The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-30
WAR TAX MEASURE
 NOW DEEMED SURE
 FOR NEAR FUTURE
But It Will Be Easy Con- pared With Payne War Bill In
 1898 as

washington, August 29.-(Spec1al.) Despite the efforts of the administra- ton to reopen American commerce with Europe and so to revive the dropping tariff income, apprehension has devel- oped into absolute belief that emer- gency war tax soon must be imposed to provide income for the government during the period of interrupted inn ports. It is understood that President Wilson has at least the outlines of message on this subject prepared, and the ways and means committee under Representative Underwood and the fi- nance committee under Senator Sim mons are framing the foundations of . bill
 \ Further than this. it is known that the appropriations committee of the House is studying the question deeply. and will do all in its power to co -oper- ate with the other committmees in re- arranging the fiscal affairs of the gov ernInent.
 Although the prospective bill will be entirely new and individual in charac- ter, the leaders in Congress are study ing the war revenue bill of 1898, as drawn by Representative Payne to meet the requirements of conditions in the Spanish war. At that time, however, conditions were very different and rev elue was raised to meet the expense of war in which this nation was en- gagged. The need for more revenue then was occasioned by positive outlay; now 1t is required in a negative man. ner through the curtailment of the gov ernment's income. Thus, the expected measure hardly will be as drastic and far reaching as the Payne bill of 1898.
 The Payne Bill
 For instance, by that bill tax was imposed on seats or berths in Pullman cars, and a one cent stamp was required on each ticket to show that the tax had been paid. Also, a one cent stamp was demanded op every telegraph message, while telephone companies were obliged to report at frequent intervals the num- V Der of 15-cent messages over their lines and to pay 1 cent on each.
 Chewing gum, patent medicines, cos nctics and perfumes also contributed their mite to the general war fund, the scale for patent medicines. for instance rcading on this wise: For packages retailing at not over 5c retail, 1sc; from Sc to 1oc, Ac; from 1oc to 15c, asc; from 15o to 25c, ssc. and for each additional 25c ss sc more.
 The first items in the list were beer, ale, porter and fermented liquors, all of which paid tribute to the govern ment exchequer. Then came bankers and brokers of all kinds; theatres, bowling alleys and billiard rooms. Taxes were imposed on bonds and stocks and other certificates of indebt- : edDess. on bills of exchange and bills of lading. on charters and contracts and life insurance policies, and leases and mortgages and freight manifests.
 Even steamship tickets to foreign ports were taxed, those cost $50 or less being stamped at $1; those from $30 to $60 being taxed s3, and all over $60 being stamped at $5.
 Cigars, cigarettes. snuff and other marufs ctured tobacco claimed large at tention in the bill as did dealers in those commodities and in leaf tobacco. And to counteract the burden of the tax Congress ruled that instead of packages of 2 and and ounces, dealers might use parcels of 2-3 1-2. 1-2 and 31-3 ounces This permitted the sale of smaller quantities at estab- 1ished prices, such as 10 cents pack age. instead of maintaining the origi- nal size packages, to be sold at a niSner price.
 Liquor and Tobacco
 Then there were taxes on tea and wines, 1egacies and loans and mixed flour-apparently MT. Payne had searched the dictionary for articles to place in the list.
 For some reason. belief prevails that malt and fermented liquors and tobacco in various forms will be the first arti- cies taxed in the prospective bill, and the men engaged in those industries are correspondingly depressed. Dele cations call daily Representative Underwood and his mail sack Is filled with letters of protest or pleas for lenient treatment. And men in many s other lines are greatly worried like y wise.
 The articles to be taxed and the rates of such taxes. however. will not be set tied till the financiers are informed as to the amount to be raised to meet tho curtailment of income. C. E. $.