Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-30
7 HE N lew SIAM PS
Belief That There Will Be No Serious In
terruption to Business Tomorrow.
Commissioners Scotfs Circular Anect-
ing Manufacturer of Pro.
prfetary Medicines.

Commissioner Scott OF the internal reve-
nue. bureau said this afternoon that while
there may lie some confusion tomorrow
when the internal revenue stamp act goes
into effect. he does not believe there win be
any serious interruption to business II the
people of the country understand the re-
cent circulars sent out to collectors and In
all directions.
The office of the commissioner has been
besieged today with people who want
stamps and are afraid that their business
may be interfered with. Many OF these
people have irritated the commissioner
Some OF them" said Mr.. Scott, want TO
secure stamps to last them thirty days or
more. Instead OF being contented with a
supply Tor nve or six days. 1t seems to me
that this Ia not fair to this office. For six
teen days every man in this bureau has
worked nsarly twenty-four hours each day
to try to get out everything in the way OF
stamps necessary. We have sent out i4l :
100000 stamps and feel that we have dons
our duty. think that IL the officials of the
government understand their duty there
VIII be no Inconvenience tomorrow"
Proprietary Medicine manufacturers,
The manufacturers OF proprietary medi-
ctnes throughout the country fear the
greatest interruption to business One Of
the largest OF these concerns writes here
stamps. and has been unable to secure any.
1t will have need of more than Iooo,o
daily. The company is only one among
many. Complaint is made that I'm addition
10 the manufacturers many thousand re-
tail druggists and dealers in proprietary
medicines Will be unable TO get the stamps.
ana In cons eQuence will be unable ta cell
the medicines tley have In st,x.a ..ard
necessarily a great injustice will y dons
them
These complaints we're called to the at.
tention OF Commissioner Scott this after.
noon 1t looks to me as II nobody reads
the papers,. said the commissioner "Jusl
lew days ago We sent out a circular ,x.
are not procurarle. I would be glad n yol
would print the circular in full"
The Commissioner's Circular.
As there may be some confusion in WASH
fngton over the matter OF stamps tomor-
rev the circular is given. and explains that
when stamps cannot be obtained they ara
to be left OF without violation of the law.
The circular is as follows:
Taxpayers are importuning this Office IN
Know what they shall do on the morning
of the LIST of July II they have not been
acle TO procure the adhesive stamps ncces-
sary for the transaction of business
In reply attertion is called to the Lass
three lines on Lege and the first three
lines on page OF the war revenue law of
1S'S. which reads follows: And proyid-
ed, further, That in all cases where the
party mas not affixed the stamp required ty
lew upon any such instrument issued reg
istered. sold or transferred at a time when
and al place where no collection district
was established 1t shall be lawful for him
or them, or any party having an interest
therein, TO affix the Proper stamp thereto
The language where no collection dis
trict was established is construed and I'D
to be the same as If it read. where no
stamp deputyship agency was estah-
lished.' and where for that reason it was
impossible to procure the stamps and
where the failure to affix them was not due
u any wilful design to defraud the United
states. or to evade or delay the payment
thereof. the taxpayer may in such cases be
relieved by the collector from payment of
the penalty.
1T is held tina. the law does not require
impossible things to be done. and when tor
the reason above given 1t was not possible
to procure the stamps II Is not insisted
that business shall stop and vendors shall
by reason thereof withhold goods from the
market but that legitimate business may
be transacted and the stamps required on
goods disposed of under such oircum-
stances may be affixed by the owners there-
Of or parties interested therein. and in
cases of consumption the retail vendor
shall make sworn return OF the facts to
the collector of internal revenue, who shall
assess the amount OF tax due and collect
the same under the rules and regulations
provided under the law.
Taxpayers are admonished that this
urgency regulation does not In any way
excuse them from the duties imposed upon
them by the statute with reference to pro-
curing stamps for all instruments aud
things required TO be stamped under SEIZED.
ules A and b Of the war revenue law OF IS,s
and neglect to perform any Of the require.
ments thereof except for unavoidable rea-
sons. as above stated. will render the tax.
payer liable to tae penalties provided there
In, and they will be strictly enforced"