Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-11-23
THE REVENUE RECEIPTS.
Investigation and It's Results at Des
Moines by an Inspector.

Des Moines Nov. 23.-Stanford Kirk
patrick, special agent OF the federal
revenue department, is in the city look
ing to the enforcement of the war reve-
nue. tax. He has discovered number
of cases where stamps had not been
used, but no prosecutions are in sight,
as in all or nearly all cases it was APP
parent the failure to attach stamps to
documents had been either the result of
oversight or misunderstanding Of the
law. AS a result of his visit the sale
and use Of stamps has largely increased
and the government given profit over
the cost of the investigation. Mr.. Kirk
patrick is veteran of the revenue de-
partment and has had some exciting
experiences, one of which nearly cost
him his life.
Mr.. Kirkpatrick called at the city
hall yesterday and requested permits
| sion to inspect a number Of papers on
| file in the office of the city clerk, and
among others found eight official bonds
the placing of revenue stamps upon
which had been overlooked. Mr.. Kirk
| patrick informed the clerk that these
documents each required 50-cent
stamp, which Mr. Woodruff lost no
thine in securing and attaching to them.
| Until the arrival and ruling of the spe-
| cal officer it had been understood the
law did not contemplate the use of
stamps on municipal obligations of this
| character.
| Mr.. Kirkpatrick, without indicating
the Institutions affected, stated that
since he had begun an investigation in
the city he had discovered in two or
/ three banks instances in which a large
number of commercial obligations held
4 by the banks had not been stamped.
4 In one of the banks he discovered that
stamps had not been attached to sew
4 eral hundred papers where they should
4 have been used, but upon being in
4 formed of the oversight the banks COM
piled with the ruling of the officer and
4 gave him the fullest opportunity to ex-
] anime everything Of a character sup
posed to demand stamps.
II Mr.. Kirkpatrick, when he entered the
government service in the revenue de-
! partment during the administration of
n President Cleveland, had been resi-
dent of Wapello county for many years.
For six or seven years preceding the
election of Mr.. Cleveland he was en-
gagged in business in Ottumwa. Having
la record for efficient service in the war
of the rebellion he was recommended
to Mr.. Cleveland and soon received an
appointment in the revenue service.
He was afterward assigned to service
i ferreting out and running down the
manufacturers of moonshine whisky in
the south In the summer of 1886 he
was sent to the mountain districts OF
South Carolina to discover and capture
an Illicit still. With other revenue Of
=, 1T, 49,
nesses of the rugged country and after
brief search the still was located The
officers made descent upon it one day
, but We're met by fusillade from shot
lguns when they rushed forward to bag
the game. Kirkpatrick was so close
upon one of the moonshiners that t.
avoid being shot point blank in the face
! he threw out his hand to seize the grin
muzzle. The movement saved his life
but the heavy charge in the gun ex.
ploded so close to his eyes that one O.
. them was wholly destroyed and tn,
sight of the other permanently i'm
paired. Blinded and suffering excru
ciating pain, he did not lose his pres
ence of mind, but leveling a Win
the breast of the moonshiner and HI
IuleQ III I'VE minutes. Tor a nunlDer o
! years Mr.. kirkpatrick had the remain
ing eye treated by the most noted ocu
lists in the country, the government as
sisting him in seeking to remedy hi
!. Impaired vision. The result was not a
all encouraging until two years ago
when the sight OF his eye began to grow
stronger. Now he can read with tn
aid of a strong magnifying glass. whicl
he carried. He also has valuable as
sistant in Mrs. kirkpatrick, who &C
s companies him on all his pilgrimage
and is his constant companion. The
are stopping at the Iowa house.