The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1900-04-20
REDUCTION OF TAXES
Men Who Sell Drugs Want the
Repeat Of Some Portions of
the War Revenue Law,
GROSVENOR LEARNS A NOVEL FACT
Paregoric Patent Medicine-Hoar
Delivers a Three Hours Speech
on the Philippine Issue.

washington. April 1S.-Ihe WaYt;
and means committee gave a hearing
yesterday on the question of reducing
the revenues derived from proprietary
medicines, etc, under the war rev.
enue act of 1898. Those heard repre-
sented the drug interests, who asked
the repeal of the claims recurring Il
stamp tax upon proprietary articles
and preparations, perfumerS, cosmet,
les, etc. George ?. Englehard of Chi
cagO, president Of the drug association
of that city, stated that under the rul
ingS of the revenue bureau the act
was not restricted to patent medicines
as originally designed but TO all medi-
cines save those issued under a physi-
clans 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
and increasing product Of foreign IN
compounded chemicals, mainly from
Germany.
Statement Promptly ControverUed.
GrosvenOr questioned this statement,
pointing out that if the foreign RENE
dies paid no internal revenue tax they
paid a heavy customs duty. six or
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 ex-
emption from the internal tax, al
though Englehard said there were
practically none of these. Grosvenor
said he was surprised to learn that
such common drugs as arnica and pare
goric were taxed as patent medi-
cines." that it had never been the in
tention Of the trainers of the law to
have it so construed, and that it should
be resisted in the courts.
Complains Of Department Stores
Hirzman, of the New York Phar-
maceutical association, said the drug
trade throughout New York was being
greatly depressed by department
stores" which for advertising purposes
sold patent medicines 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.
Speaks of the Treasury Surplus.
Oldl S1CAIh opOAC LII l1lC A1d1u-
facturers He said some of those pres
ent paid $4,000 and $4,000 annually.
Much of the tax was on variety Of
articles designed for suffering humani
ty Many of the bandages which saved
the lives of our soldiers had to bear
revenue stamps. With a $50, 100000
surplus the course Of the government
in taking $4,000 from a manufacturer
and storing it away in the treasury
amounted to a confscation, and Clark
protested against such action.
Several of the members of the com
mittee suggested that if the surplus
was cut down other interests, par
ticularly the beer interest, would ask
that they share in Introduction. Payne
stated that the increase Of revenue I'M
der the war revenue act was about
100000, so that if the entire act
was wiped out there would be a con-
siderable deficiency. Boutell favored
reduction Of the taxation.