 1erSf
the valid acts Of the State, and that would
bring the issue up decisively for settle
merit.
They are many other ways in which
this act could be brought to test when
an. attempt is made to put it into force.