The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-07-03
BANK CHECKS WILL Be FREE.
Revenue Stamp Tax Mill BeI0f

The troublesome revenue tax which
has been in force since July 1. 1898,
will at last<be lifted on some Of the
chief articles in common use. esss Ss
After the 1st of July people will no.
longer have to put the inevitable and
inconvenient 2-cent revenue stamp on
bank checks.
The amel. dment act of March q,
1901, will go into effect July 1st. By
this act the tax will be lifted on many
of the most important taxable articles,
instruments and property. The lifted
tax will affect chiefly the rank and file
of the people. A tax still remains on
many less common articles. s5,
The necessity for afixing revenue
stamps continually since the Spanish
American war has been great hard
ship to the people. The tax was I'M
posed on things in common use among
the masses, and has been source of
great trouble and expense for the past
three years in the commercial and
business world, as well as annoyance
and cost to private individuals. ss:
OF the many taxetions imposed by
the act of June 13 1893, the most seriss
=ously inconvenient have been lifted
under the act of March, 2, 1901, to go#
into effect July 1st. .s5I
After Monday bank checks will no.
longer have to be stamped. Telegraph
messages will not require that extra
cent heretofore imposed. Express res
ceipts and money orders will not need
revenue stamps. All patent medicines
will be released from their previous
heavy revenue tax. ;ss
Schedule B of the act taxing medi
cinal proprietary articles and prepare
tions, such as cosmetics, chewing. gum,
perfumery, ETC., has been amendedsb
elimination, leaving only the previous
tax on sparkling and other wines when
bottled for sale. ss:sss:s
Seats in parlor cars and berthsslns
sleeping cars are still taxed 1cent, the
stamp to be affixed to the ticket by
the company. 3ssSs sssss5
Tax on personal notes has been lift
ed and that on deeds, Instruments
conveyances, ETC., much reduced
Previously such documents were taxed
so cents for value from $100 to $780,,
and 80 cents.for additional value npN
to $1,000. Now only rs cents imposed
for amounts between 81, 500 and So
900. s.#ss::s
AS the revenue tax act now stands;
since amendment, taxation falls large
~ on corporations and holders of large
interests rather than upon the popn
lace. 1856
The consequent penalty for not afix--ssS
ing necessary revenue stamps vii ofss ofs,
course, after Monday be remoyed
Documents formerly invalidatedj byss
the lack of proper stamps viii no:
longer be subject to such laWss
The Troublesome necessity, so annoy
ing to business men, Of keeping on
hand supply Of stamps will largely
be relieved. The continuous cancella
ton of stamps by writing ones lnl-
tials and the. date on them will be-
obviated.
Papers requiring stamps which have
not been affixed are, lnvalidated. They
cannot be recorded or admitted as evi-
dence in any court until proderly
stamped.
Single revenue stamps to the value
of 81, 600 have been issued.
Everybody.is glad that the revenue
tax will be lifted. 1t is great relief
not to have TO bother with licking
stamps on all occasions, making chick
en- feed change to pay telegaphic toll
tax, ETC., OF to procure stamped
check books.
Banks and business ENTERPRISES have
known of the lifting of some Of the
taxes since March and have been able
to prepare for it. Left over stamps,
check books, ETC., may be
redeemed, however, by the revenue de-:
partment. Private individuals can
have redeemed such stamps or checks
at their banks by accommod datlon.