Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-12-03
Thousands of Persons Rush Of
fees of CollectOrs-Ohicials
Will Not Prosecute Those In
tending to Pay.
SHIPMENTS TO GO FORWARD
Stamps Will Be Affixed or Can
celled When Supplied-Prob.
lem of Furnishing Sufficient
Quantity Complicated-Inade-
quate Appropriation.

washington, Dec. l.--Thousands Of per-
sons In many cities who spent hours to-
day rushing the offices Of internal revenue
collectors, alarmed over their inability
to obtain revenue stamps to comply with
the war revenue tax law, were needlessly
frightened over what might happen II
they were not on the minute with their
stamping. The internal revenue bureau
In the treasury department sent kilograms
to collectors making 1t plain that the gov
eminent has no intention Of prosecuting
anybody who shows that he is willing and
ready to buy stamps and pay.
A telegram tonight signed by Commits
sioner Osborn and sent to all colec-
tors said:
Date all special tax returns November
18th until you are able to handle applica-
lions promptly, unless you have inform
alton that no effort was made to file
same prior to that date. II unable to
supply demands for documentary stamps
for bills Of lading permit shipments to
60 forward, have record kept and affix
or cancel stamps when received Notify
railroads"
BUREAU WORKED DAY AND NIGHT.
The bureau Of engraving and printing
has worked night and day turning out
the new revenue stamps and they have
been shipped away from Washington
many tons at a time. The problem OF
furnishing stamps to all applicants has
been complicated, however by the
failure In some instances OF collectors
to regard suggestions from Washington
that all applicants be given sufficient
supply to last a few days and not be
permitted to load up with large
quantities. Information here is to the
effect that in some cases applicants have
secured supplies to last a month while
In the same communities others have
been unable to get any stamps at all
| Officials say Congress did not facilitate
the work OF the revenue bureau, but
rather hampered It by failing to give
any additional appropriation to permit
1t to prepare for carrying out the new
| law.
| The bureau tonight made public a
ruling that certificates issued by officers
OF a State In the interest OF the State
are not subject to the tax. Certificates
issued by officers OF the government at
the request OF private persons solely
for private use are to be stamped.
Police reserves were needed to-day to
restrain the crowds which besieged the
United States internal revenue offices
here in attempts to buy the new war
tax stamps. Since morning solid line
OF would-be purchasers at the Sixteenth
street offices had extended for blocks.
growing increasingly FESTIVE as the
hours passed and when the offices re-
opened at three O'Clock. after an hour E
J for hn tn hr
money received and send It to banks,
so fierce rush was made for the stamp
windows that the policemen already on
duty could not cope with It. BY the
effort of the reserves the crowd was
brought to order again and the sale con-
tinued until all who remained in line
had obtained stamps.
At the offices in the customs house
similar crowds struggled although not so
boisterously.
AS the result of an appeal to the treas
ury department at Washington for quick
relief, branch offices We're opened in two
nearby federal repositories and were i'm
mediately Swamped by a rush Of hun
dreds As further measure OF relief
Collector Anderson announced that penal
ties would not be strictly enforced II the
law were not absolutely obeyed the flrst
day.
Despite these measures the internal
revenue offices We're surrounded by great
crowds all day. The greatest rush was
In connection with bills of ading and the
railroad and steamship offices here were
on the verge OF complete blockade
through inability to obtain the stamps
To relieve them, arrangements were
made that shipments might go forward
without stamps, but that caref(l account
must be kept OF all such shipments and
stamp payments must be arranged FOL
later.