The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1898-07-01
The New Taxes.

Our war with Spain is expensive anc
avery one must help pay for IT. The
now generation knows little about the
in+er1aI revenue system created in
1s62 from which time until 1868 a man
was was taxed on about everything he
honoht sold or owned. All will real
iIe What this meant to the people of
those DAYS when they contribute their
bit in the same way towards securing
the freedom of Cuba. From 1862 to
1865 over $7S0,000,0OO was collected
from internal revenue sources and a
guess can be made at what the people
must pay to help carry on the present
war. 1t may be little unpleasant and
troublesome but Uncle Sam needs the
helm of his people in the present emer-
pency and they will willingly Go Wha
IS their part In bringing to quick and
successful termination this war OF hu-
manity and justice.
The war tax on tea, beer and tObac-
co has been in effect for some time past
and other taxes go into effect today.
On tea the tax is 10 cents pound. On
beer ale, porter and similar drinks
there is a tax of two dollars barrel.
Beer glasses will have to be made
smaller or the price raised unless the
wholesaler or retailer decide to pocket
less profit. On tobacco the manufaC-
turer is paying a war tax of II cents a
pound and upon cigars and cigarettes
from 81 to $500 per thousand accord
inc to weight. Tobacco retailers will
pay an annual tax of from Sc to S24 ac-
cording to their sales. This means
that the smoker will have to pay more
for his usual smoke or else reduce the
size of it.
To help drive the cruel Spaniard
from Cuba, bankers and brokers will
have to pay $50 annually; commercial
brokers and pawnbrokers 500; proprie-
tors of concert halls, museums and the
aires in cities of over $4,000 inhabi-
tants 500; circuses 500; public bill
lard tables, bowling alleys, etc, IS,
A two cent revenue stamp must be at.
fixed to all bank checks, drafts and &C.
ceptances. Every prOmissory note OF
800 will require two cent stamp ano
two cents more for each additional
hundred dollars or fraction thereof
Bonds, mortgages, deeds, leases and
other papers used by business men viii
have to be decorated with the revenue
stamp. This means that every bust
ness desk in the country must have its
equipment of revenue stamps for the
law says that if any person shall "make
sign or issue any instrument on paper
of any description without stamp he
shall be liable to a fine of 800. The
law also requires that all stamps must
be cancelled by the person using them
which can be done by writing thereon
his initials and the date of the transac
ton. There is a fine of not less thar
$50 for failure to do this. The patent
medicine man also has to contribute {
stamp upon every packet, box, bottle
pot or phial containing pills, powders
bitters, etc.
Thus, it can be readily seen, every
person in the United States will real
lie something about the cost of war
Some may growl and find fault, but the!
who do are lacking III true American
patriotism. Uucle Sam needs the
money and is going to have it. More
over, he deserves it. Cuba must bt
free and Spain must be taught a severe
lesson. The luXuries will pay large
part of the expense in accomplishin!
this and no fault can properly be fount
with such system of taxation.