The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-31

ment Of any definite and certain sum Of
money, lent at the time or previously
due and owing or forborne 20 be paid,
being payable; also any conveyance of
any lands. estate or property, whatso-
ever, in trust to be sold or otherwise
converted into money, which shall be
Intended only as security. either by eX-
press stipulation or otherwise; on any
of the foregoing exceeding $1,000. and
not exceeding Sl.500. % cents: and on
each $500, or fractional part thereof, IN
excess of 1880. % cents; provided, that
upon ZACH and every assignment or
transfer OF a mortgage. lease. or policy
OF insurance. or the renewal or continu-
ance Of any agreement, contract, or
charter. by letter or otherwise, a stamp
duty shall be required and paid at the
same rate as that imposed on the orig
inal instrument"
Under the above provisions many per-
SOM have an idea that no tax stamp is
required for deeds under $500 and mort
cages under 81. OO0. but there is another
section of the law which says that "A
certificate of any description required
by law not otherwise specified in this
act" must have a l0-cent stamp. Every
deed. mortgage or other legal instru-
ment must, under the state law, have a
certificate or acknowledgment and II
has therefore been held by the law de-
DdtIIltnt OF the government llaA Nufio
the instrument itself bears a tax the
certificates of acknowledgment do not,
but IL the instrument Is not taxable
such certificates and afiidavits must bear
"A tax of 10 cents.
1t has also been held that while a bill
OF sale Is intended to represent an ac-
tual transfer of property il has become
the custom TO take them as security for
debts, and where such Instruments are
+al.n % gaatVffN ~ iG evident that the
law contemplates that they shall be
taxed the same as mortgages, which is
% cents on each nstrumen exceeding
81, 900 and not exceeding 81. 500. and 70
cents ON each additional $500 or fraction
in excess OF 81, 500.
So far only one or two ministers or
other persons performing marriage cere-
monies nave affixed the necessary 10
cent stamp to the certificates returned
for record To the clerk of the courts.
Very few attorneys put "a revenue stamp
on the acknowledgements or VeriticatiOns
TO their court papers, but others claim
that they are subject to the tax, and,
not purposing to take any chance on
il. they stamp all such p~leadings.
The express offices of Butte still re-
quire the shippers to pay for the stamps
on receipts, though it has been ruled in
Washington and decided by some courts
tha the law contemplated that the tax
should be paid by the express compa-
MES.
The telephone company also compels
customers TO pay the tax on toll mes
sages. though il is held that the law
plainly intends that the company should
pay Il. The law reads as follows on
that point:
Telephone messages: 1t shall be the
duty Of every person, firm or corpora
tiOn owning or operating any telephone
line or lines to make within the first 10
days of each month a sworn statement
to the collector of internal revenue i'm
each Of their respective districts, stat
ing the umbe Of messages or converse
tons transmitted over their respective
lines during the preceding month, for
which a charge of 15scents or more was
imposed, and for.each of such messages
or conversations transmitted over their
respective lines during the preceding
month for which a charge Of Il cents
or more was-imposed. and for each of
such messages or conversations the said
person. firm or corporation shall pay a
AK OF, / cent: provided. that only one
payment of said tax, shall be required,
Notwithstanding tbe lines of one or
more persons. firm or corporations
shal he used for the transmission If
each of said messages or conversations"