The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-30
WAR TAX CUT DOWN
40 MORE STAMPS ON CHECKS AND
NOTES AFTER TO-DAY.
BOTH TIME AND MONEY
SAVED THE BUSINESS MEN OF sA-
yANNAH BY CHANGE IN THE LAW.

Postal Money Orders-Big Reduc-
TO Government From Specific
Taxes and Stamps In Savannah
VIII lie Cut Down One-haIf-Has
Been $I5O,OOo Per Annum for
Three Years-HOw Unused stamps
May he Redeemed.
The change in the war revenue tax law,
made by an act of Congress at the last
session, goes into effect tomorrow. From
and after that time there win be no
stamp tax to be paid upon bank checks
or negotiable notes and there are sweep
ing changes in the law all along the
Nne.
II will be matter of financial relief,
as we'll as a great saving in time and
trouble, to Savannahians To bother with
the war revenue tax and to have to con-
cult authorities every time he has want
ed to give a note or make a deed, to
find out just how much the government
exacted for the privilege. has been an
tnsufferable nuisance to the average bus
mess man-an annoyance which meant
more to him than the money the taxes
cost him. This annoyance still remains
to a limited extent, but it will be very
greatly decreased by the changes in the
law.
The amount of stamps and special gov
eminent taxes for which the people of
Savannah have been required to pay dur
ing the last three years will be cut in
half after to-day. For three years the
government has collected $4,000 a year
IN specific and war taxes from the people
of Savannah; from tomorrow collections
from these sources will be cut down at
least one-half and probably more.
The specific tax for retail liquor deal
ers amounts in Savannah to $1,000 per
year. This will remain as 1t is. The
beer stamp tax, which has been about
SEE, 900 per year, will be cut down to about
$4,000. Documentary and proprietary
stamps which are the exclusive outcome
of the war revenue law, have been sold
to the amount of $4,000 per year. 1t is
rather difficult to estimate just what re-
duotion will be made by the changes in
the law in the sale of these stamps, but
it will certainly reduce the sale to $4,000
a year and possibly to an even less
amount.
The tax disappears also from express
money orders and from bills of lading is
sued by express companies. No stamps
will have to be affixed in the future to
the telegrams that the people of Savan-
nah send to the friends and business as
socaates or connections. Deeds require
stamps only when the consideration ex-
ceeds $3.50. Between $500 and $1,000 the
tax is % cents, with % cents additional
for each additional $500. Most other COM
mon stamp taxes are permitted by the
new law to remain in force, though in
the majority of cases their amount is
internally decreased.
The war tax of cents will be taken off
postal money orders, Postmaster Doyle
having received official notice from the
department to this effect.
Unused proprietary and documentary
stamps, which remain in the possession
of purchasers. will be redeemed by the
department. Those who have these
stamps and desire to have them redeemed
must comply with the requirements of the
Department of Internal Revenue. Blanks
Tor making the application may be OBJ
tanned in Savannah from Mr.. H. E. Will
son, who is the stamp deputy collector at
this point The following circular, which
explains how these applications should be
made and the conditions upon which they
will be honored has been sent out by
Hon. John w. Yerkes. Commissioner of
internal revenue.
Unused documentary and proprietary
stamps, issued under the provisions of
the war revenue act, approved June 10,
1895 for which the owners have no use,
may be redeemed, but in all cases there
Will be deducted the percentage, If any.
allowed the purchaser. Application for
the redemption of such stamps should De
made to the collector of internal revenue
from whom the same were purchased,
rrriaa xxflIl tfxx.lxr laa with Form
IS and necessary instructions relative TO
the preparation of his claim.
Claims for the redemption Of adhesive
documentary and proprietary stamps, II
purchased from a collector, must contain
his certificate as to the date and amount
OF purchase. If purchased from dealer
in stamps, such dealers certihcate as 20
the date Of sale to claimant, and the GER
tihcate OF the collector as to date of sale
TO the dealer must be furnished. Stamps
that are not in the same condition as
when issued will not be redeemed unless
their condition Is satisfactorily accounted
for.
Documentary and proprietary stamps
can be redeemed only when presented III
quantities of 81 or more face value anu
no claim for the redemption or or allow
ance for such stamps can be allowed uli-
less presented within two years after the
purchase of said stamps from the govern
ment.
AN claims for the redemption OF
stamps imprinted on checks, dratts' anu
other Instruments must be entered OF re-
cord and forwarded 10 this office py tne
collector of the district in which the OF
der for the imprinting of the stamps was
purchased. If the claimant resides III
district other than that in which salo OF
der was purchased, his claim snoulo DC
prepared and deposited with the collector
Of the district in which he resides, Wno
will examine said claim and see that II
Is properly prepared In all respects ana
cause it to be Investigated and certlneo
by one OF his deputies, 30 far as II Is prdc-
tcabe in that district, and will then lot
ward II to the collector of the district III
Which the order for the imprinting OF the
stamps was issued. who will furnish the
additional evidence required, ana forward
The claim to this office with proper certin-
cate and recommendation. When claims
are presented by any person or nrm oth
er than the one for whom the order foi
mprntng was issued and whose name
Or title does not appear upon the papet
or which the stamps are imprinted, tn'
Claimant, In addition to the certificate d
the collector and deputy collector atore
teid' must satisfactorily establish the rae
!" ownership OF the stamps and furnish
.eruhcate OF sale by each owner or then
nom the time OF their purchase from th'