Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-12-01
NEW STAMP TAX
LEVIES HEAVILY
ON BUSINESS
Uncle Sam to Take Extra
Nickel on Each Pack
of Cards

Beginning to-day, a tax of one cent
on every parcels post package bear
ing twenty-five cents postage, or
more. will be levied. according to the
new revenue law. Special revenue
stamps may be purchased at any
post office or substation. for the pay
ment Of this tax. but the use of reg
misSiblc.
The sender of the package must
atfiX tie stamp and cancel it by
writing his initials across the face.
but Great care must be taken so
that the sender does not write upon
the regular postage stamps. Pack
ages upon which the postage is twen-
ty-four cents or less, will be en-
empted from this ruling. Revenue
stamps must be affixed to bonds of
Indemnity or Indebtedness, capital
stock issues. stock transfers, produce
sales en- exchange drafts. promis-
sorry notes, conveyances and deeds
customs house entries, steamship
tickets, proxies. assignments of pow
er of attorney, playing cards and
parcels post packages. No stamps
are required on checks. In addition
to the old tax of two cents on play
ing cards a new tax of five cents is
imrosed, so that Harrisburgers who
wish to play cards will have to pay
seven cents tax on each deck of un-
cut cards.
Stock Taxed
On issues of capital stock the tax
is two cents for each 500 or frac-
ton, using the face value as n basis
Stamps are to be affixed to the stock
books. not to the certificates of sale
and exchange. The government eX-
poets to derive a large revenue from
this course alone, and contributions
from Pennsylvania and New York
state will be greatly increased under
this ruling, since there is much ham
ding of stocks in the Philadelphia
and New York exchanges.
For produce sales on exchanges
the tax is two cents for each 500
of value of the merchandise covered
by the agreement, and stamps are
to be affixed to the memorandum or
bill of sale. The law covers trans
ferl ed or scratch sales and sales for
future delivery.
Bonds Must Pay
Bonds of Indebtedness are taxed
five cents for each 500 of face value
or fraction and renewals are classed
as new issues. Indemnity and surety
bonds are subject to a tax of fifty
NVilNSF vi OIlt pei NtlIl VI lllt III
MUM charged for the execution of
the bond. Bonds or policies of re-
insurance are exempt.
A tax of five cents is levied on
each original issue of certificates of
stock. either on organization or re-
organization. face value of 500 or
fraction. To meet the practice in
some states of issuing stocks without
face value, the new war tax low
nrnNidac fhaf n
tual value of the stock shall be the
basis for taxation.
Deeds Arc Hit
For drafts or checks payable other
than at sight or on demand, and
for promissory notes and their re-
newal the tax is two cents for each
500 or fraction. This levy will lay
a burden particularly on the bank
ing business. Ordinary bank checks
are not taxable.
Realty conveyance and deeds are
taxed fifty cents where the value
of the interest conveyed is between
500 and 500. and fifty cents for
each additional $500 or fraction. De-
duction may be made of only lien
or encumbrance remaining on the
property at the time of sale.
The entry of goods at CUSTOM
house for consumption or warehous-
ing is taxable twenty-five cents when
the value is not more than 500; fifty
cents when the value is between 500
and $500. and 81 when the value eX-
ceeds $500.
Passage tickets to transatlantic,
South American, or other ports not
in the United States, Canada or Mex
leo are taxed according to a sliding
scale running from 81 on tickets
costing between SO and $50, to So
for tickets costing more than $50.
Proxies for voting at any meeting,
except of religious, charitable, fra
ternal. educational or literary or
ganizations. must bear ten-cent rev.
enue stamps. For a power of at
torney the tax is 25 cents.