The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-25
SLEEPING OVER THEIR RIGHTS
TURPENTINE MEN MUST REGISTER
THEIR STILLS BY SEPT. 1.

Otherwise They VIII Be Liable to n
Penalty of $500 for Each still.
This Was Required Under the In
ternal Revenue Law of 1898. But
Was Not Enforced-InternaI Reeve
nue. Commissioners Wilson Has Or
dered Its Enforcement-COsts Moth
ing TO Register, But the Fine Is
$500 if Not observation-disclosures Can
BE Obtained Free From the De-
partment.
The turpentine operators of Georgia
and adjoining states are sleeping over
their rights and are liable to get into
serious trouble with the government IN
less they Immediately take steps to pro-
tect themselves.
Under the internal revenue act of 1898
all stills, turpentne included. were re-
quired to be registered with the internal
revenue officials. In some manner or
other the enforcement of the act as ap-
Piled to turpentine stills was overlooked.
and this oversight was only called to the
attention of the internal revenue officials
this year.
A ruling was issued by Internal Reeve
nue. Commissioner G. W. Wilson to the
effect that all such stills must be regis
tered by Sept. / or the owners of the
stills become subject to penalty of $500.
From this penalty there is no recourse
nor redress.
This ruling also does not seem to have
been brought to the attention of the oper-
ators, and the time in which they can
register and escape the penalty is grow
ing short Some of the local firms, en-
gagged in manufacturing rosin. among
them the Shotter Company, have learned
OF the ruling and have registered their
stills Altogether, however only fifty
stills have been registered in this divi-
sion. whereas there must be several hun
bred.
Mr.. II. c. Hari on, sauger end deputy
collector for the internal revenue de-
partmeut at Savannah, requests the
Morning News TO make this announce
mert for the benefit of the oper ators of
Georgia, + orida and adjoining states.
1.-THE department has been very lenient
in this matter" said Mr.. Harrison, and
] am satisfied it will not permit the de-
fault to continue after the date named.
There Is no excuse for delinquency. 1t
costs nothing to regi ter and registra-
ton can be made with any deputy col
lector CT other official of the revenue ser
vice. The department will furnish all
blanks on applica ion and where there is
no internal revenue officer affidavit can
he made before any official qualified to
witres oath. Any notary public who
has a seal can act in this capacity"
Asked as to why the government re-
quires a Negistry of turpentine stills. Mr..
Harrt son said this was doubtless due TO
the fact that the stills used in the tur-
pentine business are the regulation cop
per stills which can be used for disiiling
whisky or other alcoholic sCimulants and
the trainers of the law doubtless con-
sidered it well TO have record of all
these stills.
Anyhow" said he, 1.-The requirement is
there and so is the penalty, and both will
be emf, rcd un'ess the operators take
cps to protect themselves"
1t seems strange that the factors have
not taken sters to pro ect their custom
ers in this and adjoining states. 1t may
be that they have done 50. and that the
registration is more general than Mr..
Harrison is aware. The naval stores oper-
ators have trI ubles enough, notwithstand
ing the fair prices they are getting fol
their produc s, and it would be very poor
policy for them to get into any muss
with the government. The Filipino rebel
lion is still on and the China business is
just at It's climax. and the government
needs all the revenue it can get hold, sc
it may he presumed that it will hardly lei
up on any delinquents who lay them
selves liable to penalties.