The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-04-20
KICK On STAMP TAX
New York Merchants Ask
Congress for Relief.
THEY ALICE EXT0RIl0N
Vigorous Charges Against
Express Companies.
THEY ALICE EXT0RIl0N

Washington. April 9-Chairman Payne,
OF the house committee on ways and
means, today received a memorial from
the Merchants Association or New York,
which will be presented to the commit
tee tomorrow It is an appeal for the
abolition of the stamp taxes on express
shipments, railroad and steamboat ship
ments and kilograms. The petitioners
state that they represent 400 business
firms in New York city, giving employ
ment to several hundred thousand wage
earners, besides non-residen; member
ship of $1,000 other business firms dis
tributed throughout the United States.
The memorial complains at considerable
length Of the Oppressive charges" ex-
acted by express companies, speaking OF
them in strong terms as 'monopolies OF
Quasi-public function, beyond the reach
of competition or the control OF the in
terstate commerce commission to which
other common carriers are subjected"
1t is stated that the charges exacted
by the express companies are ruinous 10
certain classes of mercantile business
and that to this the express companies
add the the stamp tax, placing it on the
shipper with the sanction OF the supreme
court In this connection the petktion
says: THE express charges upon ship
ments in some cases equal the value Of
the goods. In an average Of several
Thousand cases collated by this associa-
ton, the express charges were more than
the profit upon the article shipped. and
were found to average in the classes Of
goods most frequently shipped by ex-
press from per cent to 10 per cent of
the value. Our investigations have
shown wide determinations IN the
charles imposed; favored classes of ship
pers who are permitted lesser rates than
other classes; cumulative charges; differ
ing charges for identical services. and
other variations the effect Of which IS
destructive"
The petitioners, in conclusion. ask that
the stamp tax on express shipments be
either abolished or removed from the
shipper and placed in a lump. sum on the
express companies, and they further re-
quest the abolition of the stamp tax on
railroad and steamship shipments and on
kilograms.
The war department has taken up the
question of introducing the tariff on
American canned goods, preserves, etc,
going to the Philippines. The matter
was brought to the attention Of the de-
partment by Representative Needham of
California, who represents one Of the
great fruit districts He pointed out that
American canned goods tomatoes
peaches, apricots etc, were practically
barred from the Philippines because Of
the military regulations continuing the
old Spanish prohibitory rates against
these goods. As the Pacific coast offers
specially favorable shipping facilities for
such goods, Mr. Needham urged that
the rates be reduced 10 a point permit
ting American canned goods to find
market in the archipelago. He has re-
ceived a letter from Assistant Secretary
Meikeljohn, who has charge OF the Gus
toms branch, saying the matter has been
taken up for careful consideration with
a view TO determining whether re-
duction can be made, and Mr.. Needham
has reason TO believe that his efforts will
prove successful.
Washington April 1s-Representative
Levi of New oYrk today introduced a
bill to repeal the war revenue act.