New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-22
Minority on Ways and
Means Committee Ex-
pected to Dissent.
STAMP TAX TO HOLD
ONLY FOR ONE YEAR
Features Borrowed from Span
iSh War Act-Debate to
Begin Thursday.
Lrrnm rhe TrIeune Bureau.l

Washington, Sept. 21.-The Demo-
cratic "war tax" bill, depended upon 70
produce approximately $lo0,0OO,oOo an
nuaIly in additional revenue, was In
troduced In the House to-day by Repre-
sentative Underwood, the majority
leader. The rates Of the bill are as pre-
yiously published in The Tribune dis
matches and were announced Saturday,
pendinp a final revision OF the Ian
guape Of the measure by Mr.. Under
wood.
With the approval Of the administra-
ton. the Democratic caucus and the
majority members of the Ways and
Means Committee, the bill will be sub
mitted to the full membership OF the
committee tomorrow. At that time the
Republican members, who have had no
mart in the framing Of the bill, VIII be
permitted to examine the latest Demo
cratic revenue measure and to record
their votes against 1t.
Stamp AnnOyances Avoided.
One of the late changes made in the
hill nv the Democrats of the Ways and
Means Committee is designed to min
imize the annoyance caused to persons
sending kilograms under the stamp tax
provisions Of the bill. Both telephone
and telegraph messages are to be
taxed one cent if the message costs
more than Is cents, but it is provided
that instead of requiring the sender
to attach stamp to q telegraph blank
the companies shall keep 3 record OF
the messages transmitted and make
monthly returns to the Internal Reve-
nue. Bureau.
The administrative features Of the
bill have been borrowed largely from
tho Spanish war tax, as have the rates
of taxation on brokers, bankers, pro-
prietors of amusement places, bonds,
deeds, conveyances and other CONNER
cial paper. The rates on tobacco deal
ers and manufacturers are substantial
~ those of the former tax law, and
Democrats expect to point out in de-
bate, when confronting Republican
criticism, that their bill closely fol-
lows the law of 1898. This argument
will be met by Republicans, who will
emphasize the fact that when a Re-
publican Congress levied q war tax the
nation was actually at war, whereas to-
day it is at peace with the world.
In hope of minimizing criticism the
Democrats provide that the stamp tax
section of the bill, counted upon to
raise S31 100000 annually, shall remain
in effect only until December 81, 1915.
The special taxes on bankers, brokers,
amusement places, beer, wines and gas
olene will remain in effect until re-
pealed.
Details of the Bill.
As finally drafted the bill levies a
tax of 81 50 q barrel on beer; sweet
wines, 20 cents q gallon; dry wines, II
cents; gasolene, 2 cents a gallon;
bankers, 50 on each $1,000 Of capital
and surplus and undivided profits;
brokers, $50 each; pawnbrokers, $50;
commercial brokers, $50; custom house
brokers, $40; proprietors of theatres,
museums and concert halls in cities of
10000 population or over, 500 each;
circus proprietors, 500 year; pro-
prietors of other exhibitions, $40, and
proprietors of bowling alleys and bill
lard rooms, IS for each alley or table.
Tobacco dealers and manufacturers
are taxed the same as in 1898, except
that in the largest class, tobacco dealers
not specifically provided for, the TAX is
81 SO each. A tax of $l2 was levied in
1898 on tobacco dealers having annual
sales Of $4,000 pounds or over. The
bill levies a tax of 5 cents on bonds
and certificates of Indebtedness for
each 1000 involved; l cent on tele-
phone messages costing Is cents or
more and l cent on all telegraph mes
sages; indemnity bonds, so cents; GER
tifcates of profits, 2 cents; certificates
Of damage, % cents each; life insurance
policies, s cents on each 800; fire,
marine, casualty, fidelity and guaranty
insurance policies, one-half cent on
each dollar; goods withdrawn from
custom houses, all to pay q stamp tax
of 80 cents, and goods entered at Gus
tom houses, from 20 cents to 81, ac-
cording to value.
Tax on Travel.
A tax Of 2 cents for each seat in