Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-05
MAY PUT WAR TAX
ON MOVIE FILMS
One of the Plans Proposed for
Raising Additional
Revenue.
RAILROAD TICKET STAMPS
MEET STRONG OPPOSITION
Fear Expressed That Such Form Of
Taxation Would Injure Demo-
cratic Prospects.

! Moving picture films as a taxable
source of revenue were urged before the
democrats of the ways and means ocm-
mittee when they resumed delibera-
tons today on the proposed war reve'
nue. measure to raise $1O0.000,000 in re-
sponse to President Wilson's appeal.
Several members of the committee
declared that enormous profits were ac-
| cruing from the manufacture of NOV
| ing picture films. They pointed tc
testimony taken in the tariff hearings
showing great realization on invest
ments. One member of the committee
showed testimony of officials of NOV
! ing picture film manufacturers show
| ing profits aggregating 10 per cent.
Serious opposition to the proposed tax
on railroad tickets and gasoline was ad-
vanced by members of the committee and
| some Of them gave assurance that snonlo
these items be incorporated in the pro-
posed bill 1t would be certain to be sub
mitted to a democratic caucus.
"If railroad tickets and gasoline are
included in the bill,' said one democratic
member of the committee. you may rest
assured they never will be approved by a
democratic House caucus.
TT would be folly to tax railroad
tickets particularly. Such action Woulo
be enrolling thousands of involuntary
cratic party. Every railroad ticket
agent would be unconsciously acting as
a stump speaker against US.
Blame Put on Party.
whenever a man would go to buy a
railroad ticket he would find his change
short on account Of the war tax. What
is thisr he would ask. Why the
ticket agent would reply, the demo-
cratic Congress voted to tax YOU on
your ticket because of the war In Eu-
rope zine thing to tax the Dur-
chaser would reply. when the railroads
are already appealing for permission
to charge us higher rates.
The committee spent several hours in
consultation this morning, adJourn1n
to meet again later In the day.
Some members Of the committee are
insistent upon stamp tax on COM
mercial Instruments. but others are
opposing an account OF labor 1t would
involve, particularly in view Of the
great increase of small banks and the
growing tendency of the poorer classes
to transact business through small
checks.
Among the many commodities under
cards. chewing gum. amusement places
(either by direct tax on proprietors or on
admission tickets. public conveyances.
such as cabs and taxi-cabs. patent medi-
drinks, whisky, insurance policies. tele-
grams sleeping and parlor car tickets,
petroleum, railroad and steamship freight
and express bills Of lading and long dis
tance telephone messages.
The committee discussed at some
length the feasibility of taxing freight
and express bills of lading and long
distance telephone messages. Consid-
erable revenue was raised from this
source in the Spanish-Amertcan war, a
hnS
bills of lading and telephone messages
Several members urged an increase
from 1 to IL per cent in the tax on
incomes in excess OF $4,000, even
though the revenue therefrom would
not be available until next year. There
also was advocated q tax on inheri-
tances.
Effort to Shift Burdens.
While there is but slight opposition.
if any. to the Presidents request for an
internal revenue additional tax, each
resentatives in Congress, is holding up
its hands. crying:
Don't tax me. See what fine lot
of products for taxation that other fell
low has. He can stand it. l can't"
Southerners left the executive ses-
sion of the democrats of the ways and
means committee last night hoping
they could arrange to keep tobacco
| and whisky exempt from an added
tax. Every member of the majority
| he believed to be Hroper internal
| revenue tax, but no conclusion was
reached. memorandum written by
Chairman Underwood formed the ba-
| sis of the discussion. This had in it
suggestions for taxing railroad tickets,
beer, gasoline, amusement tickets, GER
tain forms of manufactured tobacco,
patent medicines, proprietary articles
and soft drinks.
| Men who do not believe that beer
should bear the burden Of the war tax
are seriously contemplating a fight
against taxing that product more than
| an extra half dollar a barrel. It is now
| taxed q dollar a barrel and produces
| an enormous revenue.
However. it was asked at yesterday s
conference:
Can you tax beer heavily and let
these enormous productions Of soft
drinks go untaxedg
Protest From Country Districts.
Country districts, it is currently re-
ported, are making the loudest protest
against the proposed tax on gasoline. Al
| first glance it might seem that motor
car operators would make the protest,
| but the thrifty farmers, scenting the pos
sibilities OF paying cents more for what
| they already claim is "trust-made" ar
ticle, have told their congressman that
gasoline on the farm is taking the place
| Of the old-tlme water mill and other
| cruder forms OF power. Gasoline. there
fore, has become the farmers friend in
| the eyes Of congressman, and there are
| indications that if the ways and means
committee endeavors to stick to q tax or
that article as suggested by the Treas
| ury Department, there will be a storm on