The Coconino sun., 1919-05-09
EXPERT ACCOUNTANTS NOW
 NEEDED AT SODA FOUNTAINS

"The old shot of hop will cost you eleven cents this morning." quoth Handsome Harold as he brushed back a silky blonde lock from his hazel eyes and showed the brimming breaker across the bar. "The prohibitionists or sumpin' is now tryin' to run the soft-drink joints into unfair competi- tion with the saloons in Mexico" Just as l was tyin' on the harness and gettin' ready to wrassle not sun- daes and peach mellow fizzes for the hard-drinkin' danes what infests this den of iniquity this a. m., the boss slips me this book an says to keep a sharp glim on the pennies n that he'll stick around to see that l don't go south with any of the dollars. Boy, this little primer has gotta strangle- hold on more grief m there is ideas about the League of Nations.
 "If you can believe what that eagle beak back there in the cage says, I'm to pick off a copper for every dime extracts from the public. When one of these James is tryin' to work up enough energy to go home m slide the ham an in tn oven and starts shootin' the bank roll for 15-cent drinks, gotta hump two flickers fast er'n an addin' machine to make sure this excise bird gets his. You see, l can't figger up the total at the end of the day and cut this guy in for rake-off, but have gotta figger up each drink separate, and where it is 15 cents of 9 cents, knock off an ex- tra penny for him. From the reckless way he handles the cash I surmise he musta been cop in the protected district of Los Angeles. There was a time when l fingered I'd like to sport an apron behind counter gainished on the end with a sprig of free lunch, but if you gotta stand in with the big noise on the beat in this way, I'm gonna run eaglebeak back there heat for the job keepin' books. Just lamp the literatoor in this baby"
 The proffered book proved to be a pamphlet explaining the new excise taxes. Harold's troubles had their source in the following phrase:
 "On and after May 1, 1919, of the amount paid at any soda fountain, ice cream parlor, etc., for drinks known as soft drinks, mixed at the place, or for ice cream, ice cream sodas, sundaes, or similar articles of food or drink, when sold in or near such place of business, for each 10 cents or fraction paid, tax of one cent by the pur- chaser"
 The difficulties imposed by the new excise or luxury tax, are not confined to Harold's department. In the drug stores, for instance, just think of the perplexity which confronts Mamie, the petite peddler, when she casts her glowing eyes on this:
 "In effect May l, 1919, a tax of one cent for each 25 cents or fraction thereof of the amount paid for the following articles when sold by or for dealer:
 Perfumes, essences, extracts, toilet waters. cosmetics, petroleum jellies, hair oils, pomades, hair dressings, hair restoratives, hair dyes, tooth and mouth washes, dentrifrices, tooth pastes, aromatic cachous, toilet pow ders or any similar articles or prepa- ration by whatsoever name known.
 "Pills, tablets, powders, tinctures, troches, lozenges, syrups, medical cor dials or bitters, anodynes, tonics, plas- ters, liniments, salves, ointments, pastes, drops, essences, spirits, oils and other medicinal preparations, compounds or compositions upon the amount paid for any of the above as to which the manufacturer or producer of which claims to have any private formula for making or preparing the same or which are prepared and sold or exposed for sale under letters pat ent or trade mark or are held out or recommended to the public as propri- etary medicines or medicinal proprie- tary articles or preparations or rene- dies or specifics for any disease"