The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-11-29
Who is to Pay for This Revenue Pro-
Queer Is Question Which Seems
to be Bothering Some
Preachers.
NO SECRET TRANSFERS
Collector Rules That Exact Amount
Must be Given In Real Estate
instruments Under This
Ruling.

! DUBUQUE. Nov. 2s.-That the Va
lidity OF marriages performed after
December LIST may be called into ques-
ton unless a 10-cent revenue stamp is
affixed to the marriage certificate II
/ the contention Of minister who has
taken the matter up with Louis Muir
ply, collector of internal revenue for
Iowa.
"The contention" the collector says,
"is hardly tenable one. The act OF
October 22nd. commonly referred to
as the war revenue emergency act.
requires a stamp on certificates re-
quired by law. A marriage certificate
is one such. However. when license
to marry Is issued by clerk Of court
In Iowa, two certificates are issued
with 1t. One OF these is returned by
the officiating minister or magistrate
to the clerk OF courts to become part
OF a public record. The other Is de-
livered to the newlyweds. 1t Is this
certificate which must bear 10-cent
revenue stamp. The certificate re-
turned to the clerk requires no stamp.
But" Mr.. Collector. what about
the validity Of the marriage II the
stamp isn't afflxed?"
Take that to the courts If you en-
Joy It," was the retort. Failure to
afix the proper stamp will subject
the person remiss in this duty to a
4 heavy fine or Imprisonment The gov
eminent doesn't want to put any
brides or groonls in Jail and it wants
to leave all ministers in the pulpit.
hut they'll have to get together on
the question OF who'll pay for thu
stamp"
Necessary on Transfers.
Secrecy attending the consideration
! in transfers Of land or real estate in
destroyed by the war revenue emery.
ency act. according to the interpreta-
ton put upon that law by Louis Muir
ply, collector OF internal revenue for
| Iowa.
In letter to county recorders Mr..
Murphy says that the law is specific
in the provision that stamps shall be
affixed in amount sufficient to cover
the value OF the interest or property
conveyed, less the value OF any lien
or circumference thereon, when the
value exceeds S100. There is a dis
tinction that makes great difference
between consideration and value
Most deeds nowadays put the con-
, sheraton at one dollar or one dol
lar and other valuable consideration
But the United States government
won't accept that. The law forbids
the fling for record of any deed un-
less it bears a 50-cent revenue stamp
when the value transferred exceeds
500 and does not exceed $500, and for
each additional $500 Or fractional
part thereof in excess of $500 an adj
Gitional 50-cent stamp.
persons buying property on or aft
err December 1st will buy 1t with an
invalid title unless the stamps on the
deed cover the actual value Of the
property transferred. The obligation
is upon the person Or persons issuing
the deed to affix the stamps. If this
is not done. the omission is misde-
meanor, punishable by fine.
eff the value of property transfer
red by deed is $4,000 and the mort
gage value is $4,000, the deed must
bear stamps of the value Of $500.
This is what Is meant by the phrase
, exclusive of the value Of any lien or
encum brance thereon"