Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-07-14
TO CHANGE v Ar TAXES
Alterations In the Revenue Act NOW
Proposed.
TAX ON MONEY EXCHANGE.
Congress May be Asked to Mulct Ex-
press and Telegraph Companies
Engaged In That Branch
of Business.

Washington, July Alt is altogether
probable that the next annual report vi
the internal revenue bureau Will recon-
mend number Of changes IN the war
revenue act. In the main the law mas
worked satisfactorily and has provided
almost exactly the amount estimated by
the commissioner. This, however, was
something less than the estimates gener-
ally accepted by well informed members
of congress. The internal revenue ON
Gals are Of the opinion that the law might
properly be extended in certain dire lions
without becoming ut all bupdensome to
the public and in way to produce con-
Siderable revenue.
One of the propositions NOW under con-
sideratQn is to assess tax on the SAFE
or rental Of all patent protected articles.
In speaking of the matter today one or
the officials spoke Of the telephone com
panies in this connection and at the same
time said that there were many lnven-
lions producing an enormous profit which
could well stand a revenue tax.
1t probably will be suggested to con
gress that express and telegraph com
panies doing a money exchange business
be lrqtlired, to pay an annual tax for the
privilege. Although they now pay tax
on receipts and kilograms respectively,
it is pointed out that bankers are re.
quired to pay IL yearly tax of $50, which
is regarded as Il discrimination against
them. It is probable that each express
Office and telegraph office in towns hay
ing over certain population, if the
views Of the treasury officials are APP
ha uaf n
pay certain yearly tax for the privilege
Of doing an exchange business.
Insurance Companies.
1t is also likely that modification Of
the law with respect to mutual insurance
companies may be RECOMMENDED. In the
present act there is considerable OBJ
security with respect to the provisions as
to these companies, both fire and life. 1t
Is pointed out that a number Of the
leading companies in the country are
operated upon the mutual plan. Some Of
these are paying the tax without pro-
tests, but there is doubt as to their liza
billy in this respect. 1t is believed,
however, that congress clearly intended
to make the exemption apply to local
companies doing n strictly local business
without surplus or undivided profits or
money at their command with which to
pay large salaries to their officers.
Section 90 of the war revenue act,
defining what shall be taxed under
schedule b, has been a source of much
trouble to the inteNal revenue officers,
For instance the whole group of coal tar
extracts has been decided by the courts
to be not subject to the tax.
A pound of phenacetine costs in Can
ada, it is said, from IL to Is cents. and
yet in the United States the price is uni
formly ST a pound. This drug, it Is
thought, could well stand a heavy tax.
There are several items in the old in
ternal revenue laws which, it is be-
lieved, should be eliminated or modified,
and it is not improbable that congress
will be asked to appoint an expert COM
mission to thoroughly go over the ground
and recommend such changes in detail
as experience has shown to be neces-
sary.