The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-02
MUCH VIOLATION OF STAMP LAW
 REPORTED HERE
Merchants Selling Articles Over Counter That Should Bear
 Revenue Stamps.
LACK OF STAMPS IS
 SERIOUS PROBLEM
Bridgeport Not Designated As Distributing Place = Mer-
 chants May Seek Relief.

With constantly increasing numbers of applicants for emergency war rev enue stamps at the bureau of Internal Revenue today in this city, confusion is arising over the non-arrival of stamps in this city to. care for docu- mentary and proprietary needs. Though Collector James J. walsh took the responsibility upon his own shoul- ders in sending 80,0o0 express and freight stamps to this city, a large part of which have already been sold even under the restrictions placed up- on quantity to purchasers tho small number of clerks in the office are kept busy explaining the fact that pro- prietary and documentary stamps have mot been received and that Bridge port has never been designated as a stamp depot.
 It has been found necessary by the government to extend the time of fling declarations of liability for tax and notice was received at the local department today that no fines would be made for those who. had been de- 1ayed in filing their statements De- cember l. The time has been ex- tended only for a few days, however. Confusion arose in the local sofhSe today over the lack of documentary and proprietary stamps. While all transfers, pronissory notes, insurance papers and in fact every paper except a cheek or evidence of debt requires these staMps, word has been received from Washington that thef town clerk may. accept for record any document presented, providing he keeps a, record of the transaction and later turns it Into the government office for refer ence.
 Another phase which has greatly disturbed merchants in this ofty is the fact that every package of perfumed soap, perfume. chewing gum, toilet water, cosmetic. vaseline. hair oil sspo- made hair-dressing. hair rest alive. hair dye. tooth-wash. dentlfrice. tooth-paste, etc, when sold must be stamped with 1-8th cent stamps for every five cents in value. The Jaw so reads thaf wl1i1e these may be Kept upon the shelves in stock when hand ed over a counter or otherwise dis- posed to a customer each package, : box, bottle. jar, pot or phial must bear a stamp properly cancelled. A penalty of not more than $1 ,00e or imprisonment for not less than six months in jail is attached by the gov eFnment for every violation.
 p It will therefore be seen that if the law Is rigid1y enforced every dry goods notion, drug, cigar or other dealer who disposes of a package of this article today is liable for q heavy penalty. Stamps have been issued for this purpose and are legally for sale in New Haven and Hartford. No stamps are to be had in this city. E Some of the larger stores in the city by foresight hae obtained these stamps and girls were today busily engaged in affixing them to all goods in stock. The majority of the smaller stores is either unaware of the law which compe1s them to stamp all the goods in their stocks or are chancing the visit of government insp ectors and inc heaVv fine iYnnoSaH f0r violation.
 A letter received from Collector Walsh at the local Revenue office intimates that he will endeavor on his own responsibility to furnish some of these documentary stamps to Bridgeport in the emergency but specifically states that Bridgeport is not a stamp office, and that app1ica- stion must be made to Hartford for future supplies.
 It is likely that at the meeting o1 the Business Mems association to- night a protest against this city being left in it's present condition will be made and forwarded to Washington for consideration
 Town Clerk Schulz today. stated te Farmer reporter that many of the deeds being recorded already bore stamps, but that many others are be- ing laid aside awaiting attention later
 The first paper carrying the docu- nnentary stamps required under the war tax law was filed in the town clerks office today. It was the rec ord of a bill of sale for Knox auto mobile from George B. Wuesterfeld co. of New Haven to Mrs. Emma Muller of 145 Linen avenue, this city Ten one cent stamps were placed on the document. The stamps were not purchased in Bridgeport.