Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 155, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 July 1918 — TAX BILL HITS EXTRAVAGANCE [ARTICLE]

TAX BILL HITS EXTRAVAGANCE

HIGH PRICED CLOTHING, HOUSE FURNISHINGS AND OTHER LUXURIES ASSESSED. Washington, D. C., July 10.— Extravagances of all kinds by American consumers are made a target in the $8,000,000,000 war revenue bill before the ways and means committee of the house. The measure, framed by the treasury department, places high taxes on high , priced clothing for men and Women and’ also heavy assessments on jewelry, expensive household furniture and hotel bills. Taxes on automobiles, jewelry and musical instruments will be greatly increased. .Here are some of the taxes sugguested by the treasury, which are to be paid by the buyer: Fifty per cent on the retail price of jewelry, including watches and clocks, except those sold to army officers. Twenty per cent on automobiles, trailers and truck units, motorcycle, bicycles, tires and musical instruments. - . ,‘ A" tax on all men’s suits selling for more than S3O, hats costing over $4, shirts over $2, pajamas over $2, hosiery over 35 cents, shoes over $5, gloves over $2, underwear more than $3 and all neckwear and canes. Taxes on women’s suits costing more than S4O, coats more than S3O, ready made -dresses more than $25, skirts over sls, hats over $lO, shoes over $6, lingerie over $5, corsets over i $5, silk costing over $1.50 a yard, cotton over 50 cents a yard and wools over $2 a yard. All furs, boas and fans.

Tax on children’s clothing, including suits costing over sls, cotton dresses over $3, linen dresses over $5, silk ajid wool dresses over SB, hats over $5, shoes yover $4 and gloves over $2. Taxes on house furnishings, including ornamental lamps and fixtures, all table linen, cutlery, silverware, china and cut glass, all furniture in sets for which more than. $5 is paid for each piece; curtains costing over $2 per yard and on tapestries, rugs and carpets costing over $5 per square yard. Taxes on all purses, pocket books, handbags, brushes, combs, toilet articles and all mirrors costing over $2. Ten per cent on the collection from the sales of vending machines. Ten per cent on all hotel bills amounting to more than $2.50 a room and on more than $5 a day per person, American plan. The present tax of 10 per cent on Cabaret bills would be extended to the entire restaurant or case bills. Following are the taxes to be paid hy the manufacturer, producer or dealer: Ten cents a gallon on all gasoline to be paid by the wholesale dealer. Double the present tax on telephone and telegraph messages. costing more than 15 cents. A 10 per cent tax on all leased wires. Quadruple the present levied on soft drinks. Syrup and extracts now taxed 5 cents a gallon would be taxed 20 cents; those paying 8 cents to be increased to 32 cents; those paying 10 cents to be increased to 40 cetats, and those paying 20 centa raised to 80 cents. now paying 1 cent a gallon would be taxed 16 cents. Chewing gum, now taxed 2 per cent of the selling price, to pay 1 cent on each 5 cent package. With regard to motion picture taxes the treasury department suggested the abolishment of the present film tax and doubling the rate of admission tax. A 5 per cent tax on the rental received iby the movie producers was also proposed. Alcoholic beverage taxes would be doubled. Whiskey now taxed $3.20 a gallon, would be taxed $6.40 a gallon. All tobacco and cigarette taxes would be doubled. A license tax on automobiles, graduated according to horse power, would be levied in the following manner: Twenty-three horse power, sls; twenty-four to thirty horse power, $25; thirty-one •to forty hprte power, S4O; over forty horse pfwer, SSO. Taxes on club membership dues would be doubled. Male household employes, including chauffeurs, would be taxed 25 per cent of the wages of one employe, up to 100 per cent of the combined wages of four or more. Each family would be allowed one female employe exempt from taxation, but all additional female help would be taxed, beginning at 10 per cent of the wages of one nnd running up as high as 100 per cent on more than four.