The Red Cloud chief., 1891-03-27
LIQUOR TAX.
a Misrepresentation Existing In
Certain Minds
PREVALENT MISTAKE CORRECTED,
The Possession Of . Federn Tax Receipt
No License to Retail lIqaor-Act-
Ing Secretary Settieton's
Opinioa.

WASHINGTON. March ea-Acting Sec
rotary Netileton. Of the treasury de-
partment. makes public the following
circular letter TO the internal revenue
collectors throughout the country:
w~AsnIxGroS. March 2l-sIr: Letters are
frequently received at the department stat
Ing that Ia many parts Of the country retail
liquor dealers claim To hold . permit or H.
cense from the United states for carry ing on
their business, that In many cases where
local Law prohibits public drinking places
the iaw Is openly violated by persons who
claim to do business under at least the moral
sanction OF a federal license" and that this
fact. together with the belief common among
many good citizens that the United states
government does in fact issue such licenses,
greatly r-tards the enforcement OF whole
some restrictive laws and promotes dlsor-
der.
II should be unnecessary TO state that the
United States government does not issue a
license or permit of any nature To any per
son in any state To carry on the business of
retail liquor dealer, and 10 10 difficult TO IN
derstani how any Intelligent citizens can DC
imposed upon by the opposite ella Ia Con
gress having levied a revenue stamp Of SIS
per aanum on the business of r,tail
liquor dealers, the commissioner Of
Internal revenue cndcayors TO cot
lyct this tax. wherever aud by whom
soev.r the business 10 carried on bat no
sembiancc o6 permission. expressed or ian.
piled, l. given by the United states govern
ment IA IL revenue laws or othrrw i-c To be
GIN or continne such business In any place
contrary Ia state or local legislation.
IL was To make clear this purpose Of care
fully respecting state and local Laws and
police regulations prohibiting or restricting
the liquor traffic that congress enacted Li5
OF the revised Il itutcs-
In order thar this purpose as thus embodied
In the Law may be authoritatiyely announced
wherever the tax j. collected a change has
been made in the form 81 the Cnted states
stamp issued to retail liquor. a. evidence
that they have paid such tax. The new form,
which will 90 into use July l next, reads as
follows:
Omitted states stamp for special tan. In
tcrnai acknowledgement from - the sum
of-d dollars for special tax on the business
of retail liquor dealer al tt for the period
represented by the COUPON or coupons here.
tn attached"
And across the face of the stamp - in-
scrtbcd the follow Ing statement, embracing
the substance of section s?ii of the revised
statutes:
"This stamp IL simply n rece TT for "A tax
due the government and does not exempt
the holder from any penalty or p~uui-hmcIf
provided for by the Law Of any sta'c for car
ryIng on the said business Within such state.
and does not authorize the comn"nc men.
nor the continuance Of such business con
triry To the laws of such state or In place.
prohibited Ly municipal law-sce section
S2ts, revised statutes United STATES"
1t Is believed that this action viii leave
no ground for further Misrepresentation.
Respectfully
A. t. NErIL.ToS. Acting secretary.