New-York tribune., 1919-05-03
Soda Dispensers
Meet to Plan Fight
On New Tax Law
City's Dispensers Meet in
Protest Against the New
Assessment Imposed OH
Soft Drink Concoctions

The Soda Fountain Association Of
New York, which was. born two days
ago, held its first meeting yesterday
at Hotel McAlpin. The plans of the
association are twofold-f1rst, to have
the new tax on soft drinks repealed, If
possible; and, second, to obtain an au-
thoritative ruling on what is taxable.
Until this ruling is made they saw
the confusion noticeable at most Of
the fountains yesterday is likely to
continue.
Sidney Newborg, of The Mirror
candy stores, who, is secretary Of the
new organization, said that conflicts
IN Interpreting the new law were not
the fault of the dealers.
Until May /, when the law went
into effect" he said, 1--WE had no in
formation by which we could instruct
our clerks definitely what was taxable
under this law. Then the information
came from various sources and caused
the greatest confusion.
Many Seek Rulings
"Since February 25, when the law
was passed, many delegations have
sought rulings in Washington. Either
they were unsuccessful or they got
conflicting opinions.
"On May l The Mirror candy stores
received the nearest thing it has had
to complete statement on the law
This was not obtained directly from
official sources, but sent to New York
by a man.
AT the meeting yesterday methods OF
lnstructing clerks were discussed. L. ].
Stokes, secretary of Lessings (Inc.) J,
reported the night before the law went
into effect his company had given a
dinner for its clerks and had speakers
to address them on the workings of
the new law. When the law is def
nitely understood, it was agreed that
periods of instruction could be held
for clerks
printed tables of taxable and non-tax-
able articles, together with the
amounts, pasted up behind their foun-
talns. The distribution of these and
other posters, as well as mem bership
blanks, which will be sent to associa-
tions and fountain proprietors through
out the country, will be centralized in
the Soda Fountain Associations Of
fees at 431 Hudson Street The as
soclatlon already has placed petitions
for the repeal of the tax at the various
fountains in the city
In reply to the statement made in
Washington that consumers were be-
ing overtaxed, Mr.. Newborg said that
this might be true in a few cases, and
was unquestionably due to the con-
flicting rulings
Under one Interpretation the seller
of sodas must report to the govern
ment the number of scent and 10
cent sales, in addition to the total tax
he has collected. Protests against this
were numerous, on the ground that it
would necessitate new kind of re-
cording machine or compel the soda
dispenser to do clerical work between
mixing drinks.
In addition to the soda dealers pres
ent at yesterdays meeting, the Associ-
alton of Retail Confectioners of the
United States and the Retail Manu-
facturers' Protective Association were
represented.
Among those at the luncheon which
preceded the meeting were representa-
tives of Liggett's, Schrafft's, The Mir
ror, Huyler's, United Cigar Stores
Company, the Union News Company.
Borden's, the McAlpin and Lessing's
(lnc). Wanamaker's and Hearn's de-
partment stores, which have soda foun-
tains in their establishments. have
notified the association of their in
tention to join it.