The herald., 1895-10-28
IN THE COURT OF CLAIMS
Many Important Claims Are to
Be Considered
THE FREE ALCOHOL CLAUSE
Affects Thirty Thousand Manufacturers
and Druggists
And Gives Rise to Claims Aggregating Ten
1iIlion DoIlars-Postoffice and
Telegraph Claims
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27.-The United
States court of claims, when il reassem-
bles tomorrow, will find on its trial
docket, an exceptionally large numb OF
important cases. OF the 10, 600 cases now
pending before the court, that of Sharp Il
Dohme. nuiacturing druggists of Bal
timore, will probably attract the largest
share OF public interest This is case
brought to test the validity of the free
alcohol clause OF the new ssriff act Inso-
far as it applies to alcohol used in manu-
features. Another test case is that of
Robert Dunlap of New York, the hat
manufacturer. Both of thes are substan-
Tally ready tor trial So far as the taking
of evidence is concerned.
The Dunlap case is materially different
from that of Sharp & Dohme, inasmuch
as there appears TO be some question as
to whether alcohol used in manufactur-
ing hats comes within the meaning Of
the act which declares any manufacturer
finding 1t necessary to use alcohol in the
arts or in any medicinal or any other
like compound, is entitled to repay
ment of the taxes already paid on such
alcohol. 1t will be the content ton of the
claimants, no doubt, that arts, in the
sense intended 10 be conveyed in the act,
include all manufactures in which alco-
hol is ussd. This view of the case will be
comDatted by the government and the
question will be raised whether congress
by its failure to make an appropriation
for carrying this section of the act into
effect, did not postpone the time at
which it was to go into operation. 1t
has been estimated that there are &c. 900
Fact h pIt,It
small druggists who, il the court sus-
tains the claimants, will be entitled to
rebates aggregating $40. 900. 600. Of this
amount. suits already have been filed
amounting to about 81, 500, 900.
The following are some of the uses to
cation for rebates have already been filed
Anime. cores, bronze powders, pay rum
bitters. candy, cement, cologne spirits,
cherry tonic. catarrh cure, essential oils,
ether. favoring extracts, medicinal pre-
psrations. medicine for skin diseases,
lavender salts, liniment toilet waters,
licorice, metallic ammunition, paints,
plates, perfumeries, soaps,
witch hazel and fluid extracts.
Another case to be tried will be that in
volving the question whether the act of
1888 which gave letter carriers compensa-
ton in excess of eight hours day in
tended that the eight hours should be
The postotfice department has held. up
to this time, that there may be intervals
between the working hours. The letter
carriers, however, contenI that congress
did not contemplate that they might be
laid off half an hour more or less three or
four times day while waiting for the ar
rival of mails. The case which will test
the law comes from New YORK. About
1000 letter carriers now have claims pend
ing under the Interpretation placed upon
the law by the postmaster general.
Another interesting class OF cases will
be those for damages arising from the
ents of the Mississippi river
by reason of government Improvements
which contracted the channel, causing
overtiows.
Another case is that of the Western
Union Telegraph company for tolls on
under rates fixed by Postmaster General
Wanamaker. These rates, it is claimed.
were far below the cost of the service.
The present rate is about one-third high
or than that fixed by Mr.. Wanamaker.
About 5000, 900 is involved in this suit.