Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1914-09-06
medicines included
LIQUORS OF ALL KINDS WILL
BE FIRST ON THE LIST
OF TAXATION.
EXEMPT RAILROAD Fares
Severe Opposition to a Tax on
Railroad Tickets; Tax Rail
road Freight.

WASHINGTON, Sept 5.-Dcmo-
cratic members Of the ways and means
committee virtually agreed today upon
commodities susceptible TO special tax
alton to realize $75.OOO.OOO Of the
Sl0O,OOO,OOO requested by President
Wilson to offset the loss In customs
receipts caused by the conflict in Eu-
rope. What shall betaXed 10 raise tho
other $25,OO0O0O has not been de.
clded scores Of commodities ana
means OF taxation being proposed
Tho committee will meet again next
tuesday and expects TO complete the
blll next week.
Although no announcement was
made II is certain that beer and fer
mented liquors will come first among
articles taxed. The additional beer
tax viii be either 90 or 60 cents a bar
rel possibly so cents, producing S32,-
100000 a year A tax Of 20 cents A
gallon is probable on domestic wines.
bringing in from $lO,OO0,0O0 to $l5,-
600, 900.
From a tax on proprietary medi-
clnes and preparations Of all kinds
ana on soft drinks it tx hoped to raise
approximately $2,OOO,OOO. while
small additional revenue tax on dis
titled liquors, probably not more than
10 cents a gallon, would bring the
total tax on WHISTLES, etc, to Sips a
gallon. From these sources 1t is es-
timated $75,O00,000 would be assured.
so severe was the opposition 10 tax
on railroad tickets among committee
members, chiefly because Of It's unpop-
ulaIlty and probable political effect.
that further consideration is unlikely.
An alternative TO tax railroad freight
has been suggested. but this. it has
been pointed out, would be expensive
and difficult TO collect
IL also Is improbable that there will
be any stamp on commercial instru-
ments, such as checks, drafts, convey
ances, mortgages, etc. Nearly all mem-
bers Of the committee agree that such
tax would require too much admin
lstratlve detail
The majority of the committee also
oppose an additional tax on tobacco
because Of the burden II now bears.
Ihere was some urgency however for
a graduated tax on cigars, according
10 value, from which, It is asserted,
large Increases in revenue could be
procured.
Taxation Of gasoline Is strenuously
objected to. Opposition, It was stated.
lies chiefly in the fact that it would
be expensive to collect, necessitating
government agents in refineries
Among new subjects for taxation
seriously discussed by the committee
were monthly and weekly magazines
and periodicals. including magazines
circulated through Sunday newspa-
pers. 1t was proposed to levy a tax
on circulation at given figure per
thousand. A tax on automobiles also
is being considered, either am excise
tax on the manufactured machines. a
tax based on the horsepower or "A tax
on cars owned by Individuals.
Taxing OF moving picture films as
well as theatre and amusement tickets
has been suggested. The latter would
include moving picture theatres 40 A.
traction Of a cent per ticket 90 be paid
by the amusement liCeuseg
'If We only had to raise $4,000
OO0,' said Representative Underwood.
chairman Of the committee. tonight.
we would complete our hiIl jon "A few
hours We are all agreed upon what
should be taxed To- raise Thar amount
Many other things have brou suE-
gested ana upon these there Us dis
agreement but We Will work out Il
completed bill next week"
Several committee members believe
an income tax increase would Dee wise.
They propose that the rate Doe add
v1uced from ] per cent uu Incomes iu
excess of $4,000 90 1-2 per cent.
one advocate of this Is Represent
ative Hun of Tennessee, author of the
income tax section OF the tariff act.
Tonight Mr. Hull accompanied 10y
j H..r. Be-. b b.
also "a member of the ways and means
committee. consulted President Wilson
at the white house. They discussed the
income tax proposal and told the pres-
ideut that the committee htd found
differences OF opinion among mem-
bers on raising the SlO0,0OU.OOO rec
quested. The president told them he
believed 1t absolutely necessary to pro-
cure the entire amount.
The bill provides a leasing system
for Alaska coal beds under royalty
Of cents a ton. II particularly af'
fects the Bering coal fields, compris-
INK $4,000 acres. and the Mattanuska
coal fields. 10000 acres. The govern
ment railway Will furnish the means ot
transportation for opening up these
resources.
Royalties are 90 go into special
fund for developing Alaska, partic-
ularlv its railways
Monopoly is guarded against by
reset alton OF 5.12O acres in the Bcg-
lng field and 1850 i'm the Mattanuska
field. enabling the goYorrmeut TO mine
coal au its own account in emprg-
slcics. Leases are 20 be- for iutermed-
late periods on condition that they are
kept in operation. but O read djustmert
is provided Tor at the enc of 20 years