The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-05-23

same must write or imprint thereon in ink
the initials of his name, and the date (the
year, month, and day. on which the same
is attached or used. Each stamp should be
separately Cancelled. When stamps are
printed upon checks, etc, so that in filling
up the instrument the face of the stamp is
and must necessarily be written across, no
other cancellation will be required.
All cancellation must be distinct and
lcgible, and except in the case ofproprie-
tary STAMPS from private dies, ne method Of
cancellation which differs from that above
described can be recognized as legal and
sufficient.
Stamping of Instruments by Collectcrs
Any pcrs'' '',;, an instrnm scout
to b. ~l>>,tcu, may present it to the collector,
who, under the authority conferred upon
him by section 1872, will 50 stamp it as to
place TIL Sntlicicncv of that particular in
Strumcnt beyond all questions 50 far as
stamp duties are concerned. The p%rovis-
ions of the section can in no case be applied
to an instrument after it has been issued or
used. The collector should decline to stamp
or impress an instrument, under this sec
ton, It'll the stamp duty with which he
thinks it ~chargcable has been paid. In cases
Of reasonable doubt he is recommended to
obtain the opinion Of this office before atlix-
ing his stamp, unless immediate action is
essential to the interests Of the parties con
cerned.
Penalties.
\ penalty of fifty dollars is imposed upon
every person who makes. signs, or issues,
or who cans"s to be made, signed, or is
sued, any paper Of any kind or d S~cription
whatever, or who accepts, negotiateS, or
pays, or causes to be accepted, negotiated,
or paid, any bill Of exchange, draft, or or
der, or promisSory note, for the payment Of
money. without the same being duly stamp
ed, or having thereu,'on an adhesive stamp
for dcnotinS the tax chargcable thereon,
Cancelled IN the manner required by law,
with intent to evauc the provisions of the
II! enue act.
a penalty of two hundred dollars is i'm
posed upon every person who pays, nego-
tiates, or offers in payment, Or receive, or
takes in payment. any bill of exchange or
order for the payment of any sum Of money,
drawn Or purporting to be drawn in a for
cign country, but payable in the United
States, until the proper stamp has been
all Z tIlGiSLc.
a penalty offifty dollars fine is imposed
upon every person who fraudentIv makes
use of an adhesive stamp to dcEote the duty
required by the revenue act, without effect
ualIy cancelins and obliterating the same
in the manner required Ply law.
General Remarks.
Revenue STAN Is may be used indisc"im-
inateiy upon any of the matters Or things
enumerated in schedule B, except proprie-
tary and playing card stamps, for which a
special uSt has been provided.
Postage stamps can not be used in pay
ment of the duty ~chargea5le on instru-
mcnts.
The law does not designate which of the
parties to an instrument shall furnish the
necessary stamp, nor does the Commission
er of Internal Revenue assume to determine
that 1t shall be supplied by one party rath-
er than by authority bnt if an instrument
subject to stamp duty is issued without
having the necessary stamps affixed thereto,
it can not be recorded, or admitted, or nsed
as evidence IN any court, until a leyal stamp
or stamps, d%cnoting the amount of tax, shall
have been all xed as prescribed by law, and
the person who thus issues it is liable to a
penalty, if he omits the stamps with an in
tent to eyade the provisions of the internal
rpvpnuo act