The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-21
ARE OUT LARGE SUMS CT CASH
GOVERNMENT HAD PROMISED RE
RATES, WHICH WE'RE NOT
FORTHCOMING
RELIEF IS NOW SOUGHT
Republican Members of Ways and
Means Committee Attempt to
Introduce POIitics-Rus-
sell Bill Urged.

WASHINGTON, D. c., March 2O.-(Spe-
CiaL)-Don M. Dickinson mado a power
ful appeal to the ways and means com
mittee today in behalf of manufacturers
who use alcohol in their products They
want $60OO,GOO from the government, and
at present are estopped by judicial de-
cision.
The Detroit firms Mr. Dickinson repre-
sents are interested to the extent Of half
million or more. Parke, Davis e Co,
of that city, alone lay claim to $4,000.
Drug and varnish makers the country
over are Joining in a demand upon the
treasury which they claim the govern
ment Is bound by the highest duty TO
observe.
Mr.. Dickinson, assisted by Ben S. War
Ten, Of Detroit, and a Philadelphia at
torney appeared today to ask the COM
mittee TO pass the Russell bill, introduced
to set matters right.
The trouble dates back TO the passage
of the Wilson bill, which imposed a heavy
tax on alcohol, but provided fer a rebate
Of $l.SS per gallon when used in arts. Tho
Wilson law instructed the secretary of
the treasury to prescribe regulations for
y
Carlisle never made the regulation or
PAID any rebates, though manufacturers,
taking the government at Its word, actel
upon the presumption that rebates would
be forthcoming, and made their drugs
accordingly. They reduced prices in Ger
tain instances, according to Dlckinson's
plea today, and In many instanc S chang
ed process of manufacture.
Not only that, argued Mr.. Dickinson,
but they reduced the prices Of their
goods, and made contracts extending into
future years, on the supposition that the
government would pay rebates as laid
down in the law.
Mr. Carlisle gave as the. reason for non
settlement that there was no appropria-
ton to carry out the terms of the act.
Dunlap & Co., makers cf hats, took the
matter into court, and the United States
supreme court decided that the govern
ment was not liable, failure of the secre-
tary to prescribe the regulations being
sufficient defense for the government
RUSSELL BILL.
Representative Russell, of Connecticut,
introduced a bill at this session provId-
ing that the failure of the secretary Of
the treasury TO prescribe regulations Tor
the use of alcohol in arts and In meli-
cal and other like compounds, as requi-el
by section 61 of the revenue act of Aug.
rs, 1884, shall not operate as a defense on
the part of the United States to the suit
of manufacturers under said act, brought
in any court of the United States"
1t was this measure Mr.. Dickinson and
others today urged passed Mr.. Dickn-
!, ~ L4..l, ,Sn
public faith, and made a strong appeal
to members of the committee.
That there are several doubling Thorn
ases on the committee was evident by
questions asked. Chairman Payne quiz
zed, and Congressman GrosVenor didn't
know whether it would be the proper
thing to legislate a decision Of the su-
preme court out of the way. TO this Mr.
Dickinson replied that the court had not
gone into the constitutional question at
all, but had simply decided that the sec
retary, having failed to make proper reg
ulationS, manufacturers were without Re
lief.
NO POLITICS IN IT.
The Michigan members, led by Con-
gressman CoTliss, in whose district many
manufacturers do business, support the
Russell bill. They have already ea
doing missionary work among members
of the ways and means committee.
1t is evident that the Wilson bill will
not help the manufacturers.
Republican members Of the committee
made it plain today that they were in a
minority then, and had little to do with
passing the Wilson bill. Now, of course
they speak of 1t as Ubiquitous" and lay
the blame on that act.
However, Attorney Dickinson and as
sociate counsel argued today that it was
not a case of politics, but based on gov
ernmental faith, and that the govern
ment, having collected $6O90,00O with a
distinct promise to pay Ii back, had no
option in plain duty than to do as agreed