The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-04-11
Her Husband or Her Father,
As the Case May Be. Pays
Uncle Sam Heavily for All
The Finery.
POOR PEOPLE ARE THE
ONES MOST AFFECTED
Duty on Women's Clothing Is
A Substantial Source of
Revenue to the United
States Government.

Ii Is reasonable that Richmond
women should take an interest in the
Payne tariff bill. for that revenue-pro-
ducing measure adds to the cost of ev-
cry thing she wears. An attempt has
been made on the face OF the bill to
increase the tax on luxuries, but the
close figurers have decided that the tax
will be heavier on the poor woman
than her sister in comfortable circum-
stances.
For the purpose of showing what
percentage a woman's apparel contrib
utes toward furnishing the running ex-
penses of the United States. 1t is only
necessary to take a woman dressed in
her Easter best. and then figure on he's
clothes. 1t will be found that in order
to attire herself she has paid to the
government nearly enough money to
purchase another presentable outfit
under free trade conditions. Starting
with the hat. Supposing she is In cir
cumstances that will allow her to wear
hat costing $50: about SIS Of thai
valuation represents tax ranging
from so per cent. on the straw, to %
per cent. on the feathers.
Even Hatpins Costly.
II she wears the little curls and arti-
fetal aids to the coiffure. SO common
nowadays-say $5 worth-about 81 OF
that represents taxation. And II she
fastens her hat on with hat pins valued
at Sc, this outlay has paid s. toward
the expenses of the government
Her $50 lace collar represents q taS
OF about $l1, which she has to pay II
addition to its actual ralue Her $1I
dress will carry about $50 Of taxa
tion. and the trimmings will have COS;
her some So in taxes.
Supposing she is modest regarding
jewelry. and wears only 500 worth
Fully $50 Of the expense attached tC
the purchase price OF the pins and
watch and other gewgaws is box HeI
handkerchief. which cost her SO cents
| would have cost only about 36 cent.
but for the tax. Her $50 parasol rep
resents an outlay on her part OF $1.50
| which goes to the government. and tn,
| buttons, hooks and eyes and other nee
essary parts of her gown. for use an;
ornament. show an outlay of from s.
to s. in taxation.
Her Tax on Gloves.
Her gloves cost about nifty cents |
pair in taxation. II she has on S.
worth of silk and linen lingerie sh
has paid tax of about SIS on 1t. He
stockings represent tax. She has PAL
from 10 to % cents, according to thei
quality. Her s. shoes would have cos
her only about S6. but for the tax sh
has paid in their purchase price. Tn
perfume which she uses represents
few cents of taxation every time sh
sprays herself with it, for perfume 1
expensive, and the tax on 1t is 60 pc
cent.
There are tens of thousands OF won
en- In America who consider themselve
very moderately gowned and arraye1
il their outfit, as described above
does not cost in the neighborhood U
$500. including jewelry. On such co
lection of clothes and ornaments, eac
of these women pay tax of 500.
OF course. in % per cent. OF the case
a husband or a father has to settle tn
bills, but this fact makes the tari
a question of no less interest to womeI
For IL it were not for the tariff sh
might dress herself from 2j to - pe
cent cheaper, and could either hav
more clothes or more money to use fo
other purposes.