New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-04
RENT RECEIPT T1X DISCt SShD.
REAL ESTATE AGENTS SAY THE BuKDHN
WILL FALL ON THE VERY POOl'-A
POSSIBLE MEANS OF EVASION


The decision which was printed in yesterday =
papers 10 the effect that all rent receipts must
bear n 9j-ccnt stamp whether the rctcip' WAS
for one month longer and that cach suc'e'"'"N
receipt would likewise require tho stamp was rch
with interest by rcal-esatc agents. and was frc"y
discussed among them
II was generally agreed that II tn" ruling was
allowed to stand It would work great Ia dshifs. as
Il was practically tay upon persons least "pIe 10
bear It, In cases where lease is made, the
lease Itself is stamped. and no further stamp Is
necessary. 1t is obvious therefore, that the IafG"
class OF persons who rent fats in this city Tor
periods less than a year and the other large class
that lives in the tenements would be obliged 10
pay - cents each month. In addition 10 their rcnt.
while persons who able to pay large rents and
to lease "A house for year or longer would nav"
10 pay only the q cents required on the original
lease In fact. this class would IN all likelihood
escape the burden OF the tax entirely. as many Of
the real-esiatc men have assumed the response
billy OF the stamp In preference 10 haGGlinS over
the subject with tenants who pay large rents The
realestate men ass 'rt. however on the other naAd.
that If a stamp is required all receipts for rent
the expenditure would involve more than they could
AFFORD TO pay. and the tenant would undoubtedly
be called upon to pay for the stamp. The burden
would fall most heavily upon that large class that
ekes existence in the tenement districts OF
the city on tho East Side In the Ghetto and in
the districts populated by the poorest foreign eie'
ment. there are thousands of families who live In
from two to three rooms. paying their monthly
rent only by means OF the greatest economy. Tho
rents vary from 81 to s. n month. and even whore
an entire family. from the little mothers TO tho
bent old grandfathers are working 10 add TO the
income. rem; day often finds them few cents
short OF the required sum. Instances were com
mon IN Judge Godfogles court last winter whore
families about to be .dspossessed for in
ability TO pay their rent. though in many cases
they had paid weekly instruments which footed up
TO within few cents OF the amount required.
From this It readily be inferred how great an
injury would result TO this class II they were re-
qu!red TO pay the - cents additional each month.
In speaking OF tho tax yesterday William y
Van Pclt. representing George r. Rend. No 10
Wall-st.. said
Up to the present time We have stamped the
original lease ourselves In preference TO asking
tenants to do 30 Those leases were for year
longer where n tenant pays a rent Of 500 a year
or more Such tenants could afford to pay FOR the
stamp Of course but No prefer 10 avoid discussion
and argument by nnixing the stamp ourselves II
should hold tho Interests of our principals would
stamp. OF course the s. 80 tenant wonId not feel
II. but in the tenement and hathouses. wher" the
thing We cannot afford to take chances and
overlook the stamp. II We did some ono on the
outside would make trouble for US. and there is a
What do and what probably shall
do II the ruling holds Is to make lenses with all
Of our tenants. If at the end OF a month OF two
our tenants cannot live UP to their lcascs-wel.
TINT IS business.
Collector Treat said he had had numerous in
ourics from real estate men IN regard 10 ~" rul-
ing and had advised them that where "A lease was
given TO tenant for TWO months or longer, ;he re-
ceipt for cash paid for rent would not have 20 he
stamped In cases. however. where IN" receipt
specified certain things which the ;cn"nt ohlieat@d
himself do. II thereby converted into y
memora ndum. contract for hire. use or rent ~
any land tenement or portion thereof rs provided
for In Schedule 4. under The title OF lease. ana
must therefore be stamped
Collector Treat also said hat stops are under way
for arriving az definite cor clusion OF the pontn
involved.