The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-18
Its Abolition Advocated by IL. L. Fades
Before the House Ways and
Means Committee.
HAWAIIAN BILL AGREED TO
HOUSE MEASURE AMENDED AND AC-
CEPTED BY SENATE CONFEREES.
Indiana Republican Representatives
Coming Home to Attend the
State Convention.

indianapolis, representing the Indiana
Druggists Association, made an argument
before the ways and means committee to-
day for the repeal of the war stamp tax on
pharmaceutical preparations and proprie-
tary medicines. He informed the commit
tee that Indiana was as deeply interested
in this matter as any State in the Union,
as 1T is one of the most important from the
standpoint of production. The manufac-
turing of proprietary medicines was a great
industry in the State. and the burden of the
war tax was therefore heavy one to bear.
Besides, there are 5000 retail druggists in
the State for whom Mr.. Fades spoke. In
response TO a jocular inquiry from Demo-
cratic member, Mr.. Fades assured the COM
mittee that Indiana druggists were guilt
less of the offense of running prescription
counter bars and called on Mr.. Steele to
corroborate the statement.
Are there any drug store bars in In
diana, Governor Steee?" he asked.
Certainly not" replied Mr.. Steele in a
loud, firm voice, whereupon everybody
laughed.
The drug delegation was large. including
representatives of many State pharma-
ceutical associations and members of the
National Association of Retail Druggists.
Thomas L. Wooten, national secretary,
spoke of what he termed the discrimination
and injustice of this tax, and it's unneces-
sary character in view of the surplus.
George p. Englehard. of Chicago. presi-
dent of the drug association of that city.
stated that under the rulings of the rev.
enue bureau the act was not restricted TO
patent medicines. originally designed,
but to all medicines save those issued
under a physicians certificate. Why not.
he asked, similarly tax food and clothing,
as this was distinctly class legislation.
The only medicinal preparations receiving
exemption, he stated. was the vast and in
creasing product of foreign incorporated
chemicals, mainly from Germany.
Representative Grosvenor questioned this
statement, pointing out that If the foreign
remedies paid no internal revenue tax they
paid a heavy customs duty, six eight
times greater than the internal tax on
domestic products.
Chairman Payne also brought out that
such American products as were similar to
the German would have a like exemption
from the internal tax, although Mr.. Engle-
hard said there were practically none OF
these.
Mr.. Grosvenor said that he was sur
prised to learn that such common drugs
as arnica and paregoric were taxed
patent medicines; that 1T had never
been the intention of the trainers of the
law to have it construed; and that 1t
should be resisted in the courts
Mr. Hirzman, of the New York Pharma-
ceutical Association, said the drug trade
throughout New York was being greatly
depressed by department stores" which
for advertising purposes, sold patent medi-
cines at less than cost, and some of them
were now putting in regular prescription
branches. This was given as an additional
reason for relieving the regular trade from
the present tax burden.
Charles Clark spoke for the manufactur-
ers He said some of those present paid
$4,000 and $4,000 annually. Much of the
tax was on a variety of articles designed
for suffering humanity. Many of the band
ages which saved the lives of our sol
diers had to bear revenue stamps. With
$50 600, 600 surplus the course of the gov
eminent in taking $4,000 from a manufac-
turer and storing it away in the treasury
amounted to a confiscation, and Mr. Clark
protested against such action.
Several members of the committee sug-
gested that if the surplus was cut down
other interests, particularly the beer inter-
est, would ask that they share in the re-
duction.
Mr.. Payne stated that the increase of
revenue under the war revenue act was
about Sl02, 100000 so that if the entire act
Representative BouteII, of Illinois, said
that the enormous sums raised under the
act were n surprise to it's trainers as they
much exceeded the estimates. He said that
the surplus imposed duty on the present
Congress to reduce the tax burden at the
earliest moment. The reduction should be
made at the points or greatest friction,
and schedule B he regarded of the
first articles of repeal. Mr.. Boutells
statement was enthusiastically applauded.
This closed the hearing and the committee
adjourned.
Senator Fairbanks to-day introduced bills
to increase the pensions of William T.
Grafton, of Nashville, Ind. and Jospeh A.
Mosler, OF Terre Haute, to $50 month.
-
The Indiana delegation in Congress, in
common with senators and members from
other States, are in daily receipt of budgets
of petitions from manufacturers praying
for the erection of a fireproof patent office
An association of patent attorneys IN New
York has taken the lead in this laudable
enterprise and is flooding the country with
petition blanks which are finding their way
back to Washington generously and in
fiuentally signed. Such building is badly
needed.
Nearly all the Indiana Republican con-
gressmen are making preparations to go
to the state convention in Indianapolis
next week Several will leave Washington
as soon as they vote on the pending naval
bill. Hemenway and Watson will start on
Friday.
United States District Attorney A W.
Wishard has returned to Indianapolis
A. l.. Kumler, of Lafayette, is in the city.
The final preliminary steps were taken
to-day by which the disputed boundary line
between the States of Tennessee and Vir-
ginia will be referred to a commission for
final determination. Attorney General c.
W. Pickle, of Tennessee. filed his answer
to that made by the State of Virginia in the
suit at equity brought before the Supreme
Court by the State of Tennessee for the
settlement of the dispute. the representa-
tives of both sides agreed as to the facts and
the court was asked 10 make a decree for
the appointment Of commission to settle
the question. The decree is expected to be
announced probably on Monday. The form
of decree agreed on recites that the true
boundary line between the States is that
determined by the proceedings of 1S0l-lS03.
that il needs remarking and that Il COM
mission be appointed for that purpose. 1t is
expected that one OF the commissioners will
be a prominent official of the coast and
geodetic survey, possibly the superintend-
after agreed upon. The proceedings have
have been participated in by Governor Nc
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