The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-28
TARIFF on ALCOHOL.
Test suits Before the Court of Claims -
Other Cases.


Washington City. Oct 1.-THE United
States court of claims. when il reassem-
bles tomorrow, will find on its trial dock
ct an exceptionally large number OF inn
portant cases. OF the 10090 cases now
pending before the court. that of Sharp
K Dofsme. manufacturing druggists, OF
Baltimore, will probably attract the Iarg-
est share OF public interest. This is a
case brought TO test the validity Of the
free alcohol clause of the new tariff act,
insofar as IL applies TO alcohol used in
manufactures. Another test case is that of
Robert Dunlap. OF New York. the hat
manufacturer Both of these are SUD-
stantIaliy ready for trial so far as the
taking of evidence is concerned The Dun
lay case is materially different from that
of Sharp & Dohme, inasmuch as there APP
pears to be some question as 10 whether
alcohol used in manufacturing hats comes
within the meaning of the act, which de-
clares that any manufacturer finding II
necessary to use alcohol in the arts or in
any medicinal or any other Ike COM
pound, is entitled TO a repayment Of the
tax already paid on such alcohol. IL Will
be the contention of the claimants, no
doubt, that ARTS" in the sense intended
to be conveyed in the act, includes all
manufactures in which alcohol is used.
This view of the case will be combatted
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 II was TO so
into operation. 1t has been estimated
that there are 1000 manufacturers in this
country, including small druggists, who.
IL the courts sustain the claimants, will
be entitled 10 rebates aggregating l0000,-
600. OF this amount suits already have
been filed amounting to about s.. 500. 900.
f9I1- y<f 81,
which alcohol is put, and for which appli-
cation for rebates have already been fled:
Abilene, cores, bronze powders, bay rum,
bitters. candy, cement, cologne spirits,
cherry tonic, catarrh cure. others, flavor
ing extracts. fluid extracts, medicinal
preparations, medicine for skin diseases.
lavender salts. liniment toilet waters,
Ecorice. metallic ammunition, paints,
Photographic plates. perfumeries. soaps.
yarnish and witch hazel.
Another important case to be tried VIII
he that involving the question whether the
act OF 1855. which gave letter carriers
compensation In excess of eight hours
day. intended that eight hours should be
consecutive. The postoffice department
has held up 10 this time that there may
be intervals between the working hours.
The letter carriers. however. contend that
congress did not contemplate that they
might be laid Off half an hour more or
less three or four times day while wait
ing for the arrival of mails. The case
which will test the law comes from New
York. About 1900 letter carriers now have
claims pending under the Interpretation
placed upon the law by the postmaster
general. Another interesting class Of
cases viii be those for damages arising
from the encroaehments OF the Mssissip-
ri river by reason of government improve
ments which contracted the channel,
causing overiows. Another case is that
of the Western Union Telegraph Com
pany against the government for tolls on
government business under the rates fixed
by Postmaster General Wanamaker.
These rates. il is claimed. were far below
the cost of service. The present rate is
about one-third higher than that fixed ny
Mr.. Wanamaker. About S200.000 is involv-
cd In this suit.