The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-02
Rulings of the Commissioner as to
Collection of Special Taxes.
HAWAIIAN DEBATE FEATURES
WARM TILT BETWEEN SENATOR'S
PETTUS AND CAFFERY.
Indication that the Filibusters Are
Wcakening-HOuse Proceedings
Army Appointments.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

| WASHINGTON, July 1.-The Internal
| Revenue Bureau has distributed throughout
| the country 175000,O00 war revenue stamps
| This vast distribution embracing the entire
| Union in its scope has been going on day
| after day during the past week at daily
rate ranging from 20, 600 coo to 100000. The
| Bureau of Engraving and Printing will con-
| tinue its output at 25,O00000 day until the
| demands of the people are fully satisfied
| The collectors of internal revenue put their
| needs during the first three months of the
| laws going into effect at 500000,000. This
was the aggregate of the various estimates
! from all parts of the country by the COM
missioner of internal revenue himself. So
far the Treasury Department has been able
to supply only one months estimates. The
only real hitch so far comes from the law
itself, which allows but per cent commits
| sion to business men to handle the stamps
| One per cent affords such small compen-
sation that people will not take the risk
and trouble of carrying stamps in stock
The national banks are helping the govern
ment out in this emergency, but this does
not afford the communities generally to get
stamps with ease. The legal force of the
internal revenue Office is bracng itself for
an avalanche of cases requiring a construc-
| ton of countless points of the law. There
threatens to be many thousands of such in
quiries, hundreds of which will require spe-
cial rulings and decisions.
| An Associated Press dispatch says: 1t was
stated at the Internal Revenue Bureau that
fewer complaints of inability to get the new
revenue stamps were received to-day than
were expected. The acquisitions of the col
| lectors for an estimated three months sup
ply amounted TO about 40O000,CO0 stamps.
These acquisitions have been honored to the
amount OF over 2Cl,00O.CC1, and other ship
ments will be made as rapidly as possible
In a number of cities large crowds are re-
| ported standing in line at the collectors
| office waiting to purchase stamps but no
serious inconvenience or trouble has been
| reported so far. There seems to be some
| danger that the supply in the hands of col
| lectOrs will be exhausted before renewals
| can reach them. but the Bureau of Engrav-
ing and Printing and the internal revenue
forces will work night and day long as
the situation seems to require and before
the middle Of next week every one, it is eX-
pected, will have an ample supply to meet
all demands. One great source of annoy
ance is that persons using large quantities
of stamps are insisting upon laying in a
sufficient number to last from one to six
even a temporary supply. The question of
limiting the sales to one person until the
| congestion is relieved is now under consid-
GRAFTON by the officials.
The commissioner of internal revenue has
held that wharf receipt given to a shipper
by the receiving department, in exchange
for which bill of lading is issued. bearing
1-cent stamp. does not also require a l.
| cent stamp. The stamp on the bill of lading
| is regarded meeting the requirements of
| the law. 1t is also held that the 2-cent stamp
affixed to an export bill of lading and duly
| Cancelled is all that is required under the
| new law, and that Implications thereof
made for persons interested are not required
! to be stamped. 1t is held in the case of the
| atrical companies that the special tax of
$l0O is payable when the company gives the
| first performance in the month of July. If
no performance is given until later month
| the special tax is to be reckoned from the
! first day of the month in which the first
J performance was given and is assessed to
| the first day of July following All of the
| tax must be paid at once, as soon as the IL
! ability begins, to the collector where the
! first performance is given. 1t is held that
where a certificate of deposit is issued pro-
viding for the payment of interest. though
| with the condition IF left six MONTHS the
stamp tax must be paid thereon.
In view of the general pressure from ali
! the large cities of the country for the priv
| ilege of imprintng internal revenue stamps
| on bank checks, it has been concluded to
extend the privilege by designating at least
one in each of the large cities, provided
| suitable persons or firms apply willing to
incur the expense of superintendent and as
sistant superintendent, to give the required
| bond and to conform to the requirements
of the government under the rules and reg
ulations governing the conduct of such
| agencies