The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-01
HOW IT WORKS.
N ew Revenue Law Goes Into
Effect Today.
Demand For Stamps Grea tly
Exceeds the Supply.
LIGHT IN DARK PLACES
Uncertainties Regarding the
Law Being Cleared Up.
Check Tax May Affect Business
of the Banks.
LIGHTIN PLACES

"A prominent Topeka business man
walked up to the desk of Mr.. John w.
Thurston. cashier of the Bank of To-
peka, this morning, and remarked:
TN take $40 worth of the two-cent
revenue stamps"
you'll take just ten cents worth ac-
eording to my way of figuring" said
Mr.. ThurstOn.
''what!'' CALCULATED the business
man.
Just ten cents WORTH" reiterated
Mr.. ThurstOn.
But want $40 WORTH said the
I'VE can't supply you today" said
Mr.. ThurstOn. 1T would take just
about five calls of that size to exhaust
our entire supply"
Uncle Sans collections from the city
of Topeka today would have been much
larger had Uncle Sans legislators al
lowed the government authorities a
longer period for the printing and is
suance of the revenue stamps under the
new war revenue law. AS it was, the
stamps in the possession of the Topeka
banks at the opening Of business this
morning did not amount to over 5000,
and none of the banks made sales of
more than ten cents to any one person.
The stamp tax" as it is termed by
nine-tenthS of the people doing bust
ness with the banks, is now in full
operation. All the Topeka banks, the
Wells Fargo. Pacific and United States
the Santa Fee and Assistant Treasurer
JilsOn of the Rock Island, the Western
Union and Postal telegraph companies,
and several of the loan and insurance
agents had a small supply of stamps on
hand this morning. The orders for
stamps placed with Collector of Inter
nal Revenue Sutton from this city
amount to several thousand dollars. and
it is expected that by the first of next
week all orders will have been filed
There was but little confusion as a
of f17n In fnG1 he
past ten days the banks have been OPP
Grating as intelligence offices as well
as financial institutions, and cOnse-
quently their patrons are well Informed
as to the provisions Of the new law.
Cashier William Henderson of the
First National bank stated that with
but few exceptions all of the people Wis
dting the bank today understood thor
oughly the requirements of the reve-
nue. law The cashiers of other banks
say the same thing.
In SOmG instances attention had to be
called to the cancellation of the stamps
on checks. This is done by the drawer
writing his initials and the date across
the face of the stamp. Many persons
who fully understood that the stamps
had to be used on checks were ignorant
of the provision of cancellation.
Until the supplies of stamps ordered
are received in this city, the banks will
not be in a position to properly execute
instruments involving large amounts of
money. The bank authorities have de-
cided, however, that under such cir
cumstances the collection of the tax
would be made, the collection sworn to,
and the stamps used later in the proper
manner when received. As 1t is Who'll
~ the fault of the government that the
stamps are not here, such action as
held to be legal.
The supply of stamps ordered by the
county treasurer did not arrive this
morning, and no business requiring the
use OF stamps was transacted up to
noon. County Clerk Wright stated that
n "a TeTI1 a. a r
The collectors are experiencing more
any other class in the city. Many of the
collectors received checks in payment of
ed. and We're compelled to make a second
round in order to have the checks proper
many of the people called on insisted that
under the law receipts had to be stamped
ment of their bills until they could satisfy
themselves on this point: This idea is
erroneous, as recelpted bills and receipts
for money are not required to bear the
revenue stamps.
forcing small depOsitOrs to cease doing
business with the banks. Each of the
counts run no higher than SO at a time,
and in some instance run as low as 81 and
IS. A Topeka woman who has an account
Of about s. in Topeka bank presented a
check for 50 cents at the paying window
Have you 2 cents in changer asked
mo. I haven't" said she, in a tone that
indicated surprise at the question.
fh nl San only give you 4s cents a,t on
nue. stamp costs cents
DO you mean to say that I will have
for a little. trifiing amount like that?9
Every check YOU draw no matter what
amount, will have to be stamped re-
well, if that's the way your old reve-
out Of the bank and the woman left
the bank bearing with her an injured ex-
Instead of selling stamps to shippers.
the express companies viii raise their
a pound of express will hereafter cost %
cents instead of % cents. As but oLS bill
a consignment of express to another, but
one stamp viii be necessary, although the
consignment may include a number of
A Circular letter received by the express
agents in this city states that stamps will
not be necessary on receipts issued for
shipments of money, bonds. securities or
stamps before shipment.
The telegraph companies have also an
charges for kilograms. Both the express
agents and telegraph superintendent Will
affix and cancel stamps.
The one cent revenue stamps are the
regular one cent postage stamps with 4.
r. printed in large letters on the face.
s+afed f0dav that it was his i1nderstaHdine2
that the stamps would not be placed on
sale at the postofhces; and would be han
died for sale principally by the banks.
stamps one of the Topeka banks refused
to sell stamps for foreign checks this aft
ernOOn- Unless an additional supply of
stamps Is received at once, all banks will
probably adopt this rule until the stamps
arrive
MarshaI's band will give their usual
celebration at Garfield park, July 4th,
four concerts. Balloon ascension and
double parachute leap.
Soldiers Benefit Concert and Dance
Hamilton hall Friday. ,TulV L 1898. Ad-