The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-23
THE NEW REVENUE LAW.
Secretary Gage Endeavoring to Sup
ply stamps by July L.

WASHINGTON, June 22.-Every possible
effort is being made by the secretary of the
treasury to put into operation on July the
adhesive stamp tax sections of the revenue
act. is not thought possible, however, to
have stamps on sale in all parts of the
country on that date and in consequence it
is expected that for several days at least
business endorsements will be many and
in some instances serious. The law declares
it shall be deemed a msdemeanor not to
affiX stamp to any bank check note,
draft, etc, punishable by a fine not exceed
ing 5000. The law further declares that such
unstamped instrument. document or paper,
shall not be competent evidence in any
court, in fact, void. 1t is believed that
many embarrassments and even losses can
not be avoided, hence the secretarys re-
quest for a postponement for fifteen days.
Nevertheless the force at the Bureau of
Engraving and Printing is working every
hour of the twenty-four to get out the
stamps and efforts will be made to reduce
to a minimum embarrassments arising out
of the new law. About 10000 stamps were
shipped to the Pacific coast to-day and other
shipments will follow in rapid succession.
The stamps will be sent to collectors of in
ternal revenue and by them distributed to
will receive Geographic requests to handle
the stamps for the benefit of the public UNI
I'll other arrangements can be made for
count, l per cent, allowed to persons pur-
chasing stamps in quantities of 500, it is
believed will operate to make it difficult to
secure sufficient number of local agencies
to supply the public needs. but special APP
peals will be made and the hope is expressed
that there will be found in every community
a sufficient number of public-spirited citi-
zens to undertake to handle the stamps
without proper compensation.
The attorney general takes less serious
view than some of the other officials of the
action of the Senate finance committee in
declining to recommend the extension to
July Is of the time when the adhesive stamp
tax shall go into effect. Any failure to af-
fix stamps TO commercial and other paper
subject to a tax, it is said, could be RENE
died by compliance with the law at any
time. and even should the matter be
brought into court it is doubted if the courts
would impose the penalty where there was
not shown an intent to defraud the govern
ment of its revenues. If the stamp required
was not procurable at the time the instru--
ment was drawn, the government, and not
the individual it is said. would be respon-
sible 1t is also statedrthat unstamped pa
per would be perfectly good as between in
was brought into court could any question
be raised as to it's validity. In view of the
doubt existing as to the possibility of get
ting a sufficient quantity of stamps to far
Western points in time for use July l, Secre-
tary Gage has had under consideration to-
day the question of using postage stamps of
certain denominations with the letters IT.
r." imprinted thereon. The postmaster gen.
eral has been questioned on the subject and
he has advised the department that he can
furnish such number of stamps may be
required as temporary expedient The
plan has not been fully matured, but Secre-
tary Gage is inclined to the opinion that
this course will be necessary. The stamps
in denominations less than one cent Will be
printed at the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing and furnished as rapidly as pos
sible.