The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-18
The War Taxes.

In spite Of the small encouragement ex-
tended to anyone but trust representa-
tives to seek favors at the hands of the
present Congress. we are glad to see
that at least one non-trust organization
of business men has had the courage 20
present itself and its claims. A strong dele
gstion from the Retail Druggists National
Association is in the city for the purpose
of demanding the abolition of war taxes
on proprietary medicines and toilet arti-
cles.
The grievance of the people represented
By this delegation is biting one. As enc
of the visitors explains, a manufacturing
druggist in the East who produces Top
ulRr preparation, decided TO bear the war
tax and not TO raise the price of his gods
TO customers. thinking that the Gov
eInmental exaction would be but temper
ary As a result of business activity dre
TO the war, the cost of every ingredient
used in manufacturing the article referred
TO was greatly enhanced, until now the
tax amounts TO five per cent of the
gross trade and thirty per cent on the pro-
fit, The war burden upon two selected in
terests-medieinal preparations and toilet
articles produces excess revenue amolnt-
ing to about four million dollars. This
is not a great sum comparatively con-
sidered. 1t is net as much as the monthly
income nf some of the individual pluto
Gratis among whom the trust AdministIa-
ton and Congressional majority purpose
to divide ninety million dollars of ship
subsidy loot. But, when distributed amcng
a class of retail traders, whose sales ard
profits are small compared with the sto ks
they have to carry, it amounts to oppres-
sion enough. as members of the druggists
delegation assert, to drive many worthy
pharmacists into bankruptcy.
We are not so sangulne as to think that
such a consideration will move the trust
managers on Capitol Hill. They might be
willing enough TO release the grasp of the
Administration bank on a little matter OF
four million dollars. 1t has in sight now |
an idle surplus of seventy millions, which |
by next year will run up to an hundred and |
twenty-five or thirty millions. The insig- i
nificant deduction necessary to placste the |
apothecaries could not seriously affect the |
volume Of free loan government money!
after Congress adiourns. But the leaders |
and manipulators of the Administrations |
financial combination will certainly think /
twice before opening the door to taxpayers |
raids on the surplus generally. Once allow |
relief to the druggists, and the telegraph /
and express companies would be clamoring |
TO have the stamp tax taken off from their
business. The brewers and tobacco dealers |
would be trying for justice, and the devil |
would be 10 pay all around the lot
We sympathize with the medicinal and
toilet sufferers. We hope they may have
a pleasant time in Washington, because
that is about all the run they are likely to
get for their money. If they do not under
stand il now, they Will learn before leaving
that there is a potent element of political |
policy involved in gathering all the war
taxes possible and as fast as possible. Be- /
tween now and November it may be desira-
bic for the joint high combination in power
TO get up Bryan scare panic; in which
case it would be necessary to have at least
. hundred millions handy for the support !
Of the market