The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-15
NEWS OF THE RAILROADS.
N. P. EXPRESS COMPANY'S AC-
TON WAS A SURPRISE
The Other Companies Didn't Antici-
pate Any Such MOve-Vice
president FcOtner, of the Great
Northern. Says His Company Will
Continue to Ask Shippers to Pay
TnX-SO WIZ the Others.

The action of the Northern Pacific
Express company in deciding to pay
the revenue tax on shipping receipts
was received with surprise by the OIL
Gals of other express companies who
had not anticipated that the Northern
Pacific would abandon the position
it had taken in advance of the others.
General Manager Hannaford was be-
sieged with inquiries about the matter
ali The morning. Representative of
several companies told him they
thought the company had acted hastily
and that they would hold out against
paying the tax to the end.
Mr.. Hannaford told them he was
simply carrying out the orders of the
directors. They had concluded to pay
the tax on shipments, and he had mott
fled the company's agents to supply
stamps in accordance with that policy.
AS long as the company believed itself
to be in the right il had obliged the
shipper to pay for the stamp, but when
the law was clearly explained to be the
other way the company changed
about.
Il believe the other companies will
follow our example" said Mr.. Hanna
ford to a reporter for The G o b yes
terday, for we will take their business
and they will be obliged to do as we
have done. They may hold out few
days. but it is certain they will soon
see that they cannot/compete with us
On the stamp issue, and will pay the
tax"
THE Great Northern Express COM
pany will not pay the stamp tax until
the directors are satisfied that such Is
the intention of the law" said Vice
President Footner. In spite of what
the Northern Pacific company has
done, We shall maintain our position.
At any rate we shall make no change
for the present. l am working now on
my statistics showing the effects of the
tax On this company if we have 10 pay
it. The figures will be in shape in a
few days, and then the question will
be decided.
IF we pay the tax it will be a great
burden to u.s. While 1t is a small mat
ter to the individual shipper it means
much to an express company. 1t means
a tax Of $50 to $75 a day: or $4,000 a
year. That means per cent of our
gross earnings. In addition to that
cent Of gross earnings, so the total tax
alton will be 5 per cent. 1t has been
computed that the government will
receive a revenue from express COM
panieS alone amounting to $1.S00,00
per year. do not believe congress in
tended that the corporations should
bear the expense Of the war. 1t was
intended that the whole public should
bear their proportion of the tax, and
rot corfine it to individuals or corpor-
ations.''
The other express companies stand
with the Great Northern for the time
being.
The shippers are pleased with the
action Of the Northern Pacific express
company.
'"The company has taken the only
sensible view of the tax law" said AL
bert H. Lindeke. of Lindeke, Warner &,
Schumacher. I'VE thought the c3m-
panies would appreciate the intention
of the law makers and the company
and not the shipper should pay the tax.
I believe the other companies will
abandon their position now"