The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1891-03-25
IT IS ILLEGAL.
The Government Does Not Issue a
Liquor License
TO CONFLICT WITH LAWS
Enacted by States or Communities Which
Prohibit Sale Of Liquor.
REVENUE COLLECTORS

Are Warned by the Treasury Department
to Respect Local Laws Bearing on This
Subject.
WASHINGTON, March 23.-Acting Sec
retary Nettleton, of the treasury de-
partment, makes public the following
circular letter to the internal revenue
collectors throughout the country:
WASHINGTON. D. G, March 81, 1891.
SIR: Letters are frequently received at the
department stating that In many parts OF tho
countrv reta liquor dealers claim 10 hold Q
permit or cense from the United States for
carrying on their business; tina in many cases
where local law prohibits public drinking places
the law is openly violated by persons who
claim 10 do bus tss VI or az least the moral
sane ion OF q federal license" and that this
fact TO ether with the belief common among
many good citizens that United States gov.
ernment does in fact is' such licenses, great
ly tar s the enforcement OF wholesome re-
strict ve laws and promotes disorder.
II should be unnecessary to state that the
United States government does not issue
license or permit OF any nature TO any per 'on In
any stat TO carry on the business OF retail lquor
denler and IL is ditIicult 10 understand how any
iteliyent cit zen can be imposed u on by the
opposite claim. Congress having levied reve.
nue. stamp tax OF f2j per annum on the business
OF retail iiluor dealers. the commissioner OF in.
ltTOul EtNeuut b1u 't'OT 10 GOlleCL L0lH IbN,
wherever and by whomsoever ths business is
carried on but no s samblance fpermisson ex-
press or implied. is given by the United States
government In Its revenue laws or othe wise 70
begin or continue such business in any place
contrary 10 stare or local leg slation.
II was 10 make clear this purpose OF carefully
respecting state laws and police regulations
prohibiting or restricting the liquor traffic that
congress enacted Section 3249 OF the Revised
Statutes In order that this purpose as thus
embodied In law may be authoritatively au.
nouncel wherever the tax is collected change
has been made In the form OF the United States
stamp issued TO retail dealers as evidence that
they have paid such tax. The new form. which
will 90 into use July next reads rs follows:
United STATE s stamp for special tar internal
revenue. Received from - the sum OF -
dollars for special tax on the business OF retail
liquor dea'er al - for the period represented
by the coupon or eolpons hereto attached"
And ross the face o. the stamp is insc ribed
the following statement, embrac ng the SUB.
stance OF Section Isof the Revised Statutes;
This stamp is simply receipt for q tax due
the COVE e~nment and does not exempt the holder
from any pcnaltT or punishrn nj provided for
by the law OF any st1te for carrying on the said
business within such state. and does not au.
thOr'2e ihe commcn 'eineDt nor the continuance
OF 81 'h business contrary 10 the laws OF such
state or IN p'rc"s prohib ted by municipal law
sec Sect N j!D, Eegissl statutes United
States "
II IS belt that this action will leave nc
ground Tor further rn!sapprehcns!on.
A. B. NaTrLETON. Act ne Secretary