The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-01
WAR REVENUES.
New Measure Effective Today Some
of It's Provisions.

"a ASS 41ON4S1OuS.
New York, July 1.-The World says
this morning:
The war tax law in it's entirety is in
force today. The schedules relating to
beer and tobacco became operative
June "A; the other schedules took eff
feet at midnight. There is a great
scarcity of stamps The government,
with all of its equipment has been able
to furnish only fraction of the sup
ply needed. As result several large
manufacturers OF proprietary medicines
will be forced to reduce their output for
days, or perhaps weeks, until the sup
ply of stamps is adequate.
Collector Treat began the sale of doc
umentary and proprietary stamps on
Tuesday. There was a demand for
over forty million stamps of all classes
at this Office at the outset, but applica-
tons We're cut all along the line.
The banks were most favored, be-
cause stamps will be sold at all banks
and the public will have easier access
to them. Yet the demands of banks
were trimmed from rs to so per cent
An applicant for 10000 stamps, for in
stance, received 10000 or 5000, according
to the value. The number to be given
was left to the discretion of the col
lectOr
The Western Union Telegraph COM
pany received 200, 600 1-cent stamps,
the Postal Telegraph company 10000
the AnglO-American $4,000 and the
Transatlantic company rs, O00
The demand for stamps has been
largely increased by orders from out of
town from business men and bankers
who are unable to get supplies from the
revenue offices of their own districts
and ordered through their representa-
tives in this city.
TWO-cent postage stamps, with the
letters T. R." on them, were sold in
place of stamps designed from different
classes. The dollar stamps were the
highest denominations sold
The telegraph companies have not
yet received the stamps necessary to
properly conduct their business. I'M
til they get them, one cent extra viii
be charged for each message and the
money turned over to the collectors.
The telegraph and express companies
will make customers pay the tax of 1
cent each on kilograms and bills of lad
ing by compelling them to buy the
stamp and cancel it. The Postal Tele-
graph company posted a notice to this
effect: This company will carry sup
plies for several days, but later on the
public will be expected to furnish it's
own stamps.
What shall I do to send a message
after midnight tonight?" a reporter
asked at the main office of the Postal
company.
Buy 1-cent stamp at our Office
was the reply. stick it on the tele-
graph blank cancel it by writing your
initials and the date. We will sell
stamps for several days and afterward
you will furnish your own stamps, pre-
CISelN as you furnish your own stamps
for letters"
At the American Express company's
office the same information was given
as to bills of lading.
The Merchants association has de-
clded to fight the express companies
on this issue and will probably appeal
to the courts If common carriers refuse
to give a receipt with the stamp tax
duly paid when package is offered for
shipment. A committee of the assOcia-
ton visited each express company to
announce that merchants would not
pay the tax. The express companies
replied that they had been advised by
counsel that they were not obliged to
pay it.
The railroad companies have prac-
tically agreed to pay a part of this
impOst and the merchants association
proposes to bring the express COM
panies in line.
Under their contracts with the rail-
road companies, the express people are
obliged to pay a certain percentage
varying from forty to fifty per cent of
their gross receipts as compensation for
express facilities upon the various
roads. The adoption of the first OF these
measures would therefore have neceS-
STATED an increase in the rates of the
express companies to a sum nearly
double the amount of the tax. 1t was
therefore decided that the most feasible
proposition was the adoption of the rule
that only the exact amount of the tax
shall be collected. The shipper will be
required to pay this tax, plus the ex-
press companies rates.
The Herald says: Some of the lead
ing events of the day CThursday) were;
The announcement of the New York
Telephone company that it would re-
duce the price of toll messages from Is
to 10 cents within the limits of Man
haitian, and The Bronx, except mes
sages from one of the two districts to
the other, the company thereby avoid
ing the necessity of paying any war tax
on such MESA ges.
The announcement of express COM
panies that they will compel the public
to pay the one cent tax on all pack
ages, and the threat of the merchants
association to carry the matter into
the courts The opinion of Commits
sioner Scott that the tax on stock
transfers is not so extensive as was
originally supposed
The apparent discovery of wall street
that under certain circumstances bonds
are exempt from taxation.
The ruling that brokers engaging in
different branches of trade. such as
stocks. grain, cotton and real estate
must take out a separate license for
each branch.
The decision that in the case OF fu-
ture sales on the floor of an exchange
the tax is payable on the contract at
the time of sale not of delivery.