Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1894-09-05
A DRUGGISTS SENSATION
SOMETHING NOT DOWN ON
THE REGULAR PROGRAM.
A Lively Incident AZ The Morning
session Passes Quickly And All
IL Now serene-CarrlaRe Ride
To Vauderbllt's.

One of the features of the tariff law
recently enacted by Congre S had the
effect of stirring up lively sensation in
drug circles, and the druggists now in
session at the Battery Park have taken
shy at it to see what can be done
about it. 1t is claimed that there is
danger of the drug business being
dragged down to the level of the corner
saloon unless something is done to pre-
vent
In the new tariff bill there is provi-
sion which exempts from internal revenue
taxation alcohol that is used for medici-
nal purposes and in the arts. This means
saving of S1.l0 on every gallon, as
that is the amount of the internal revc-
nue. tax and the purpose of the legisla
ton was more especially to help the
druggists in furnishing medicines to the
sick at as low prices as possible. The
druggists were anxious for some such
law, but they say that, as it nov stands.
there is nothing to prevent the promis-
cuous dealing out of alcohol, slightly dis.
guised, by unprincipled druggists at
prices that would be about half as high
as saloon keepers are forced by the reve-
nue. tax to charge for their drinks.
The restrictions were lett to the Secre
tary OF the treasury and it is learned by
the druggists that this officials perfectly
at sea as to what restrictions should be
placed around the business by the inter
nal revenue department. Thev declare
that there would be great difficulty in
guarding the use of alcohol for legitimate
purpos, for the benefit of which the law
was mcant. A member said on this
point:
with alcohol selling at 81 90 agallon
the remission of the tax of $l.10 would
cut the price in half. 1t will not be hard
to disguise the drug with bit of mo-
lasses or ginger, or something else and
there would be great danger of pro-
miscuous handing out of 'bitters' and
such things under gulse OF medicinal
purposes the price being cheap enough
to make profitable competition with sa-
looms"
The association appreciated the situa-
tion and appointed a special committee
to voice the views of the BODY andreport
them SO hcv could be forwarded to the
Secretary of the treasury, that they may
be a guide to him to greatextcnt. This
committee was composed OF {. 5. N.
Halbcrg of Chicago, ii. NJ. Whitney OF
Lawrence, Mass, and Chas. +. Dohme
of Baltimore. Its report was made at
| = nd n q
la lively scene.
This cuts down the concessions very
materially and some of the delegates
were disposed to scrap about it. The
result OF motion to adoEt it was a
storm of violent nature that would not
be subGued for some time Some OF the
druggists were inclined to think that after
fighting for free alcoholtor 90 years they
should not go to work and demand such
restrictions, now that the law is passed
They claimed that the general remission
of the tax would make it possible foi
them to increase their profits, as alcoho
enters into large percentage of the
goods handled in a drug store. but OF
the other hand it was argued that TIL.
cutters of prices would get in their work
and reduce the profits in proportion tC
the reduction caused by the remission "
the tax.
The storm Burs's.
So violent was the opposition to th'
adoption Of the report that Chairman
Halbcrg jumped to his feet while some
body else had the floor and started to cx
plain. He was quickly ruled out of order
over and over. but that did not bottle,
him and he kept shouting at the top o
his voice, trying to say what he wantec
f. to while Chairman Seabury was trying
to force him down. 1t all appeared goot
natured even when there was a call tp1
the sergeant at arms by the chair, but il
second new element was inter jectcd
"Mr. Chairman" shouted W. S
Thompson Of Washington, jumping te
his feet, 81 rise to point OF persona
privilege. We have been buldozed lont
enough by that gentleman" pointing
his finger at Halberg. "He deffs all th'
rules and move that he be exp He'd from
this association"
"So do l." shouted Halberg defantlv
and at the same time it was noticeable
he did not sit down.
There was lively ripple at this, bu
in a few moments things quoted down
= Mr.. Thompson asked leave to withdraw
his motion and have 1t "expungcd from
the records" and things went on just a
they do in Congress when such an Incl
dent occurs.
Prof. Halberg was chairman of tn
committee. and he is one Of those dc
termincd men who will not be downet
when he feels that there is a chance Il
achieve something by fighting. The re
: port that he presented was suggestion
to place tight restrictions on the quest IN
1t provided that the payment of rcbat
be confined to alcohol used in the man
I ulacturc of compounds in which alcoho
is SO changed as to lose absolutely 1t
chemical and physical properties, includ
ing the classes of chemical compound
known as ethcrs, chloral and chlorotorn
An attempt to substitute for this RI
port a resolution to simply send CON
mittec to Washington was lost by bi
vote, laying the substitute on the tabl'
1t was insisted that according to parlif
mcntary law, the tabling of the subst
tute involved the tabling OF the originf
report also, but the chair made uniqu
ruling that prevented this.
~ know it ought to take the oriein'
report" said Mr.. Scabury, quickly, "bu
it don't in this case" and amidst vii
applause, it did not, and the original r.
port was adopted with an addition NAL
Ing it include the manufacture of "alk'
loids and such chemicals as may be spe
fled by the Secretary of the treasury
In the selection OF officers tor the Sc
i, ton of the association on Commerci
= interests, before which these question
were considered, George A. Seabury
New York was unanimously rc.clecte
president and James o. Burge of Mas
vile secretary. A committee to wol
with them was made up of Louis
Chain, New Orleans; j. W. Andcrso
Pine Pluff, Ark; land J. Pieiftr, Brookly