The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-08-07
DEALERS ARE WARNED.
Government Intends to Enforce Much
Neglected Law.

Neglected Law.
Warning has been given to the deal
ers in cigars, tobacco, cigarettes and
SNUFF that the government intends to
enforce a certain law passed for their
regulation and that after November /
no grace will be given to those who
violate it's provisions. A circular let
ter has been sent ITO all the internal
venue officers to give the matter
the greatest possible publicity, 70
that all interested may become ac-
quainted with the new order.
Text Of Circular.
The circular lis signed by Acting
Commissioners Williams. After citing
the law, which imposes q penalty Of
not less than $500 or more than $4,000
and Imprisonment for not less than
six months, together with c~onfiscation
OF property for violation of it's pro-
visions, MIR. Williams says:
From information that has reached
this office appears that the law and
regulations relating to sales by job
bers and other dealers in manufactur-
ed tobacco, snuff and cigars r
quite generally disregarded and ig-
nored, and that these articles are
being exposed for sale outside the
original package unprotected by the
tax-paid stamps. It is the purpose of
this circular to give notice to all con-
cerned that these irregularities and
violations must or those guilty
Of them must suffer the consequences.
1.-The regulations have been modi-
fed from time to time in the interest
Of retail and wholesale dealers in
manufactured tobacco, every advan-
tage warranted by law being given
them. To accommodate small deal
ers, manufacturers have been author
lzed to put up any sized packages
permitted by the statutes, so that no
reason exists for the exposure OF
such articles outside the stamped
packages.
"One dealer in manufactured to
bacco is not privileged to take from
a manufacturers package a portion
of the contents and deliver the same
unaccompanied by the tax-paid stamp
to another dealer for resale; neither
can a dealer lawfully receive or have
in his possession manufactured to
bacco, snuff, cigars or cigarettes re
moved from the original stamped
packages. Such unstamped articles
exposed for sale or exhibited in show
windows, show cases, glass jars o
otherwise by dealers, wholesale OF
retail, are forfeitable and must b.
seized.
Owing to the existing misunder
standing on the part of dealers il
manufactured tobacco as to the re
quirements of the law, immediate
steps will not be taken. to strictl.
enforce the same, but an opportunity
will be afforded such dealers to rem
edy existing defects and to get thei
stock of manufactured tobacco, smut
cigars and cigarettes in such condi
ton to fully comply with the law AM
regulations.
-erefore notice is hereby give
that n of such manufactured art
cles found on the market, expose
for sale outside of the original manu-
featured stamped packages on and al
ter November /, 1908, will be seize
and sold pursuant to law, and sue
further action will be taken as It'll
law requires or the circumstance
may demand.
sInternal revenue officers are direc
ed to give this notice the widest pc.
sible publicity in order that the nj
cessity for seizures and prosecution
may be reduced to a minimum.
ssWhen, on or after November
1908, manufactured tobacco, smut
cigars or cigarettes r found on tn
market exposed for sale outside {
the original packages, the same wi
be seized by the proper collector {
deputy collector, and the facts repor
ed to this Office and to the Unite
States district attorney. with recon
mendation for such action as may b
deemed requisite"