The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-16
Internal Revenue Stamp Cam
ppnIerS.

To the Editor Of The Buentrg Telegraph
A communication appeared In the Press
few days ago with reference to the authority of
Commissioner Deano to prescribe stamp can
cellers.
Section 157, act July IS, 1885, is quoted. That
section reads, in part, 'that the Commissioner
of Internal Revenue be and he is hereby autho-
rized to prescribe such method" etc.
Is the language 'suoh method" capable of a
construction to mean more than one method?
Can the Commissioner prescribe several different
methods? He has prescribed "Wheeler's,"
"Holt's" and "Chamberlain's, and, it is under
stood, has agreed to approve several other
"cancellers."
Now, as he has approved of three distinct and
separate methods, and is about to approve of
other methods, which one of all these will he
require the 'imperdtiUe' use of? The latter
part of the section referred to reads "And he is
further authorized, in his discretion, to make
the application of such method Imperative upon
the manufacturers of proprietary articles, or
articles included in schedule c. and upon stamps
of a nominal value exceeding twenty-five cents
each" If ''Wheeler's" is purchased to-day,
will not "Holt's" be inperdtioely required to-
morrow And when "Holts" is purchased to-
morrow, will not "Chamberlain's" be inlperG-
tiUely required next week? And if there is to
be an unenumerated variety prescribed, may
not 'his discretion" by May 1st prescribe that
none of them shall be used; and, like the
"Kish book" they all be consigned to the tomb
of the Capulets ?"
AS stamps upon documents of value, such as
deeds, bonds etc, must be legally cancelled, it
becomes very nice question, What will be the
legal form of cancellation, after April 30, upon
such stamps?
AS the law will only require the use of "such
method upon stamps ''of q nominal value ex-
ceeding twenty-five cents each" (we refer to
schedule B, which is the schedule for documen-
tary stamps, why has not the Commissioner seen
fit to exercise 'hiS discretion" and required an
imperative" use of "Such method" upon such
stamps, so that the public might know eGactly
what form OF cancellation was legally required,
and no doubt be cast, hereafter, in any legal
tribunal, upon the form of cancellation.
This is very important; and every buyer of
realty, purchaser of mortgage or other title or
security, wants to be assured of q certainty in
the premises.
Let the Commissioner try his hand at this mat
ter once more, and see if he cannot make clean
thing of it.
The Commissioner says these capcellers t',ndy
be used" or else stamps when used must be
cancelled by writing the initials of the user and
| the date when used thereon.
| This is alternative, and contrary to ldW. The
new method must bo ''subStitute for" or an
''addition to the method now prescribed by
| Iaw"-so reads section 157. "Wheeler," "Hot,'
and chamberlain" ought now to go into part
nership and issue the most profitable STAMP
canceller, withdrawing the Others else they will
simply cut one another's throats, and thai
would be cancelling the cancellers..
We think this suggestion of ours a good one
because the public can afford to pay better fol
one good thing than be obliged to pay for five ol
six cheap things that are good for nothing
These gentlemen should each now send you
| long advertisement.