The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-02
MANY NEEDLESSLY
ALARMED OVER THE
WAR TAX STAMPS
Government Will Not Fine
Those Willing and Ready
to Buy Stamps-Ex-
plains Situation

Washington, December 1.-Thousands
of persons in many cities who spent
hours today rushing the offices of In
ternnl revenue collectors. alarmed he
enue stamps. were needIessiy frightened
over what might happen II they were
not on the minute with their stamping.
The internal revenue bureau in the
treasury department itself, much wor-
ried over the task of getting the law into
smooth working order. found time late In
the day to send fciesrarns IL Collectors
making it plain that the government has
no intention of prosecuting anybody sub
ject to the tax who shows he is willing
and ready to buy stamps.
Frantic calls from collectors telling Of
besieging crowds demanding stamps re-
suited in telegram tonight signed by
Commissioner Osborn and sent to all COL
lectors. to clear of the difficulty. 1t said:
Date allispecial tax returns November
l3 until you can handle applications
promptly, unless you have information
that no effort was made to file same
prior to that date. If unable to supply
demands for documentary stamps for bills
of lading permit shipments to go for
ward. have record kept and affix or can.
eel stamps when received. Notify rail-
roads"
To Relieve Situation
BY this notice the commissioners Of
flee expected to relieve a situation which
promised to become embarrassing to thou
sands of individuals, and might have
brought much confusion to railroads and
shippers.
Officials here explained today that ev-
erything possible had been done here to
get ready to enforce the law. The bu-
reau Of engraving and printing has
worked night and day since the law was
passed, turning out the new stamps. The
problem of furnishing stamps has been
complicated, however. by the failure in
some instances OF collectors to regard
suggestions from Washington that all
applicants be given a sufficient supply
to last a few days and not be permit
ted to load up with large quantities. In
formation here is that some applicants
have obtained supplies to last a month,
while in the same communities Others
have been unable to get any stamps.
AS an illustration of the vast numbers
of stamps required 1t was pointed out
that virtually every article in drug stores
is subject to the tax. Many drug stores
carry possibly 100000 such taxable articles
and there are thousands of drug stores
throughout the country.
Work Not Facilitated
Officials say Congress did not facilitase
rather hampered it by failing to give ans
additional appropriation to permit 1t to
prepare for carrying out the new law
The bureau tonight made public a rul-
ing that certificates issued by Officers
of a state in the interest of the state
are not subject to the tax. Certificates
issued by an officer of the government
at the request of private persons solely
for private use, must be stamped.
Besiege Offices
New York December 1.--Poiice reserves
were called out. today to restrain crowds
that besieged the United States interna
revenue offices here to buy the new wal
tax stamps A solid line of would-bt
purchasers extended for blocks growing
increasingly srestive as the hours passed
When the offices reopened at 8 O'Clock
after AN hours recess for the collectors
to count the money received and sens
1t to banks, so fierce a rush was made
that policemen on duty could not cop,
with it,. Reserves brought the crowd tt
order again and the sale continued unit
sll who remained in line had obtained
stamps. 4H