The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-02
DOING WITHOUT THE STAMPS.
ALL PAPERS REQUIRING THEM
MUST BE STAMPED LATER.


Law-snvnnnah VIII Need More
stamps Than Any Other City in
Georgia-RetaiIers Must Keep "a
Record of snIes of Goods Requir-
ing stamps-SuppIy May Come
This Morning.
History repeats itself"
This Is the Inscription over three checks
that hang by the telIers window at the
National Bank of Savannah. They are
checks OF the Central Railroad and Bank
Ing Company. on each is a two cent inter
nal revenue stamp, with the profile of
womans head upon 1t. The stamps are the
same size as the regular postal stamp OF
to-day. The checks bear the date of 1879. |
They recalled a once to many the not far
distant past when all checks had to be
stamped TO help meet the cost of a civil
war. To-day. nineteen years later, checks
must again be stamped, but this time II is
to help defray the expenses of a war with
a foreign power, History only repeats it |
self so far as the taxing Is concerned.
But though the law required It, few, in |
deed, were the checks issued yesterday |
vauuah beyond the small lot received |
Thursday by the Savannah Bank and
Trust Company, and some others received |
by the Southern Bank. Where one
check or draft bore a stamp there were a
hundred or more that did not While all
such papers were paid by the banks with
out question, 50 far as the tax was con-
cerned, they will all be held by them until
stamps are placed upon them by those is
suing as required by law. Bank books are
generally balanced al the end of the month
and al that time the call will doubtless be !
made for stamps for all checks on which
they are dGc. SO on a promissory note dis
counted yesterday the maker viii have to
put on the stamps when the note falls
due, ii it is short time paper or he will be
requested by the banks 10 furnish the
stamps at an early date, if 1t is a paper
not maturing for some time.
Most of the exchange for a few days will
be of date prior to July /, and will not
require stamps. When such paper begins
to arrive. subject TO the tax, but not
stamped, the parties receiving the drafts
Will probably stamp them before present |
ing TO the banks, in order to avoid rejec-
ton there. 1t is regarded as permissible
for the party receiving a check or draft
to stamp the paper when there is reason
to believe the party sending it could not
get stamps. This condition will only last
for few days, though, and then the pub
lie may be expected to be held to strict
accountability for failure TO comply with
all the laws provisions.
There is no guarantee that Savannah
will be supplied with stamps before next
Tuesday. Deputy Collector Wilson re-
ceived the following message from Col
lector Rucker at Atlanta, yesterday: I'VE
are out of stamps but expecting them by
every mail. You will be required to sell
these stamps, but the taxpayers can also
receive the same direct from this office If
they prefer. A discount of per cent. will
be allowed with each order for 500 or
more. As soon as stamps arrive you will
be supplied"
Monday being a legal holiday, unless the
stamps come in this mornings mail, il will
be July before Savannah gets adequately
supplied. There is somewhat of a feeling
here that the collectors office at Atlanta
is responsible for the failure to have
stamps here. Florida is said TO be well
supplied. A draft received yeterday by one
Savannah house from a man on the Ock- |
!awaha river, In an obscure part of the
state, bore a stamp, showing that they
have been wen distributed there AS the
need a stamp, but the drawer had made
assurance doubly sure If the stamps are
not received until Tuesday ii win take
many thousands of them TO catch up on
the back business, and a meager supply
would only be an aggravation of the exist
ing conditions. one hundred thousand
stamps at the least, it is said, should be
in the first lot, and more viii then be
needed almost Immediately.
1t is generally believed that Savannah
win use more of The stamps than any
ether city of the state. Its large ship
ping and general business interests, and
the fact that il is headquarters for the
cotton. naval stores and lumber business,
viii make il a heavy consuming and dis
tributing point. ORDERS are in The hands
of the factors now for many thousands
of stamps for customers, who viii eX-
pect to keep supplied from this point 1t
Is beyond question that the government =
revenues from this city, so far only as
the local consumption of stamps goes, viii
he greater than those received from At
lanta, or any other two cities of the state.
If we could set at it" said a business
man yesterday, I'VE would be more than
surprised to sec what an enormous amount
OF money these taxes win take directly
from Savannah. IL will amount to many
thousands of dollars every month"
Deputy Collector Wilson yesterday re-
ceived blanks to be distributed among the
banks calling for their returns as 10 capt
tai and surplus. These returns will De
sworn to here and SEM TO Atlanta with
the checks covering the special tax levieO
on these financial institutions All of the
special license taxes will be handled di-
rectly at Atlanta, those subject 10 them
renting directly to Collector RuckeT and
receiving their certificates from him. \
reasonable time is allowed in which TO
do this In few days the local deputies
VIII probably be furnished lists of those
who have compiled with the law and be
directed TO report all others. Brokers and
all others on whose business a direct tax
has been placed are expected to look after
the matter of paying the same without
further notice from the internal revenue
officials.
While the banks. express, telegraph ana
transportation companies are keeping a
record of all papers received or issued re-
quiriug stamps, but on which none were
placed, it should not be forgotten that
there are many others who are expected
10 take similar care to see that the gov