Evening star., 1924-09-23
DRUGGISTS DECRY
j TAX ON THE SICK
President, in Annual Address,
Advocates Repeal of Me-
dicinaI Alcohol Revenue.

for the Government to put taxation
on the we'll and not the sick was
made at the opening business ses-
sion of the twenty sixth annual conven-
ton of the National Association of Re-
tail Druggists, in Convention Hall
Fifth and l. streets northwest, this
morning The convention was for
nlally opened last night when the
usual welcoming speeches were de-
ivered at a meeting in the Hall of
Nations in the Washington Hotel. so
this morning everything was clear
Tor launching directly into the bust
ness of the convention and this was
done with the annual addresses of
the officers and the presentation of
resolutions.
The appeal for the relief of the
sick from taxation was made in the
address of President J. II. Webster,
and was made in connection with
the tax on medicinal alcohol.
We cannot reconcile ourselves to
the injustice of our Government levy
ing such a heavy tax on that por-
tion of the public who need medi-
cine he said. When folk are sick.
remedial agents should be obtainable
at the lowest possible cost and it is
unfair and a real grievance that our
the alcohol used for the manufacture
of medicinal preparations. Taxation
we must have, but, in the name of
humanity, tax the we'll not the sick.
The president found fault with
conditions in the drug trade during the
past Year.
Prohibition PerpIexin
Discussing prohibition. he said, it
has brought to the retail druggist a
very perpleXing problem which we
remind you was foreSeen at the be-
ginning. when we sought to avoid the
responsibility involved in the han
ding and dispensing of liquor. but
which obligation our Government saw
tit to thrust upon US
Nhlle as profession we should
not wish to shirk our responsibilities
to the public and the medical pro-
feSsion, nevertheless, when certain
bad conditions threaten as a result
of accepting such responsibility
many pharmacists have decided the
practical way out is to decline to
handle liquor at all and under all
circumstances such action is quite
justifiable. To those who prostitute
the drug business with an illegal
liquor traffic only condemnation is
due. Our association always has and
l trust always will stand for law
enforcement, but, at the same time
we insist upon enforcement accord
ing to law"
Opposition to the Cramton bill TAX
Ing away the right of appeal to
the Commissioner of Internal Revenue
decision of the prohibition commits
sioner on such matters was expressed
The proponents of the measure. said
Mr.. Webster, unfortunately have seen
fit to make this d wet" and dry"
issue.
This is absolutely unfair. and when
it is taken into consideration that
practically all of the great alcohol
using industries, even outside Of phar-
macy, are strongly opposed to the
measure as it stands, it is quite ap-
parent the opposition is based upon
the fear of arbitrary enforcement, or,
as we might put it. government by
prejudiceS.'"
Asks PhysicianS' Help.
He urged cooperation by the ply
sician in order that the pharmacist
might maintain a complete and efFi-
cient prescription service He said he
looked with favor upon the program
of the drug manufacturers to sim
plify their list of pharmaceuticaIs.
Many items, such as pills and tablets
which are of little importance, might
we'll be eliminated
He characterized so-called "drugless
drug stores" as Simply an unscru-
pulous idea of trading under the pres
tlge of the drug store without assum-
ing any of it's obligations or respons-
Utilities to the public or the physician"
He continued:
Another method of merchandising
which appears unfair to the retail
druggists and encourages price-cut-
ting is the system of employing hid
den demonstrators in department.
chain and large cut-rate stores by toilet
goods manufacturers.
With the salaries of woman DEM
onstrators being paid by the manu-
facturer, the overhead in the toilet
goods section is cut down, and with
that advantage goods may be sold at
cut prices and still show profit
Meanwhile the independent retail
druggist, who is giving the manufac-
turer the distribution he must have
to live, apparently is forgotten. This
is not a square deal. In all fairness
the small Independent druggist should
be able to compete on an equal basis
with the big buyer. Aside from all
that, we do not believe the hidden
demonStrator behind the counter
stands for integrity or square dealing
with the public.
Carnegie Survey Postponed.
AT the Boston convention last
year resolution was adopted ask
ing the Carnegie Foundation for the
advancement of teaching to make a
survey of pharmacy similar to that
which it did for medicine and dent
istry. At the annual meeting of the
foundation held last November, the
question of a survey of pharmaceuti-
cal education in this country was
considered with some favor, but in
view of the fact that a study of
pharmacy from the functional stand
point is now being carried on by the
Commonwealth fund, the officers of
the Carnegie Foundation decided to
postpone action until the Common
wealth investigation is completed.
This other study of pharmacy un-
der the direction of DR.. W. w. Char
ters for the Comm fund ap-
pears to be a very practical PROPOSE
tion. The Commonwealth fund, MAIN
tanned by a wealthy estate for altru-
iStic purposes, contributes the cost of
various surveys. Information and
statistics Of the particular business or
profession chosen are gathered, thor
oughly analyzed by competent inves-
tigators and results announced for
the benefit and guidance of those in
terested in the advancement of that
business or profession. What does
a pharmacist need to know" is the
basis of the present survey of phar-
macy, and the work. which has been
going on for over year, has reached
a point where the cooperation of the
N A. r. D. is desired. I recommend
we extend our assistance.
Seek Better Public Relations,
"Unquestionably the public wants