The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1901-07-17
WAR STAMP ON BONDS.
It Falls Hard on Rural Free Delivery
Mail Carriers.

A special from Washington Friday
says. An indignant and vigorous pro-
test has been made to the Postmaster
General because OF the heavy internal
revenue tax LEVIED upon every new ap-
pointee Ia the rural free delivery oar
rier service. 1t appears that in tho
establishment Of a new route the car
rier appointed is required to furnish
bond and said bond must he freighted
with 80 cents worth Of internal revenue
stamps. Some of the victims do not
hesitate to character z, the imposition
of this heavy and onerous tax as
bunco game on the part of Uncle Sam
This heavy aud apparently unjust tax
is levied under the terms of the war
revenue measure. Although the amount
seems small it is unjust to tax a poorly
paid official like rural delivery carrier
fifty cents for his appointment, whom
all OF tho other sslsried officials Of the
Government, from the President down,
are exempt from revenue tax in con-
sidera.ion for their commissions and
place on the Government payroll.
AS the salary of these rural carriers
10 OWy PoVV BSk thO tAA IN a
hardship, but when, ss is the case in
many instances, tho proposed route
hangs fire In the department aud is in.
definitely shelved, it is adding insult TO
injury. The would be carrier has paid
out his fifty cents, but he never ro-
oeives one cent Of pay.
Mr.. Ii. Conquest CLARK, the chief
special sgent in charge of the rural free
delivery service, said Friday: "It
seems to me great hard ship for these
men TO be forcad to pay this tax. AS
the routes are aim )st, If not entirely
laid out in the farming districts, men
| OF very limited circumsts ces are usual
| ly appointed as carriers. To them
this half dollar means a great deal.
| They invariably appeal to the postof offi C >
| department. for reimbursement when
tho route TO which they have been ap
pointed is held up, tui wo have no
power or authority to return the amount
expended for this revenue stamp.
In eeversl cases." continued Mr.
| Clark, "the inspectors and special
agents of the rural delivery systems
have been led out Of the kindness of
their hearts to refund out of their own
pockets to those men this revenue tax
Special Agent Auuiu, of the Western
division of rural free delivery, is one of
this kind hearted class. He reported
to me the other day that it WAS the rule
rather than exception for him to cough
up this amount to the mep whose
routes had been tied up il the depart.
ment. he said he was simply forced
10 do so by the way the carriers com
plsiued of the great hardship il WAS for
them to be thus deprived Of half dol.
~ Trcn Eo retur1-+v-+-v- ret
"Siuce tre lst Of July, when some
stamp taxes we're repealed" " added Mr..
CLARK, Ipumerous inquiries have
evsI{ d.} ssktnS n, il tng tbiS etnef is4
aJbssive $tsmp taxes. When Con
I grass mas INC lIVt IvpslVIrS Tcuuc-
ing many Of the special war taxes this
one impoa on rural carriers was left
unchange& In almost every case the
taxes which were imposed on men Of
moderate means, such as the stamps on
bank checks, express packages aud
kilograms, were taken off under this
Aot TO take effect on July /, but this
one, which is especially onerous to
| rural carriers, was retained
Il is likely that the Postmaster G en-.
erAl will call the atte ention Of Congress
at the next session to what appears 70
have been an oversight In retaining
this tax and make request that it be
repealed.