The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-02-11
FEAR THERE IS
STAMP FRAUD
Comptroller at Albany Makes
Startling Report.
MILLIONS ARE IN DOUBT
investigation Of Transfer Tax Bu-
reau by New Administration
Shows Irregularities.
MILLIONS ARE IN DOUBT

ALBANY. n. v. Feb. 1i.-Comptrol-
Ter Martin ii. Glynn has made public
the results of an investigation which
he has been making into the condition
Of the stock transfer tax bureau Of bis
Office with reference 10 the handling
and disposal OF S1.0OO.O0O worth Of the
stamps issued 10y that department for
use In the transfer Of stocks under the
act OF 1905.
According to the comptroller's state
meut, more than S5.Oo0,0OO worth OF
these stamps have been destroyed ell
ther In process Of manufacture or by
actual burning without adequate rec
ord or supervision In the two years
since the act was passed. and there Il
only the personal word Of a single
clerk. salarled ut $2,JO0 aud not under
bond, to certify the fact that they
were destroyed at ALL
The total amount OF stamps recorded
as destroyed at different times be-
tween June .. 1905. when the first IS
sue OF stamps began. and Dec. -. 1905,
two days before Comptroller Glynn as
sumed office. was Sj.Sii.G5S. Two lots
reported as actually burned represent
ed respectively $4,000 and S2,2S3.-
JO7. 40. Another lot said 90 have been
destroyed nj the time Of manufacture
because one or more stamps la each
sheet was defective amounted 10 $685.
O42GO. The balance of the vast total OF
over s5.OO0.OOO are recorded Ms de-
stroycd In some stage of the process Of
manufacture.
According TO Comptroller Glynn, the
entire business Of printing and caring
for the stock transfer tax stamp was
In the hands of Charles NJ. Watkins Of
Penn Yam. chief clerk IN the stock
transfer tax bureau. nm apirinice OF
Comptroller Kelsey, who continued "a
serve In that capacity under Compirol.
Ter Wilson after Mr.. Kelsey was ap.
pointed by Governor Higgins TO be 81.
perinienient ~ Insurance.
Mr. Watkins was superseded early
In January by an apPoiniee Of Mfr.
Glynn. and II was Ia the process OF
checking up the stamps on hand that
the alleged state 81 affairs was dis
covered. The comptroller detailed John
Hourigan. an expert accountant, 20
check NJ the STAMPS and papers on
hand. and for several weeks be has
been counting paper and stamps. show.
Ing total OF over SG.Oc0.Oo0 worth Of
stamps on hand aud a deficiency ac-
counted for by stamps reported a. de.
stroyed" either IN process 81 manufac.
TURF OF by burning In bulk
The stamps were printed hy Quayle
& Son OF this city at their plant on
Green street. The plates were In the
custody 81 the compirollcr'- represent
atlyc. and each day 81 work were de.
ilyercd TO ouayle Tho paper first used
was Of an ordinary commercial sort,
which Comptroller Glynn said was
stored In the Quayic shop under an
ordinary lock In an ordinary room. and
while the sheets were counted out be-
fore printing there was no safeguard
10 prevent their lelng distracted.
Moreover. the comptroller declares the
count OF sheets does not tally. to- ex.
PLANTATION being that some Of Il was
used for other purposes.
The first issue Of stamps was found
10 be susceptible 10 counicrfcltlng and
the renewal Of cancellation marks. and
In May or June Of last year the print.
Ing Of these was stopped and a new
issue was begun ON patent paper
when the new paper. which was 10
defy countsrfoltlng. came TO hand. "
said the comptroller. 1t received no
better safeguard. but was left In the
Quayle shop. And the comptroller's
seal. with which the bundies were
sealed. was apparently ~ carclcssly
ltreatesl."