Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-01-02
0DAG o. GUNS
% b OPPOSED
nAr,on TO De ASKED 70.
EsAcr PRoHls,T,vE LEG
lsLAT,oM. 4 :
! s.sson sRoposEs BILL {:
h. IMPOSING HEAVY TAX
Owners Of Al Deadly Weapons and
Ammunition 70 % Asked 70 Pay fer
Privileges Of Pesssssien-Natis
b Legislation Held TO % Only Remedy
for Dangerous Conditions Exiting.

washington, jan 1.-The proposal
that the national government under
take to prevent gun toting' and the
irresponsible sale Of deadly weapons to
minors and disreputable characters
may be enacted into law by the pres
ent congress-.
A step II that direction il offered by
bill introduced in the house by Rep
resentative Sisson of Mississippi which
provides for the imposition of a heavy
federal tax upon all deadly weapons
Il and cartridges manufactured and sold
anywhere In the United States. The
congressman framed his measure in
response to the widespread demand for
regulation Of the deadly weapon evil.
II the proposal to tax all weapons is
received with favor in congress, other
regulations governing their sale may
be added.
Provisions Of sisson Bill.
Representative Sisson's bill contains
y the following provisions:
j a tax Of SO and in addition 20 per
cent Of the value shall be paid ION each
deadly weapon manufactured or sold,
or stored In any warehouse, factory,
storehouSA, or any other place. for sale
! within the United States. by whatever
name such deadly weapon may be
called
The tax shall apply to all pistols,
2ldirk knives. bowie knives sword canes,
Nstiiettos. brass or metallic knuckles,
sand all other instruments commonly
Z known as deadly weapons which it is
In violation Of law to carry concealed"
a tax Of one-tenth Of 1 cent shall be
! paid on each cartridge of twenty two
I caliber or less and one-fifth Of I
cent on each cartridge Of larger cali
her.
Internal revenue stamps prepared by
the secretary of the treasury shall be
attached to each weapon and box of
cartridges ~ the manufacturer or
dealer and cancelled when offered for
sale, the cancellation showing the date
and initials Of the CHANCELLOR.
Any person violating the act shall
be punished by fine Of not more
than $1,000 or by Imprisonment for not
+ more than six months. or by both.
The proposed law is not to apply to
h arms and cartridges manufactured for
or sold to the United States govern
! ment or to the militia OF any state.
Local Legislation Failure.
Representative Sisson believes moth
I ing short Of federal regulation can
i abate the deadly weapon evil for the
( reason that local legislation is not suf-
ficiently far reaching. Persons unable
to obtain deadly weapons in one city
or state. because Of stringent regula-
lions. send outside for the contraband
Z articles.
The high tax Will make deadly
weapons too expensive for most minors
z and disreputable characters to pur-
chase. he believes. and abate the evil
to that extent. Experience then will
suggest other regulations.
The congressman holds that there
are sufficient presidents for using the
taxing. powers OF the government to
stamp out gun toting. Under this au-
thority the sale Of oleomargarine was
regulated and state Issues Of bank
notes were taxed out Of existence fol-
lowing the civil war.