The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-17
TELEPHONE
COMP ANIES
MUST PAY
No Stamps Required
for Messages.
FEDERAL JUDGES DECISION
EXPRESS CoMPANIESM MUST FUR
NIsH STAMPED RECEIPTS.
Telegraph Corporations Continue to
Collect War Tolls From Their
Customers Regardless
of Law.
FEDERAL JUDGES DECISION
EXPRESS COMPANIES MUST FUR
NISH STAMPED RECEIPTS.

When Manager Rowell Of Wells, Fargo
& Co. said yesterday that his company
would continue to make his patrons fur
uish war tax stamps in spite of the fact
that the law said that the company must
pay for them. he had not heard Of the de-
cision of United States Commissioner
Hunter of Ottumwa to the effect that eX-
press companies must pay. He had heard
of a similar opinion by the United States
Attorney for the Northern District of Cal
ifornia, but he probably considered that
rich corporation could afford to dsre-
gard an opinion that might interfere with
its favorite pursuit of nickel grabbing.
Mr.. Rowell has mistaken his vocation.
Instead of being manager for a bloated
corporation, he should hang out his shin
gle as a sea-lawyer on the fore front of a
mud scow. Said he. The law says that a
stamp must be affixed to each bill of lad
ing, manifest or receipt, but does not
say who is to pay for that stamp"
Mr.. Rowells law will be below par when
he reads the following dispatch:
oTTUMWA, Ia, July 16.-United States
Commissioner Hunter has decided that express
companies, not shippers, must pay the l-cent
H. boIds the cashier of the local nfdce ~ he
Adams Express Company, arrested on charge
OF violating the revenue law, to the Grand
Jury. Assistant United States District Attor-
ney Miles represented the Government. At
torneys for the express companies will apply
States Judge Wilson. who will be asked to
pass on the commissioners action early next
week.
The express company, however, has
shown itself so defiant Of the law in this
regard, so unpatriotic. SO regardless Of
the rights of the public that it has an
nounced through its agents its intention
TO make its patrons, the general public,
pay the whole of the war tax imposed
upon the company until the Federal
courts take it by the throat.
The United States Attorney at Los An
geles has notified the company's superin-
tendent there that proceedings will be in
stituted to enforce the law.
Louis Glass, assistant general manager
Of the Pacific and Sunset Telephone Com
panies, said that Mr. Sabin, president of
the companies, had decided to obey the
law and pay the tax. 1t IS well under
stood, however that the intention was to
make their patrons pay it. The company
has even sent bills to its customers in
Guiding charge for stamps on messages.
This IS obtaining money under false pre-
lenses, and the money SO added TO the
swindling fund derived from the nickel in
the slot telephones should be refunded to
the victims of both frauds.
The fact is and Mr.. Glass and Mr.. Sabin
know It, that the law does not require any
stamps In the telephone business at all.
1t reads that every person, firm or cor
poration engaged in the telephone bust
ness shall make. within the last fifteen
days Of each month. a sworn statement
district stating the number of messages
transmitted over their respective lines
during the preceding month for which a
charge Of is cents or more was imposed.
and for each of such messages the said
person, firm, or corporation shall pay a
tax of ! cent.
Thus 1t will be seen that no stamps are
required and that the Jaw expressly de-