The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-30
DRUGGISTS ARE KICKING
Say They Are Expected to Pay
for the War With Spain.
THEY WILL TRANSFER 1T
The Consumer VIII Have to Pay the Tax.
Soap and Prescriptions Are the
Only Things in a Drug Store
Which Are Not Taxed.

The opinion prevails among a number
Of the druggists of Butte that the gov
eminent intends them to pay for the
war with Spain. This does not seem
to them to be just, inasmuch as they
had no more to do with declaring war
than any other citizens. So the drug
glsts have concluded to pass the tax
along. That is, they will transfer the
tax to the people. where the government
intended originally for it to land.
Outside of liquors and cigars the bulk
of the tax which goes into operation to-
morrow lands on drugs. Everything
which is sold in a drug store is taxed,
with h exception of prescriptions and
soap. Even chewing gum has to suf-
fer, so that the girls may help pay for
the wal IL they will only chew a little
more gum han their regular allowance.
1t is not likely that the prices of drugs
Will be raised except so far as the patent
medicines are concerned. There will
probably be a raise by local druggists
on all patent medicines. This is forced
on the dealers by the manufacturers. 1t
seems that the manufacturers of patent
medicines not only propose to pass the
war tax along TO h people. but they
are trying to get a big benefit out of
the war by adding an additional profit
10 the box. So that instead of losing by
the wal they expect to be the wars
chief beneiciaries. Unless the people
declare a boycott on patent medicines
on which prices are raised, the manu-
tacturers Of patent medicines will re-
joice at the fact that war is on inc
will hope that il will continue.
For example, the average tax on a
dozen bottles of patent medicines which
retail at 81 per bottle is 90 cents. That
is 21a cents per bottle. But the manu-
f~acturers, instead of merely adding the
30 cents to the cost of the dozen bot
tie, in most cases add 81 or $1.50 and in
some cases they add 81. This is certain
ly extremely patriotic. This advance by
the manufacturers forces the retail
druggists to advance prices on patent
medicines also. and 1t is likely that 25
cents per bottle will be added to the
price of most bottles which heretofore
have sold for 81 per bottle. Thus the
consumer will contribute % cents in or
der that 2R cents may reach the gov
m to pay wal expenses.
The tax is collected by means of
stamps which the druggists must affix
to the drugs and other taxable articles
which they sell. The stamps must be
placed on the packages i'm such a way
that the stamp will be broken in open
ing the package. Thus far no stamps
have been received in this city, and un-
less they arrive to-day the law cannot
go into effect here on July 1. Several
druggists have applied to Revenue Col
lector Simpson for the stamps, but Mr..
Simpson is i'll and no stamps have been
received as yet.
The drug war tax summarized is as
follows: Medicinal proprietary articles
n preparations, selling for 5 cents,
there is a tax of one-eighth of / cent:
selling for 10 cents, two-eighths of 1
cent; Is cents, three-eiGhths; % cents.
five-eighths. Perfumery and cosmetics
and other similar articles: Five cents.
one-elghth Of a cent, and so on in the
same proportion. Chewing gum or sub
stitutes therefor. 4 cents on 81 package.
The tax includes pills, powders, tine
lures, troches, lozenges, syrups, Cordials,
bitters, ~anodynes, tones, plasters, lini-
ments, salves, ointments, pastes, drops,
waters. essences, spirits, oils and all
medicinal preparations; essences, eX-
tracts, toilet waters, cosmetics, vaseline,
petroleum, hair oil. pomade, hair dress
ing, hair restorative, hair dye, tooth
wash, dentrlfrice, tooth paste, aromatic
cachous, etc.