Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1885-10-14
A CLAIM.

A Washington Firm of Lawyers
Working mp - Case Against th'
GOvernment in Behalf Of Drug
gists All over the Country.
The SENTINEL learns that a circular i
being sent TO retail druggists Throughout
the country by Rutherford & Mayne,
firm Of Washington ID. CO. attorneys.
informing them that they have good claims
against the Government, and asking to BIZ
employed to recover the money. During
the past week q copy Of this circular has
been received at both Capron's and Stowell's
drug stores, and the Same is creating con.
siderable curiosity by these compounders OF
physic. The character OF the claims is
kept q profound secret oven from the per-
sons having them, the lawyers holding the
secret to prevent other lawyers from
| being employed TO reap the benefit OF
| their enterprise in discovering the exist
ence OF such claims. They say In their
circular: 1.-The subject on which we
address you is Of Importance to you, 10
that we believe there is a certain amount
OF money due you by the United States.
| Our action Is taken after the most careful
consideration of the matter, and wo are
so convinced by our Investigations that
there is money due you and other dealers
10 drugs. the list OF whom is now before us.
that. with a view OF obtaining your claim
for this sum, we now communicate with
you" They announce that the claim
must be prosecuted through the Court OF
Claims, and say the law firm will bear all
the expenses il the claimants agree to
allow them 33s per cent Of what they re-
cover. They say: ave believe that there is
q considerable sum due you, but cannot
say how much until clothed with the
proper authority by you to represent you,
and can say nothing positive until your
case is under Roadway aud we have all the
data necessary for calculating the size Of
your claim. Naturally, the question will
rise. What money OF mine is it that 1t is
proposed to rccoverT' Permit US to
answer. In anticipation, that until some
future time We must decline to enlighten
you. Details now would endanger the
success OF the whole matter, az by the
least publicity we would experience the
Interference Of interruptions attorneys,
who. il they could, would rob us of our en-
terprise and labor.
The circular of the firm gives the follow
ing references Mr.. Allen Rutherford
refers by permission to Gen. W. s. Rose
Grams, Register United States Treasury,
Washington, d. O.; Hon. W. P. Oanaday.
Sergeant-at-arms United States Senate.
Washington, d. G. Mr.. Edward R. d.
Mayne refers by permission to William s..
Thompson, chairman of Council American
Pharmaceutical Association, Washington,
d. c.; Adolph ]. Schsfhirt, druggist,
Washington, DC.
The mystery surrounding the matter
gives to it additional interest. and drug
gists all over the country are said to be
talking over the matter, and the general i'm
preston is that there il 'tsomething in
it," The impression is that taxes have
been collected without authority of law.
1t ia said that taxes have been twice paid
on the same articles; that the tax formerly
paid on cologne spirits, ordinary alcohol,
cosmetiques and upon alleged proprietary
articles is clearly illegal; also how . tax
is imposed on imported castor oil if put
up for convenience in selling into small
quantities and labeled, having been pre-
yiously taxed in bulk, they are again
taxed on the shelves, making clearly an
illegal taxation. These taxes were all
removed by Congress in an Act passed
March 8, 1888. The claims Of each drug
gist is said to be small, but the aggregate
OF all the claims will. il ia said. amount to
hundreds OF thousands Of dollars.