The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-04

family. who left here on Saturday. are
now visiting Mr.. Hartman's aged moth
er and other relatives at Monticello,
Ind, where Mr.. Hartman was born,
close on to 40 years ago. They will ar
rive in Bozeman before the end of the
present week. During his stay here
the ex-congressman met many of his
old friend in political life and sized up
the political situation with great accu-
racy. He is convinced that Bryan and
free silver WILL and "of right ought to
be- the democratic candidate and plat
firm in 1900.
Mrs B. Nelson of Great Falls recent
ly addressed a letter to Commissioner
of Internal Revenue Wilson, asking if
any person has the right. in case of at
tachment, to take unstamped boxes of
cigars out Of cigar factory for Sc
curtty. Mrs. Nelson stated that an Of
ficer, acting under process issued by
a Great Falls court, had seized I'M
stamped boxes of cigars for the benefit
of creditor of the manufacturer. Com
missioner Wilson has decided the quee-
ton in a letter to Collector Webster
of Helena. This letter has also been
promulgated by the commissioner for
the information of other collectors. He
says: 1T is not the policy of the gov
eminent to interfere with the rights
of citizens under state laws any fur
tlleI tidi lHtSIleTenCe is neceS-
sary to preserve the rights of the
United States. The sheriff in pursu-
ance of his duty, Is presumed to have
been authorized to take possession of
the cigars and tobacco, but If he
removed the cigars from the factory
without the same being properly boxed
and stamped, as required by section
1897. Revised Statutes, as amended, and
sold the same unstamped, he has conf
mitted an offense whereby he has in
CURED the penalty prescribed in said
section. Unstamped boxes of cigars in
the hands of a purchaser at a court
sale are liable to seizure by internal
revenue officers. A similar case arose
in Delaware several years ago. Hum
phrey Morrow, state constable, was
| indicted, tried and convicted in the
| United States district court for selling
| unstamped cigars. He had levied on
| the cigars under a writ of feri facias
| issued by Justice of the peace. He
| was afterWard pardoned by the preSi-
| dent. If a sale of unstamped boxes of
! cigars has been made by an officer, you
will obtain all the facts in this case
| and report them to the United States
| attorney, and advise with him as to the
proper course TO be taken. If there was
no wrong intention and the sheriff acted
without knowledge of what was re-
! quired, my judgment would be, not to
subject him to a criminal prosecution
| if he has made a SALE but to inform
him of his liability and warn him
against any repetition of the offense
An inventory should be taken of the
contents of the cigar factory and a re-
port made of the number of cigars and
| quantity of tobacco and all materials
taken by the sheriff, in order that an
examination may be made by this Of
! flee to ascertain whether there was any
| shortage for which an assessment
should be made. The sheriff or con-
! stable probably made an inventory saf
| the goods which he levied upon, and
perhaps you can obtain and furnish a
! copy of that. Due credit will be given
the manufacturers for the materials
removed by the officer in estimating
the amount of tax which may be due.'
J HOSFoRD.;