Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-02
DOCTORS T0PAY THE TAX
COLLECTOR CRENSHAW'S OR.
DER TO HIS DEPUTIES.

phYsicians Prescribing or Furnishing
Liquor Come Under the Revenue Laws
aud Must Pay the Special Taxa
Lively stir Among the Medical Fra
ternity.
The order Of Internal Revenue Collec-
tor Crenshaw to his deputies authorizing
them to collect a special tax from physl-
clans prescribing or furnishing liquor is
creating some stir throughout the state.
The order is supposed to he intended to
assist in the enforcement Of the liquor
law in the prohibition counties. Inmany
places the law is violated to notorious
extent. Physicians prescribe with great
frequency. and the prescriptions are taken
10 the nearest drug store and filed. 1t is
stated that number OF physicians fill
the prescriptions themselves, and that in
this way prohibition is evaded.
Collector Crenshaw is quoted rs saying:
''rhe doctor who prcscribes or furnishes
liquor is regarded as equally liable for
the special tax as the barkeeper who sells
il as a BEVERAGE
Deputy Collector Colquitt Interpreted
the order as referring 10 physicians who
furnish liquor, and not 10 those who pre-
scribe it, but do not furnish it.
Surgeon White, Of the Marine Hospital
service, and Or. h. II. Nichols were both
in the latters office when seen yesterday
about the matter. Neither has as yet re-
ceiyed a call from any OF the deputies Dr.
Nichols was OF the opinion that the order
is meant To affect the country physicians.
ManyOf them are travelling drug stores in
miniature. Since the barr0oms We're
closed the thirsty cOuntrymen can only
yet whisky through "a doctors Drescrip-
ton or by Illicit distilliug. Generally the
former method is the most convenient.
Both Drs. Nichols and White stated
that they seldom prescribe whisky, brandy
OF spirituOus liquors. and that they very
rarely furnish il to n patient, perhaps not
once Il year, as drug stores are con-
Venient. Each thought that a doctor who
habitually furnishes his patients or others
with liquor on prescriptions should pay a
tax Just as the druggist does.
If the order is intended to apply TO the
prescribing ofhquor, and if il il enforced,
the Stale Medical Society will doubt
less take il up and have the law
tested In the interval the physicians
VIII doubtless stop prescribing. 1t is not
uncommon for physician to be called
upon by a patient who needs an immedi-
ate stimu'ant. A strict Interpretation of
the order would influence the physicians
10 withhold liquor no matter how grave
the case.
1t is argued that to make the doctor
who merely gives the prescription take
out license would De cXactng "a double
tax, because the druggist who fills it has
to have a license. The authority of the
Collector on this point is doubted. 1t is
said that il is something that has never
been attempted 10 other prohibition States.
In Kansas there are dozens OF
consceuceless M. D's0 who have
made and are making considerable
money by prescribing whisky to all APP
plicants. These are mostly men whose
diplomas are not from colleges of good
standing.
United States Marshal Wade, vino was
collector Of internal revenue for a long
time, stated yesterday thatunless pbyAi-
cian keeps liquor on hand he can not be
compelled to pay a tax. He referred to a
number OF cases that were dismissed in
court, because 1t could not be proved that
the accused had liquor in their possession.
Mr.. Colqutt recently broke up an
Illicit still IN Campbell county, the owner
OF which had ia stock 3 0u0 gallons of beer
and 80 gallons Of low wine. He sold large
quantities of whisky at - gallon. Two
other Illicit distilleries were broken up in
the same county.