New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-10-02
Tkn Rfnun Act.

Yesterday was the time designated for the new
Tax law to 60 into effect. Alter that, DO commercial
or legal paper transaction wss to be valid uness
authenticated by the stamp prescribed for each case.
Cheeks and drafts on banks or individuals, contracts,
conveyances, deeds end instruments Of all kinds,
bills Of lsding, and playingcards, Geographic
messages and passagetickes, each to bear on il
face one of the new stamps be Issued and received
at the risk of the parties concerned. But when tho
last days Of September came, the Government had
not issued its stamps and tie whole public became
aoitnted at the prospect Of the loss and commercial
disaster to which it was likely to be subjected BY
this reuissness. Committees accordingly wrote, and
committees travelled to Washing On, to lcara
the decision of Mr.. Boutwell,, the Com
missioner of Internal Revenue; but although
he answered as sny man Of common sense
nigh: have expected, the pubic is not
even vet satisfied or informed. Congress might pass
twenty stamp acts to go into effect on certain days,
and provide all necessary pains and penalties for rs
fasa or neglect TO use the revenue stamps, and yes
they would all become dead letters If no stamps
were Manufactured by Government and furnished to
the public. The fret Of October has come aud gone,
but no stamps, or almost none, arc TO be had. The
Government is not ready to cell them in anything
Ike the quantity required by the people. What
other answer, then, could have been expected from
Commissioner Boutwell, than that which he gave ~
a Committee Of New-York Bankers recently:
Until the Government provides sSmp, no rers;y Win
Commissioner Of internal Revenue"
When the Government will be in position to en-.
force strict obedience 70 toe Tax Law is ye, quite
uncertain bat il is doubtful il it can be sooner ihsa
month hence. Some general notice Will undouot'
edy be gwen by Commissioner Boutwell, when 10
will be ready TO supply stamps as f2s as nseded.
Tho Supplementary Act passed July "a, 1867 pro-
vides that lo instrument, paper, or document Exc
cu,ed whou. a stamp, prior 10 JAM ], 1868 shall be
invalid or vod but DO such instrument, paper, or
document shall be offered 80 euideHes in any Court
,utf a rroper stamp IS aft red and the holder there
Of has proven 10 the satisfaction OF the Court thas
he has paid to the Collector Of the District i've dol
lars for the use of the United States.
In other lords, the period from October to JAM
nary was intended as day Of grace TO enable the
wheels of trade to accommodate themselves to tie
new order Of things. Government provided that ito
stamps should be used on and after October !, bat q
said that, until January l. because check, draft or
document did not bear stamp, twas not necessarily
null and void. Between man and man, it might he
taken rs good and sufficient Bu! if legal suit should
arise between two parties, the paper needed in eVi
dence should not be received in coar until the Gov
eminent stamp had been attached and the dehnquen.
party had paid to the nearest Collector PcnA'''
IS for the use Of the Government.
Such provisions would have been lar sna eq'",.-
bio If the necessary supply Of ssmps haa oesn rsSuy
for Issue to the public at the appointed me. ins'.
would then have been excuse for delinquency Gus
ignorance. But Government being itself delinquent
in mi, matter the public must not be made to suffer.
and wo are much mistaken if Mr. Boutwell, does noe
o-sr his collectors to folego the imposition OF tho
!, penalty until come future day which DO Will
] hesi rnrfe.