AMERICAN  PHARMACEUTICAL  ASSOCIATION.  445 
Dr.  Squibb  still  believed  it  as  impossible  to  discriminate  in  favor  of  the 
poor  ;  the  government  would  gladly  do  it,  if  possible.  It  is  impossible  to 
discriminate  in  favor  of  pharmaceutists,  because  as  a  class  they  are  no 
more  honest  than  other  people.  They  are  no  more  to  be  trusted  than 
other  people.  This  is  the  real  difficulty.  Procter's  point  in  regard  to 
taking  out  licenses  as  liquor  dealers,  and  the  stimulus  this  ofFers  to  every 
apothecary,  is  very  good  indeed  ;  it  can  only  be  answered  in  this  way:  It 
is  one  of  the  abuses  that  Congress  did  not  provide  for,  and  can  be  reme- 
died by  legislation,  on  proper  representation.  Meanwhile  let  us  wait  till 
the  proper  time  arrives.  As  regards  the  inequality  of  taxation  in  the 
stamp  and  manufacturer's  duties,  this  also  could  be  changed.  In  regard 
to  the  bearing  of  these  heavy  taxes  upon  the  poor,  and  to  the  necessity  of 
our  coming  to  their  relief,  it  is  well  known  that  they  are  very  largely  the 
consumers  of  quack  medicines,  and  to  have  them  will  pay  any  price  ; 
whilst  they  refuse  a  fair  price  for  good  laudanum.  He  thought  the  taxes 
on  these  quack  medicines  should  be  increased,  to  protect  regular  pharmacy, 
and  to  check  the  harm  done  by  their  indiscriminate  use. 
The  discussion  was  continued  by  Mr.  Nichols  and  Mr.  Colcord.  Prof. 
Graham  had  been  much  interested,  but  thought  the  discussion  had  been 
continued  as  long  as  it  was  profitable. 
Mr.  Close  moved  that  the  whole  subject  be  referred  to  a  committee. 
Dr.  Squibb  wanted  the  duties  of  such  committee,  if  decided  on,  to  be 
clearly  defined.  He  was  about  to  suggest  the  postponement  of  the  subject 
till  next  year,  the  members  meanwhile  considering  it  carefully,  and  then 
come  prepared  to  act.    Why  not  all  be  a  committee  ? 
Prof.  Procter  favored  the  appointment  of  a  committee  to  bring  the  subject 
before  the  Committee  on  Ways  and  Means.  He  believed  a  committee 
could  facilitate  the  objects  in  view, — viz.  :  the  reduction  of  the  tax  on 
alcohol  for  pharmaceutical  and  chemical  purposes,  and  the  avoidance  of  a 
license  for  selling  liquors  by  physicians'  prescriptions,  for  medical  pur- 
poses. A  committee  could  be  authorized  to  address  the  proper  authorities, 
have  consultations  with  them,  and  thus  avoid  the  delay  of  a  year. 
Dr.  Squibb  thought  a  committee  could  investigate  the  subject,  and  be 
prepared  to  give  information  to  the  Committee  of  Ways  and  Means,  if  in- 
vited to  do  so,  but  doubted  the  propriety  of  intruding  our  views  upon  that 
Committee,  who  were  tenacious  of  their  opinions  and  methods  of  action. 
Mr.  Barr  suggested  that  every  one  write  his  views,  and  present  them  at 
the  next  meeting. 
Mr.  Colcord  thought  a  committee  of  five  would  give  a  report  of  its 
Chairman  only  ;  still  he  should  like  a  committee  appointed,  and  each 
member  of  it  to  report. 
Mr.  Taylor  also  suggested  that  each  member  should  report  separately. 
After  further  suggestions  by  Dr.  Squibb,  Mr.  Taylor,  and  others,  it  was 
"  Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  five  be  appointed  to  take  into  considera- 
tion the  whole  subject  of  the  Internal  Revenue  Law  in  its  relations  to  the 
