Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-07
IyrERr AL REVENUE STAMPS.
Coll sctOr CrenAhaw Gives a Full ENpla-
nation of His Late Circular Letter with
Regard to Them.

! Coll sctOr CrSushaW Gives q HuIl ADlh-
nation of His Late Circular Letter With
Regard to Them.
ATLANTA, GA, June 4.-Editor Of the
M0rRiHq AetoS MY attention has Just
been called to an article in the MORNING
News of June ,, collector Crenshaw's
/ ORDER" which does me injustice. in
obedience to request of Special Revenue
Agent acting for the Commissioner Of In
ternal Revenue, l instructed all my
Deputy Collectors TO send in, on June |,
ali special tax stamps for the sale Of to-
bacco and whisky, with instructions TO
swear all applicants for these stamps
after June /, and then let the persons
wanting a special tax stamp forward his
application sworn to, together with the
money for the same, to this Office, and a
stamp would be forwarded from here on
receipt of money and sworn application,
which the law requires. The taxpayer
who sells tobacco and whisky in May ia
required to pay his tax for that tax year
MAY /, 1899, to April 80, 1886, by the last
day of May, or penalty Of 30 per cent. is
assessed against him, which he is required
10 pay if he fails to pay his tax by the last
day of May.
kept Deputy Collector canyassing in
each division all through the month Of
May with these snecial stamp tax in
order to afford all taxpayers desiring to
pay within the time required of them by
law an opportunity TO pay at their homes.
Now, if the taxpayer fails to avail himself
of this opportunity to pay during the
month Of May, which the law requires
him TO do; il | require him to send his
application and money to this Office for
ms stamp from this Office and recon-
mend no prosecution against bin
for his failure to comply with the
law in ITOcuring "A stamp during May,
or at any time he began selling, /
think / have certainly been accommoda-
ting, for every man who sells tobacco or
whisky without paying his special tax is
liable to a criminal prosecution. Those
who were in business in May certainly
have no reason to complain, for il is their
own fault if they did not comply with the
law and pay when they had an opportu-
nifty. Only those commencing business
after June 1 could complain, and l think
this class will lind no Inconvenience in
making application for special tax
stamp tor the sale of whisky or tobacco
and forwarding the money here. for it is
impossible to always find the deputy IN
Savannah when the stamp Is needed. as
vass his division. They can all safely go
on with their business without any fear
of trouble from the very moment he
makes his application, swear to it and
forward the money.
The most absurd statement in the arti-
Gle is the opinion of the bay street to.
baccO man." that the order was made at
the request of the Deputy Collector, be-
cause they had to advance the money and
mn 4
with the cash and be out OF his money
thus advanced until stamps were sold.
If this was required of a Deputy COllec-
tor he would have to advance for a retail
liquor dealer stamp book of 100 stamps at
$50, $1,000; tobacco stamp book, 100
stamps, at 81 40. $240. Total amount TO
advance would be 50, $40 for the two books
of tobacco and liquor stamps. No such
advance is required. The deputy has not
cent to advance. l furnish the stamp
books and the deputies remit the money
as fast as the stamps are sold. | propose
to furnish every convenience necessary
and consistent with the interest of the
governmental accommodate the business
men OF this revenue district, and Will on
all occasions work for the best interest of
those who are affected by the revenue
laws. In order to carry out these views,
| have in the reorganization of my dis
trict provided for regular stamp clerk
to be stationed at Savannah all the time.
The duties of this stamp CLERK will be TO
sell and issue stamps at his office in Sa-
vannah. This is intended for the CON
yenience of the cigar manufacturers and
wholesale liquor dealers of Savannah.
They sometimes want stamps when the
Deputy Collector is absent from the city
canvassing his division, and cannot wait
for his return to furnish these stamps
without mourning loss. l propose to
avoid this by a stamp clerk. | cannot
put this stamp clerk on duty before July
l next, for the reason the fiscal year be-
gins then, and | am compelled to conduct
the business of the office until July I'M
der the organization and allowance Of my
predecessor.
My organization will go into operation
July |. | will then for the convenience
of cities like Savannah have q stamp
clerk who will issue and sell STAMPS in
Savannah to those in need of them and
avoid necessity OF sending to this office.
This will enable my deputies to devote all
their time TO canyassing their divisions,
looking after the wants of those interested,
l have not ordered my deputy at Savan-
nah to send In his stamps for wholesale
liquor dealers and stamps for cigar manu.
lecturers, and wish this distinctly under
stood.
Mr.. Dunwody, Deputy Collector, Sa-
vannah, has now supply Of these stamps
on hand for those needing them. This
class of stamps are constantly wanted,
and are not ON same footing with special
tax stamps. The only stamps ordered
in were The special tax stamp Tor the
sale OF tobacco and liquors. Stamps that
the Wholesale liquor dealers and cigar
manufacturers are constantly in need OF
have never been ordered in from Sayan-
nah.
In regard to physicians: My order to
deputies was TO collect tax from ply.
siCians who furnish whisky to patients
and receive pay for it. gave no order to
collect tax from doctor who merely pre-
scribed and n druggist filled the prescrip.
ton and furnished the whisky aud sold II
on the prescription. In that case the
druggist would pay the tax, not the doc.
tor. In many prohibition counties doc.
tors keep whisky and sell it 10 those want.
/ ing il. i am after this class.
THOMAS G. CRENsuAw, JR.,
Collector Internal Revenue.
Mr.. Marmaduke Hamilton has beer