The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-16
BAD PARTNER
IN NEW YORK
He Will Not Stamp Ex-
press Packages.
WELLS-FARGO'S OLD TRICK
PATRONS OBLIGED TO PUNGLE
WAR DUTIES.
Blame Shifted From the San Fran
cisco Tail to the New York
Head and the Band
Plays On.
WELLS-FARGO'S OLD TRICK
PATRONS OBLIGED TO PUNGLE
WAR DUTIES.

The war revenue law, among other
provisions, for the raising of money
to pay Uncle Sans army and navy
their wages for teaching Spain a les
son on humanity, has included ex-
press companies in the catalogue of
public institutions that should contribute
their pro rata to the fund. On this and the
language of the act there seems to be
conflict of opinion as between the express
companies and the consignors.
WellS-FargoS Company In this city has
thrown down the gauntlet and has re-
fused to place the one cent stamp on the
bill of lading or receipt, as the case may
be. This view as held by the company's
manager In this city has been the cause
of considerable friction between the COM
pany and it's patrons. One in particular.
of the firm of Jones Brothers & Co., mar
bic dealers at Second and Brannan
streets, has led to almost business rup-
ture. The firm in the course of it's bust
ness had a box to send to Marysville,
which was taken to the express com
panys Office to be shipped. When 1t ar
rived there the cor pany refused to place
the one cent stamp on the bill of ladlng.
similar refusal was made by the ship
per, and neither would yield. Ultimately,
however, Jones Brothers shipped the
goods by the railroad and took 1t for
granted that the express company lacked
Uncle Sam in his trial with a foreign foe.
All of which is Indignantly denied by the
local managers of the express company.
In explaining the company's position on
the tax, l.. F. Rowell the manager in this
city, said to a Call representatives, who
waited on him:
Far be it from the intention of this
company to oppose in any way the collect
ing of the revenue tax for the support of the
Government; on the contrary, we will aid
in every way we can the President and his
administration in carrying the war to
final and successful end. To prove this, 1
intend to show our good intentions. When
the new laws came out a few weeks ago,
Mr. Valentine and myself had a consulta-
lading by. express. companies, and we
unanimously agreed to comply and did
comply. and placed stamps on all such
bills. In the mean time Colonel Evans,
second vice president and New York man
ager. had joined in with the heads of the
New York express companies, and he
with the others, agreed to make up test
case and have it submitted to the Federal
court al that place the result of which
we will most cheerfully abide by.
ut will thus be seen that it is not the
company in this city that is setting itself
up against the law and the people. Our
representative in New York having taken
the stand he did as a matter of course
tied our hands here. though we were ever
so willing to bear our share of the public
burden, which we are at all times in the
paying of our taxes and licenses. But I'M
til the case is settled, and we hope 1t will
be soon, we must decline to place the
1-cent stamp upon the bills of lading."