The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-02

So great was the rush for war reve-
nue. stamps at Collector Penmans S
office early this week that yesterday,
when most of the provisions of the new
act went into effect, few documentary
or proprietary stamps could be OBJ
tanned.
No documentary stamps of small de-
nominations survived the rush of the
early week and all the proprietary
stamps of most useful denominations
were sold during the same period. OF
the proprietary stamps all the u and
accent denominations were sold, leav-
ing on hand only few q, 1, 2 and A.
cent Nearly all of these were dis
posed of when the Office closed last
night.
The railroad, express and telegraph
companies snapped up all the 1-cent
documentary stamps several days ago;
in fact, almost as fast as they were
issued by the government. In the
Scranton revenue Office only 1-dollar,
5-dollar, 10-dollar, etc, documentary
stamps remain for sale.
CAME IN swARMs.
Druggists and others who were slow
in providing themselves with the u
and accent proprietary stamps in ad-
vance were in the revenue office yes
terday in swarms trying to figure how
cheaply they could make up for their
tardiness in purchases that must be
made. Many of them bought *, 1 and
2-cent stamps with the purpose of
using them and pasting from "A to 1s-
cent more than the law demands on
each sale rather than violate the law
or close up shop.
How soon this lack of stamps will
be relieved, Collector Penman does not
know. Several days ago he kept the
wires hot telling the treasury depart
ment he already had orders for ten
times more stamps than had been sent
him. He finally received telegraphic
word that a full supply would reach
him Thursday. The supply has failed
to materialize, however. Scores of per-
sons who apply personally or by letter
asking what they shall do if the gov
ernment doesn't furnish stamps with
which they may comply with the law,
can be given no definite answer ex-
not be used as a substitute. Most of
these inquirers openly said they would
sell goods just the same and take
chances on the governments unwill-
ingness to prosecute them. This con-
dition of affairs, it is believed. cannot
last longer than few days at most
In reference to postage stamps
They are not postage" stamps if
bearing the Il. r." imprint, meaning
internal revenue" That makes them
revenue stamps.
AT REVENUE OFFICE ONLY.
They are issued only at the revenue
office and are simply a makeshift until
such time as the treasury engraving
and printing bureau can catch up with
orders. The postofiice department has
relieved the engraving and printing
bureau further by issuing to it news
paper periodical stamps of from 81 up
wards for use as documentary stamps.
According to the understanding of
the question among subordinate reve-
nue. officials railroad, express and tele-
graph offices are supposed to keep
documentary stamps on hand for use
by patrons. Who shall pay the reve-
nue. is matter to be settled between
the companies and the patron. In
other words, it is not required of a per-
son to- provide himself with the neces-
sary stamp or stamps before entering
a railroad. express or telegraph office
to do business. The consignor has
ground for demanding that the stamp
shall be furnished by the company.
N hnn
other question. Thus far the patron
has been bearing the expense.
The government has arranged a
bank-check stamp system which will
greatly facilitate the business of banks
and their patrons by furnishing a bank
note check bearing an engraved in.
ternal revenue documentary stamp
These checks are to be printed in des-
ignated government printing establish.
ments in ten cities, Atlanta, Boston
Galveston, Minneapolis. St. Paul, Chi
cago, ST. Louis, New York, San Fran.
cisco and Tacoma. A government bank
check agent has been established in
each of those cities from whom inter.
nal revenue collectors can order bound
bank-check books for banks or indi.
viduals.
BANKS WILL ORDER THEM.
Banks will take advantage of thi:
facility and order the books, giving
| them to depositors as at present but
| charging cents for each check in the
| book. This will largely obviate the an.
noyance of affixing gummed stamps.
Lawyers who had not taken advant-
age of the early sale of Dronriet a ~
stamps and secured supplies of the
smaller denominations We're yesterday
put to the expense of using stamps Of
| larger denominations than is required
by the war act. This was illustrated
| in the visit of an attorney to the reve
| nue. office. He had with him two mort
cages which We're to be recorded and
/ on each of which 75-cent stamp wa!
| required. All stamps of that and lesser
| denominations had been sold and h,