The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-28
BUCKET SHOPS 10 FIGHT
POOL FORMED TO RESIST NEW
LAW, AND A TEST CASE
s@''ii-7r@.F MADE
PROPERTY ORDERED SEIZED
MafshaIs VIII Take Enough Furni-
ture and Fixtures to Satisfy
the Amount of the
Tax Due.

WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE treasury
department Is preparing for the struggle
with the bucket shop proprietors over tie
question of, whether or not the govern-
ment shall enforce the special license tax
Of $50 and q 2-cent tax on every $100 worth
of transactions, as provided by the new
law that went into effect April 1.
It Is learned here that pool has been
formed by the leading bucket shop pro-
prietors of the country, and that test
case Is to be made by the firm that con-
ducts the Christy Stock and Grain COM
pany, OF. Kansas City, Mo. The matter
will come to an issue the first week in
May, when the commissioner of internal
revenue will direct the United States mar
shals In the territories where refusals are
made to pay the tax, to seize the furni-
ture and fixtures in such places to satisfy
the law.
The Christy people have notified Com
missioner Yerkes that they will not pay
the tax imposed on bucket shops, claiming
that they do not come under this clasSili-
cation. The law of Missouri prohibits TIE
operation OF bucket shops in that state,
and If the firm acknowledged the federal
law it would be subject to prosecution
under the state law. The same law ap-
plies in a number Of other states, includ-
ing New York, and a great many firms
are vitality interested in the outcome OF
the fight that it to be made by the Kansas
City company. t
The claim will be put up that the firm
comes under the second provision of the
law, relating to boards of trades, etc,
which shall pay tax Of 1 cent on each
$100 involved In transactions.
The tax on deals in bucket shops Is 2
cents per 500, and the proprietors ate re-
CURED to secure q license at a cost of $50.
Commissioner Yerkes has decided to al
low the firms the full month of Apru In
which to take out the licenses and 1l:ake
returns of volume of business transacted
A number of bucket shop people have
paid the license tax and intend to pay
additional tax without protest. Others ure
holding back to observe the quito )me of
the Christy case. Commissioner Yerk IS
has adopted a vigorous policy and pro-
poses to institute action against every
firm that does not comply with the Law
by the Both of this month
The attorneys for the Kansas City firm
propose that they be arrested and raleas-
ed on bail, so that the case could be
formally contested in court without in
reference to their business Cop:mis-
sioner Yerkes fatty refused to enter into
any compromise, but he did not intir ate
what course he intended to pursue
1t Is learned, however, that If the Ii
cense tax is not paid by the end of this
month that he will have the United
States marshal at Kansas City enter tie
rooms of the Christy Stock and Grain
company and seize books and furniture
enough to satisfy the amount of the tax.
For failure to pay the tax promptly a
penalty of so per cent additional is irr-
posed, making the tax equal to cents on
500. This will also be collected by force
1t is not known how the bucket shop
proprietors will meet this move on the
part of the commissioner. 1t is reported,
however, that the Christy people propose
TO sue Commissioner Yerkes on his bond
if he insists on confscating their prop
erty.