The San Francisco call., 1899-10-19
National Legislators Favor an
Amendment to the Tariff.
Express and Telegraph Companies Not
to Be Allowed to Shift Their Just
Burdens to Others.

IT HERE IS now practically very little
doubt that at the next session of
Congress an amendment to the war
revenue law Will be introduced and
adopted 70 force express comps mics
and telegraph companies to pay their
share Of the war revenue. The Call has
exposed the fact that these corporations
have persistently lodged the payment Of
taxes which the National Legislature un-
Quesuonably intended they should endure
Suit after suit to force these corporations
10 pay has been introduced and won in
the courts. but stil the offenders cannot
be compelled 70 pay their just burden OF
taxa ton.
They have shifted to the shoulders of
their patrons, 20 the already heavily bur-
6ered consumers and merchants the debt
which the express and telegraph COM
pauies ought to stand. The companies
have positively refused 10 pay the tax
on receipts issued 10 their customers or
upon kilograms sent by them The lead
ing ana most insOlent offender in this
regard on this coast has been Wells.
Fargo & Co.. which has not only refused
TO pay the tax on receipts issued TO its
general patrons but has further violated
the law by discriminating in favor of
Few people and powerful interests.
In order 10 learn the sentiments OF
United States Senators and members Of
the House of Representatives upon this
fragrant outrage upon the laws, The Call,
Il Will be remembered, addressed letters
Of inquiry TO prominent members Of both
houses. Many of the replies. particularly
from the Pacific Coast delegation. have
already been published, and without ex-
capti0u the writer's were emphatiCauy in
favor Of an amendment TO the law which
viii compel the offending companies TO
bear -heir burden Of taxation.
National legislators were asked by The
Call II in their opinion there is not ab-
Folu-eIy q necessity for an immediate re-
vision cf the war revenue law, If there
are not now in this law certain ambig-
uities Of expression which defeat the
Very purpose sought to be gained by the
National Legislature Members of both
houses were also asked II they favor an
amendment which will be designed 10
compel the express companies to pay the
war tax on receipts issued TO shippers
and telegraph companies compelled 10 pay
the war tax on all messages transmitted
over their lines To all of these questions
affirmative answers were given, and to-
day replies from some Of the most promi-
rent Of the national legislators are pub
lished.
United States Senator George W. Nc
Bride Of Oregon IS emphaucally Of the
opinion that the lodging corporations
should pay their taxes. His opinion in
fun is as follows:
PORTLAND, Or, Sept. 29. 1899.
Editor The Call, San Francisco
NV Dear Sir: In answer to your let
ter of inquiry respecting that por-
ton of the war revenue law provid-
ing a stamp tax on express receipts
and telegraphic messages, I have to
say that it was, and is, my under
standing that Congress intended the
telegraph companies and express
companies should pay the stamp tax
imposed by that act upon the bust
ness done by such companies.
I do not know that there will be a
revision of the war revenue law at
the next session of Congress, but
should such revision be made have
little doubt that the law will be so
amended as to make clear the pur-
pose of Congress to impose the stamp
tax upon the business transacted by
the telegraph companies and express