370  Tax  on  Toilet  Articles  and  Medicines,   [^'^- ^""jnn^^igTo. 
into  sub-committees,  each  of  which  selected  its  chairman  who  be- 
comes thus  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee,  and  settled  by- 
discussion  a  number  of  mooted  questions  which  heretofore  have 
required  several  months  spent  in  correspondence  for  determination. 
As  we  reflect  upon  the  events  of  the  Pharmacopoeial  Convention 
and  the  machinations  preceding,  we  are  fully  aware  that  these  evi- 
dence the  need  for  some  reform  in  the  methods  adopted  for  the 
appointment  of  delegates  to  the  convention  and  likewise  for  the 
selection  of  the  officers  and  committee  of  revision.  The  recommen- 
dations of  Chairman  LaWall  were  unquestionably  correct  and 
efficiency  alone  should  be  the  guide  in  determining  the  selection 
of  those  upon  whom  these  important  duties  are  to  devolve.  We 
cannot,  however,  record  that  they  made  a  very  deep  impression 
upon  many  of  those  present,  despite  caucus  agreements  and  con- 
ventional endorsement.  The  peripatetic  efforts  of  certain  over- 
ambitious  and  radical  elements  allied  to  pharmacy  were  fraught 
with  grave  danger  to  the  future  of  the  Pharmacopoeia.  Fortu- 
nately, a  measure  of  sound  judgment  prevailed  so  that  with  provi- 
dential guidance  a  fairly  representative  committee  of  revision  was 
selected.  We  can  but  regret  that  the  wire-pulling  of  the  educational 
elements  resulted  in  the  naming  of  so  few  practical  pharmacists  on 
the  committee  and  yet  this  book  is  the  constant  and  direct  guide  of 
this  class  of  users  who  outnumber  ten-fold  that  of  any  other  class. 
We  would  draw  the  veil  of  charity  over  the  acts  of  jealousy  that 
blinded  from  the  observation  of  some  of  the  delegates  the  efficient, 
self-sacrificing  services  of  others  in  behalf  of  the  pharmacopoeia 
and  the  elevation  of  the  practice  of  pharmacy.  G.  M.  B. 
THE  TAX  ON  TOILET  ARTICLES  AND  PROPRIETARY 
MEDICINES. 
To  avoid  apparent  confusion  in  the  minds  of  the  public  regard- 
ing the  collection  of  the  tax  on  toilet  articles  and  proprietary  medi- 
cines, the  Bureau  of  Internal  Revenue  has  issued  a  statement  ad- 
vising both  dealers  and  purchasers  that  the  tax  of  i  cent  for  each 
25  cents  or  fraction  thereof  of  the  amount  paid  is  on  the  article  it- 
self and  not  on  the  total  amount  paid  by  the  customer  when  two  or 
more  such  articles  are  purchased,  unless  of  the  same  kind  and  put 
up  by  the  manufacturer  in  a  single  container  for  sale  as  an  original 
package. 
