The times., 1901-06-27
REDUCING THE War TAXES
Schedules of All the Changes
Authorized by Congress.
To Go Into Eject Next MOndny-Ar-
rangcmcnts for the Redemption of
Revenue Stnmps-Rcturn of BnEk
Checks to Owners stiII Undecided.


The Internal Revenue Bureau is max
ing active preparations for the changes
which will occur in the stamp laws on
the FIRST day of next month The general
public is most deeply interested in bank
check stamps, stamps on telephone ana
telegraph messages, and stamps ION
United States money orders, all of which
have been repealed. Altogether stamps
have been abolished on tweuty-SiX aru-
cles and it is estimated at the Internal
Revenue Bureau that in consequence
thereof the revenues of the Government
will suffer falling off aggregating from
i1.O10,05e to $4,000 0G0. The exact amount
canEot be even fairly approximated, be
cause the accounts of the bureau do not
show the separate items for which the
stamps were used. Everything has been
put together in one lump, under two
heads-documentary and proprietary
stamps
A circular was issued some time ago by
the internal Revenue Bureau for the
guidance of persons interested in the r.
demption of stamps. and it stated that
the latter will be redeemed when pre-
scented in quantities of 81 or more, face
value and no claim for redemption will
be allowed unless presented within two
years after the purchase of the stamps
from the Government.
Claims for the redemption of stamps
must be prepared in the district where the
claimant resides, and forwarded by the
collector of that district to the Internal
Revenue Bureau in this city The circular
of the bureau stated that under the
law and regulations all stamped instru-
ments and an imprinted checks drafts,
etc, presented for the redemption OF the
stamps thereon must when the stamps
are redeemed, be retained with the claim
therefore, no such instruments can be re-
turned to the owners thereof 1t looks
now as if there would be perfect deIuge
of stamped checks pouring in upon the
Revenue Bureau, just as there was in
1888, when rooms and corridors were filled
with the accumulations which came every
day by express and mail. 1t is as yet an
undecided question whether the owner OF
stamped checks will receive them again
after he has turned them IN Tor redemp-
tion. In 1888 the stamped CHECKS were
punched for cancellation. and then again
returned to their owners, so that tney
could be used. At the present time there
seems TO be MISUNDERSTANDING between ,Sl
the Auditor of the Treasury and the COM
missioner of Internal Revenue as to the
course to be taken, the latter believing
that the Auditor has decided that WheIl
voucher for claim il cannot be returned
This matter. however, viii probably re-
quire an order from the Secretary OF the
Treasury to be finally settled. Inc de-
mand for the return of the stamped
checks is very emphatic, many business
houses and associations having taken the
matter up seriously, and insisting tnat n
the stamped checks are completely de-
stroyed they will suffer considerable loss.
Commissioner YeriIes said yesterday he
thought that way could be found out OF
TO -fDfiz
but that so far nothing had been done
in the mater.
1t has also been decided by the Treas
ury Department that if a stamp is affixed
TO a proprietary package, it cannot be
redeemed. The work of the bureau will,
therefore, be strictly confined to the re-
demption of such imprinted labels and
separate stamps as have not been placed
upon the package
The changes in the law in brief form,
are as follows:
These items have been repeated out
right:
Bills of lading for export, 10 cents.
Bond or obligation by guarantee com
pany, 4 of ] cent on each dollar.
Certificates of damage, % cents.
Certificates of deposit, cents.
Certificates not otherwise specified, 10
cents.
Charter party. 50 to $40.
Chewing gum, cents each 81
Commercial brokers, $50.
Drafts, sight, cents.
Express receipts, l cent.
Insurance-Iife. s cents on each 500;
marine, inland. fire. Y cent on each 81;
casualty, fidelity, and guaranty, Y cent
Lease, 25 cents to 81.
Manifest for custom house entry, 81 to
Mortgage or conveyance in trust, %
order for payment Of money on sight or
on demand.
Perfumery and cosmetics, Is cent for
each cents.
Power of attorney to vote, 10 cents.
Power of attorney to sell, % cents.
Promssory notes. 2 cents for each slOo.
Proprietary medicines, Is cent for each
cents.
Telegraph messages. ! cent.
Telephone messages, l cent.
L. S. money orders. cents for each 800
Warehouse receipts, % cents
These items have been modified:
Beer s. per barrel and ~ per cent dis
count, changed 10 $l.6O per barrel, and IL
per cent discount repealed.
Bills Of exchange, foreign, A cents for
each 800: changed to cents for each 800
Cigars weighing more than pounds per
! 900 $3.50 per 1909; changed to 500 per
1000.
Cigarettes weighing not more than 3
pounds per 1000, $l.50 per 1000; changed TO.
valued at not more than 81 per 1000, IS
cents per pound valued al more than s2
per 1000, 26 cents per pound.
Cigars weighing not more than pounds
per 1900. 81 per 1000; changed to Is cents
per pound
Conveyance, 50 cents for each $500; now
exempted below $500; above $500. 20
cents for each $500
Legacies-Law modified so as to exclude
| from taxation legacies of charitable, re-
/ ligious. literary or educational character
after March l. 1901.
Orders for payment of money by tele-
| graph. etc. issued by express companies.
etc. drawn in but payable out of United
| States. cents for each 800.
| Passage tickets, 81 to s.; now exempted
| below $50 In value. for each $50, 30 cents;
! exceeding $50, in addition thereto. so cents
Sales of products at exchanges: l cent
cent for each 500 retained. but sales of
! merchandise in actual course of trans
| portation exempted from tax.
Tobacco and snuff, j cents per pound;
! now, discount Of % per cent allowed.
These items have not been changed:
Bankers capital and surplus $50 for S25.-
| 600 and s. for each additional sl00G.
Bonds, debentures, certificates of in
! debtedness. etc, p cents for each 800
| Bond for indemnity or for due execution
| or performance of duties of any Office or
! position, so cents.
Brokers, $50
! Brokers contract, 10 cents.
Certificates of profit. 2 cents for each
| 800.
Certificates of stock, original issue. 5
| cents for each 500.
Certificates OF stock. transfers, . cents
! for each slo0. (Amended to include sales
| at bucketshops)
Cigarettes weighing more than three
pounds per ! 900. $3.50 per 1000
| Custom house brokers. so.
Dealers in leaf tobacco, Sc to $24. ac-
Dealers in tobacco. sl2 when sales ex-
| ceed $1,000 pounds.
Drafts. time, or bills of exchange. in
| land cents for each 800.
1