The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-16
EVADING THE WAR TAX.

HAT corporations should be evading the war
tax is to be regretted on more than ground.
That the Wells-Fargo Express Company should
be among the fragrant offenders is matter for
prise AS corporation, it has always been liberal.
1t has seemed appreciate the fact that it enjoys
the protection of the Government. Yet, when there
is pressing need OF revenue this corporation sneaks
with the rest, and tries to make somebody else pay
the tax Congress has laid upon it. The clause Of
the bill governing the is so clear
that it is here given:
1t shall be the duty of every railroad steamboat
company, carrier express company, or corporation
or person whose occupation as such to issue
to the shipper consgnor, his agent, or person
from whom any goods accepted for transporta-
ton, bill OF lading, manifest, other evidence of
receipt and forwarding for each shipment received
tor carriage and transportation, whether in bulk or
in boxes bales packages bundles or not so enclosed
or included; and there shall be duly attached and
Cancelled in this act provided, each OF such bills
OF lading, manifests other memorandum, and to
each duplicate thereof, a stamp to the value OF
cent"
The war tax was so devised as to reach people in
every walk OF life. 1t intended, and with entire
justice that each citizen, according to his means or
his occupation, should contribute to the common
cause. To submit without grumbling was the sim
plest duty, suggested by patriotism and
sense OF fairness. 1t had not been expected that
those most able pay would shift the responsibility
Yet this is exactly what the Wells Fargo Company
is attempting to do. 1t forces its patrons to pay
that which it should itself pay as the law provides
and equity demands.
The corporation under consideration has in this city
its principal place of business Most of its stock is
held at the East The profits out of Cali
fornia and, in great measure go to people living far
T ic +l,a
less knows that imposition is being practiced and
he does not prevent it. Instead OF doing so he
would put the blame for the ungenerous and repre-
hens1be course OF the corporation upon the vice
president, resident of New York In words apt
and familiar, this IS too thin. The wicked partner
business has been worked to death Mr. Valentine
permit subordinate to override him and then
assert that the fault is something the burden of which
does not rest with himself
Plainly enough the provisions set forth that the
express company shall supply the stamps and there
is no hint that make the patrons of the concern
pay for the stamps. Yet Wes-Farg after ex-
acting the regular tariff charge the price of the stamp
for which the Government has said it must pay
This borders on theft, and is wholly indefensible
The patron has already paid the extra tax H has
paid 1t on wine, tobacco chewing gum, the daily
checks he has written; on necessities and luxuries of
all sorts The law not framed to strike him and
permit the fat and prosperous corporation not only
to escape the payment, but actually to exact from him
the money 1t should advance without question or
demur. He will not submit He is willing to be
good for his share He objects to robbery for the
benefit of protected and powerful corporation.
For the sake OF its fair fame Wells Fargo should
desst 1t is inuring itself irritating the people, and
lending to the denunciaton of agtators the shadow
of justification. 1t is such exhibitions of arrogant
superiority that cause corporations to be hated an
archiss to rant, and Coxey armies TO spring into ex
istence The Wels-Fargo Company is recreant 70
the country from which it gains support under whose
statutes II finds opportunity to do immense bust
ness 1t refuses to pay just and reasonable tax
made necessary by war with foreign foe. Yet this
war has brought to it thousands OF dollars OF reve
niue, The company has carried tons of powder and
munitions at the high rates charged for such ma
terial. To pay the tax would be bur the reinouisb
ment OF fraction OF added profit The Wells FARGO
Company EFFORTS money from private citizens not
under the pretense of having right to do so, but
because it can 1t deserves the sevcrest rebuke
prompt awakening to the limitation of its thrifty ar
rogance and official information that it must paw its
share or be hailed into like the small offender
But regardless OF fines, very shame should force it
III this instance to the honest and fair methods by
which it has heretofore been guided
-
Pugilism might as well acknowledge itself dead
he only fighter this country cares about now is the
one who carries rife and commits comparativev
little havoc with his jaw
Sampson and Schley can afford to divide the pIorv
in the middle and would have glory to spare then.