The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-09-05
WEATHER. CLASS
To PAY WAR TAX
HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS WILL
BE RAISED LARGELY by LEVY
ON LuxURIES.
BY T. II. MCGOWAN.


Washington. Sept. At became
known here today that the 100000
geo war tax which will be raised by
the United States TO meet the de-
felt in the federal treasury. Will be
largely luxury" tax, that is to say
the president and congressional lead
ers will SO adjust this tax that 1t viii
fall largely on the wealthier c ass OF
persons. 1t is realized that the
necessities of life are already nj IL
maximum figure and tAat II would pc
almost impossible, II noe quite go. to
attempt TO place additional burdens
on these com nodities
Beginning with an automobile tax.
the man who burns up the country
roads with d big forty power car or A
imozine will md that with every ad-
diionai mile pulled off II Is costing
him more than 4 did before the war
began, not only in the direct tax
which IN .expectnd To be lGYiad against
his machine, bat also for his gasoline.
Railroad trips viii also feel the
burden. The man who goes to the
White mountains. or the Adirondacks.
or. to Canada or some other far off
point in quest OF pleasure. must pay
the tax.
The man who INDUCES In tobacco.
StHtT chewing VI SEaokiHks must
either pay more for what he consumes
or get a poorer article for the same
amount Of money.
In beer. wine and other drinks, II
Is expected that much OF the $780,
000,0 900 will be ra sed. 1t has always
been a theory OF our tax gatherers
that the man who can indulge in
half dozen highbans. a few dry
Martini cocktails or who can quench
his thirst with a stein of beer should
not object to paving few patty dol
lars into Uncle Sans TIL to help run
the government when the flow or
money becomes slack. On these COM
modities. therefore, beer, ale. wine and
liquors, including soft drinks. II Is be-
lieved that very large proportion OF
the necessary $l00.000.o0e may be
easily raised.
Bills have already been introduced
in congress and are now pending levy
ing n double tax on beer-that Is to
make the government tax 81 barre,
instead of ~ as at present 1t Is thus
be small to the brewer because he sells
so much of this commodity that &
could we'll afford to pay the additional
tax while the war is in progress. IL
will not cost the consumer any NOR
than he is paying now. 1t is said, be-
cause the gases into which II =
poured in the bars will ne just
trif1e smaller than at present and tins
bottles. too. may be cut bit.
But this is not all. The man who
sits down for as evening for game
Of draw" or bridge will also have
to pay for the stamp on his cards and
The seller of land Or the maker o.
mortgage must also be careful that
the necessary documentary stamp se
placed to his paper before 1t Is legal.
With this return TO the Snanisn-
American war tax. with this difference
that the present tax will fall more
severely on the wealthy and luxurious,
the American people will begin to
feel the real pinch Of war.
Which of these articles will receive
the largest burden, Congressman I'm
derwood and Senator simmons. chair!
men of tho house ways and means
committee and the senate finance COM
mittce, respectively. are not yet pre-
pared to say, but within the next
few days-just as soon as the wsr tax
bill can be drawn up the public viii
know what the war Ia costing them.
----~-----------------