Evening journal., 1898-09-29
THEY CAN COMPROMISE
Says Deputy Collector Wells
to Stamp Law ViUlators.
MANY SALOON MEN IN TROUBLE

REGARDING STAMPS ON BEER
KEGS SUMMONED BEFORE THE
COLLECTOR THEY ARE INFORM
ED A SMALL PAYMENT MAY SET
TILE IGIE CASE.
On Tuesday last twtnty-eieht saloon
keepers OF this city Appeared before
Deputy int rnal Revenue Collector
We..s at his office in the Federal
building To EXPLAIN certain violations
by them OF the stamp tax law.
This principal charges against TIM
men related to the stamps on beer
kegs. The intSunal revsnue law gov
erning such stamps require that they
be placed over the tap-hole of the loeg.
so that whcn the spigolt is driven IN It
viii pass directly Through the centre OF
tha stamp and thus destroy 1t. This
regulation has never been strictly OBJ
served by the saloon men so far as tap
ping is concerned, as 1t carries por-
ton of tha paper into the barrel, whicn
would eventually be drawn through tine
piprs, thereby rendering several glasses
OF bser worthless.
A number of methods have been
adopted BY saloon-keepers 10 avoid
this less, and heretofore the govern
ment has not been particularly active
regarding the enIforcemnt of the law
Since the enactment Of the war tax
law, however, the government has ap-
T parently walked up, and In consequence
I inspectors are being sent about 10 VISIT
9 various places and note violations OF
e the act. The presence of one OF these
mfn in this city hAs led to the sum-
a mOning of the above mentioned num-
4 Der of saloon-keepen to appear before
d Mr.. Wells.
/ In many eas,s, upon visiting the so
j j hoons here, the inspecting officer found
- that there were no traces o. any stamI
having ever beln placed upon the kegs
inspected. This fact the saloon mer
e say is due TO two reasons; first, THAT
;. owing to the rough handling that TIN
- kegs receive during their transit from
the breweries to their respective desH
nation, The stamps are in many case
completely destroyed,
N The sscond reason given is that tn
Ne dripping from the ica that is frequcntl
le put upon beer kegs that are not place
N in an ice box washes AWAY the stam
i, from the head of THE bsg. All CLAIM
THAT there was no intent to violate Tn
law.
n When these twenty+eight men reach
y cd the Federal building last Tuesday
ID in accordance with summons issued 10
4 them, They were ushered one at tim
Is into the presence OF Deputy Ccllecto
m Wells or his assistant, Colonel c. N
e. Leltch, and were questioned relative
y their failure to complywith the require
Id menes Of the law. After they ha
y stated their case th5y were iniorme
e. that by the payment Of a nominal sun
at of money, which would be forwarde
lis to the authorities in Washington, tn.
le- the case against thsm might be drol
en- ped.
N. This is where the kick arose, an
TO some OF THE mcnI suspected that th'
IL were being worked by the officials an
m openly said that they would pay I
ls. hush money, but would rather cugaa
mt a lawyer and have their case tested
sw opsn court
ry, These facts being reported to
ir Evening journal representative he II
ly- mediately sought one OF the men wi
In had been summoned before Collect
lc- Wells to ascertain his version OF {
ter case. He confirmed the facts as ma
lhe rated. Mr.. Wells was lalber seen al
ras questioned concerning the matter. .
at it true, Mr.. Webs" asked the reports
that YOU have offered a c0mpromt
list, to the saloon men who have vio.at
ted the stamp tax law wherEby they ma
pdl Dy uu6 pdyIueuJ VI ~ sum VI AN1'A'
emit have the charges against them dismii
lie ed and thus avoid a suit in the case.
est "In a msasure, yes" replied \
at Wells.
hen 'What sum Of money, if any,
I'M you authorized to fix as a comp
the mise?"
nd None whatever, as these cases
me mHrely technical and no. intentlol
wife violations. The PARTIES are at l.be
roh to offer amy terms they may see At
'ish a settlement Of this case against ths
see Thsse offers are forwarded by me to
T. department in Washington, and II
APP cepted notification of such accept@
past will be forwarded here and the c
ats dropped. l have no power to fix
the sum. That is left with the party 81
APP ing compromise. Although
ked amount offered is usually s., ] h
sem never set any such figures. This
Ias