Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 90, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 February 1919 — $6,000,000,000 TAX BILL IS UP [ARTICLE]

$6,000,000,000 TAX BILL IS UP

ersatest War Revenue Bill in Nation’s History Given to ~ - House. NEEDSI2,OOO,OOO,OOO MORE Bulk of Taxea Levied Upon War Excess Profits of Corporations and on Incomes —Heavy Liquor Tax Increase. • • ' Washington, Fob. 7. —With the submission to congress toduy of the conferees’ agreement on the long-delayed war revenue bill, the American people were presented with their prospective federal tax budget for 1019 and ensuing years—something over fu. oo ”** 000,000 this year and 34,000,000,000 the year after, subject to the revision of future rates expected to be undertaken by tbe next congress. The conference report, presented to the house by Majority Leader Kltchin. with arrangements for Its tlon Friday, Is regurded M * u ™ l adoption by both house and senate and of approval by the P r ** ,de “ t \. j The bill gives every soldier, sailor and marine und all woman nurses in the American forces a bonus of souAll Federal Official* Taxed. Besides this year’s tax levy of about $6,000,000,000, further treasury needs.' to be raised by bonds and other mean* are estimated by the treasury at about $12,000,000,000. All federal officials from President Wilson down, whether appointed or elected, are taxed on their Incomes, but state officials are not. Except for slightly Increased war excess profits rotes for 1910 and corporations’ Income tax rates for virtually all the rotes as revised In the bill passed by the senate are approved by the conferees and remain In the final conference draft: Like the original house bill and th* senate's revision, the bulk of the taxesi are levied upon war excess profits or corporations and on Incomes, individual and corporate. Rates of the senate on transportation, beverages, cigar* and tobacco, nmusement admission** club dues, luxuries and semlluxurtes* stamp and special taxes all substantially were adopted by the conferee* while the house rates on estates and Insurance were reinstated.

Comparison of Rates. Comparison of the conference agree* merits for 1910 revenues with existing law and the original house bill, drawn during the war S6r war purposes as bused on unofficial estlrantes, follows: Present Conference. law. Income tax 12,213,000.000 $1,468,600,000 War exceee profits. 2,500,000,000 1,791,000,000 Kstates 100,000,000 100.000.000 T att.ooo.m a 0.000.00. Beverages 460,000,000 400,000,000 Cigars and tobacco. 246,000,000- aX),(4)0,000 Admissions and club UMgWI 6 UM 64,000.000 54,000,000 Special, floor and 76.000.000 m.w.m Total , »6,000,000,000 14,370,117,000 Beverage taxes, contingent on pro* bibltlon, as adopted are: Distilled spirits for nonbeverage purposes, $2.20 per proof gallon, the present rate; distilled spirits manufactured, Imported or withdrawn for bever* 1 age purposes, $6.40 per gallon, double existing law, but with n “relief” provision suspending certain charges on spirits held In bond by prohibition: beer am! other fermented beverages* $6 per barrel, double present law; wines, double existing rates based oa alcoholic content, also with n prohibition “relief” provision permitting distillation of wines for Industrial purposes; cereal beverages, or “near beer,” 15 per cent on sales, a new tax; grape Juice, ginger ale, root beer, pirp. artificial mineral and enrbonnted waters and beverages aud similar soft drinks, 10 per cent on manufacturers* sales, instead of the present rate of 1 cent per gallon; natural mineral waters, 2 cents per gallon, double present law. Cent on Ice Cream Sodas. A new tax, effective May 1 next, la 1 cent on each 10 cents or fraction of retailers’ sales of Ice crenm, soda water, sundaes and similar confections or drinks to be paid by consumers. Cigar rates fixed by the conferee* range from $1.50 per thousand, Instead of $1 on cigars weighing three pound** or less per thousand, sand, a 50 per k cent Increase on cigar* sold In excess of 20 cents each. Cigarettes are taxed $3 per thousand Instead of $2.05 on those weighing not more than three pounds per thousand, nnd $7.20 per thousand instead of

*4.80. on clgsrhtfes weighing more, Tobacco and anuff are taxed 18 cents a pound, an Increasa of 0 cents. Stringent provision* were adopted by tbe conferees to regulate dealers In leaf tobacco. Amusement admission tuxes In tho bill, effective April 1. were increased only In a few Instances, the general rate of 1 cent on each 10 cents or fraction paid being retained after petitions bearing thousands of names were received protesting against an curlier agreement to double the rate. Club dues are taxed 10 per cent, the present rate upon members of organizations charing more than *lO -nnually.