Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-26
EMERGENCY TAXATION

The war tax revenue bill. agreed upon
by the Democrats of the Ways and Means
Committee and framed in accordance
with the Presidents suggestion that such
sources of revenue be chosen as will be-
gin to yield at once and yield with
certain and constant fow," was intro
duced into the House of Representatives.
Monday on the following day the COM
mittee presented It's report, saying that
"the necessity for this legislation grows
out of the reduction of revenues derived
from customs receipts. caused by the
disturbed conditions resulting from the
war in Europe"
II is estimated that the new taxes will
bring slO5 100000 into the Treasury in a
year. In general, the measure follows
the lines of the internal revenue laws OF
the Civil and Spanish Wars, but while it
imposes many of the old and some new
stamp taxes, it omits altogether bank
checks, some other kinds of commercial
paper, also medicines and perfumes. In
place of these are taxes upon gasoline,
parlor car and sleeping car tickets and
various kinds of wine. Beer pays less
than heretofore. whisky is ignored and
tObaCco's burden Is not much changed.
Bankers, brokers and amusement pro-
prieturs are levied upon and insurance
policies and telegraph and telephone mes
sages are included among sources of rev.
enue.
Republican opposition to the bill has
been manifest in Congress and in the
press since ii was first proposed. The
Boston Herald calls attention to the
fact that Canada, which is partici-
pant in the European struggle, is im-
posing war tax no larger in proportion
TO our own. The Chicago Herald objects
strenuuusly to the provision concerning
insurance policies: "A tax on life and
casualty insurance policies Is tax on
small savings Why don't the lawmakers
put a tax on savings bank deposits aud
be done with il? They are doing about
the same thing" Limited praise for
the bill is given in the New York
World, in the remark that it does not
increase the eXaCtions upon incomes and
omits wholly the mischievous idea of
taxing domestic freight bills. support
and opposition, both in Congress and
out Of it, is divided on strictly partisan
lines.
The principal criticism nf the war tax
measure Is that it Is wholly unneCes-
sary. The new tax Is not a war taN,"
says the Brooklyn Citizen, 1T is a tribute
to Democratic Incompetence and cNtrava-
gance." The Albany journal calls 1t "a
war tax in time of peace" and declares
that Congress framed it in the hope Of
concealing the effects of Its free-trade-
ward policy" The proposal for the os-
tablishment Of a taxation commission,
10 which would he committed the entire
subject Of revenues nv the Government
is seconded by the Ohio state journal
as the way out of such mUddlcs as that
which now exists: 1T will he a forward
step when Congress yields its right To
lcgislate for revenues, for then such
laws will be based upon principle and
not upon selfshness. which characterizes
the field today"
Yesterday the war tax bill came up
under "A rule limiting debate to seven
hours. This rule, reported from com
mittee on Thursday. was denounced By
the opposition as a gag rule
The bill passed the House by a vote of
233 TO 1886