The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-17
Question Which Now Concerns
Some Seattle Dealers.
COLLECTOR MiTTEN's NOTICE.
Increased Duty ON Tea Applies FROM
Date OF Presidents Signature
Price of stamps for Cigars and
Beer tfaised-DruggfstsA Are Wait.
Patent Medicines VIII Cost More.

The famous question "wao rays the
freight" which was raised In an early
day by III individual named Jones Is 20 be
duplicated by the interrogatory WHO
pays the war tax2' Consumers OF foamy
lager, those who smoke fragrant Key
West cigars and thase OF domestic make.
the women who use cologne and toilet per-
fumes and the Individual who pays his
grocery bills with bank checks ara al
viia1y interested in the question
The war revenue kill has been signed by
Fresiden; Mckinley and beer is worth 81
per barrel more than it cost last week.
Tea has gone up 10 cents per pound. Pat
ent medicines VIII be higher after July 1.
and bills OF lading issued by trsnsporta-
tion companies Will have TO be ornamented
with stamp.
Deputy Collector A p Mitten has re-
ceiyei notice from the treasury depart
ment that the increased duty of - cents
per pound on tea applies from the day
when President Mckinley signed The war
revenue bin. The next tea cargo brought
10 Seattle by the Nippon Yusea Kaisha
will be subject 10 the new duty. Deputy
Collector Of Internal Revenue David W.
Bowen has been notified by Collector
Dunno. OF Portland that the price Of
stamps for cigarmak,ars and breweriss has
been raised and 10 act accordingly.
The druggists. who are in misery be-
cause nearly half Of the articles they
handle come within The war revenue bill,
have not yet raised prices on anything.
Whether they viii stand the burden placed
on them by the government or expect
their customers 10 divide il with them is
yet an undecided question. Most of the
local druggists are waiting 10 receive
copy OF the bill before they make out
new schedule OF prizes for patent medi-
cines, etc.
The Tea importing SEASON has just begun
and as consequence there is little tea
on hand among the wholesale and jobbing
houses. In the hope Of avoiding the pay
malt of the extra duty OF 10 cents per
pound on tea, many cf the importers sent
rush orders to Japan, and as u conse-
Quence several cargoets Of tea were started
toward Pacific coast ports in the expecta-
ton that they would arrive here before
July ] and thus be received without the
payment OF the war duty. ali OF these
cargoes, however, will arrive too late 10
save the increased duty. The tax on tea
has already gone into effect. and ali tea
which was sent East under immediate
transportation" entry at the customs Of
fees on the coast viii probably be reached
by the tax.
How are you affected by the war rev.
enue b.li?' was asked yesterday Of IL. f.
Holmes OF Stewart 4 Holmes. the whole
sale druggists.
we catch nearly all OF IT, said Mr..
Holmes. II have not yet seen copy OF
the bill and cannot tell you all OF the arii-
cles which will be affected by the new
tax. The list comprises many of the arti-
Giles carried by druggists. They ave hard
hit. Cigars, perfumery and patent medi-
cines all these will have TO pay tae added
taxes OF course il viii cause the drug
gisis a lot of extra work. Prices VIII he
advanced on many of the articles taxed.
That follows. of eourse. as a matter Ok
business.
I'VE have notified all OF our customers
that tea has been advanced 10 cents per
pound" said J. s Goldsmith, of the
schwabacher Bros. Company. There Is
very little of old stock tea on hand. You
see the SEASON IS Just opening and OF
course everybody reduced their stocks so
as 10 obtain the fresh article. There Is
very little tea on hand among the whole
sale dealers ON the coast. Tea Is the prin-
ciple article with us which is affected by
the war duty"
Deputy Collector Of Internal Revenue
Bowen sat 81 front Of a huge pile or
stamps yesterday in his office in the Burke
building Each stamp has to be labeled
with the words Series OF 1885 and deal
ers and manufacturers Of tobacco have
been directed TO return all taeir old
stamps and obtain fresh supply or the
new series which cost them at tde rate or
ca cents mora per thousand cigars than
formerly.
"Fror, Collector Dunno" said Deputy
Collector Bowen. Il have received notice
of the operations OF The war revenue hh!
In It's relation 20 the byeweries and 10 the
cigar manufactures. Notices have been
sent 10 the cigar manufacturers to bring
m their old stamps and 10 obtain a supply
OF the new ones
The brewers viii use their Old stamps.
but the office VIII levy an assessment
against then for the Increased tax. Form
erlv the brewers paid 81 per barrel Internal
revenue tax Now they pay s. per barrel.
WITH a rebate Of ~ per cent, which
amounts to SIS per barrel
As cigarettes bear a tax In proportion TO
tAat placed on cigars and smoking To-
bacc-o. some 81 The cigar factories through
out the country propose 70 reduce the
number ia 4 Recent package. The qGes-
ton whether the consumer of smoking
tobaecaS and cigarettes or the Z1anutAc-
turrr or dealer is 20 bear the weight of
the rev impost has not been settled
among the tobacco men.
'.On most Of the brands OF cigarettes"
said well-known dealer yesterday, there
IS 50 little prof: that We Will be compelled
to gut selling them Or else ask tae manu-
fac:arer 10 bear the extra charge made
nv the war revenue bill. As 10 cigars. |
do not think that the prize Viii "a raised
o. that inferior goods ~. * sabS ..tuicd-
The wholesaler and las distributor VIII