The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-09-24
WAR TAX BRINGSA
FLOOD OF PROTESTS
Local Business Men in Many
Lines See Injustice and
Discrimination.
MANY PITFALLS PREDICTED

Charges &c Injustice and governmental
stupidity AZ well as prophecies of ad-
minstrative pitfalls are contained IN
views expressed yesterday by local OK
perts OF industries which will be affected
nv the enactment Of the new war tax
measure now being rushed through the
House. Inquiry showed that In some in
stances such as steamship lines, bankers
and brokers no great concern ia being
expressed. In other lines. such as Winc
merchants. brewers, retail tobacco dealers
and the owners OF amusement places, en-
ergotc protests Of business confscauon
are being prepared ana sent 20 the tax
committee AZ Washington.
Difficult problems Of collection we're
prophcsled for the Government While
* wac the purpose Of the trainers Of tn"
supertaX TO make collections as FAR as
possible at tho source there were evi'
dences that IN many cases the large firms
affected are planning to let tho burden
fall directly upon the consumer. Whereas
the tax il aimed only az "luNurics' and
at those who can well AFFORD to pay, WIN
merchants brewers and managers " Ger
tain amusement places assert that he
humblcst purchasers Will De denied wnai
to them is a staple Of lfc.
1t was said by leading wine dealers
that the proposed war tax on domestic
manufactured wines OF - cents per gal
lon for the dry. 20 cents for the sweet
variety will cut the claret business Ia
half ana discriminate harshly against the
grape growing industry in California,
where 90 per cent. of the wines of this
country are made.
THE whole wine trade Is now NJ in
arms against this tax said William
Iulman. assistant secretary OF the Gait
| fornia Wine Association. Mt 40 West
Fourteenth street. at l. a popular de-
huston that the great bulk OF wines IL
. Ia oh e,FJ 60
the wealthy As n matter Of fact four
nfths u the wine consumed in this coun-
try Is Of the cheaper sort sold 70 the poor
est OF our foreign population
NO other country IN the world has
ever placed tax on wines produced
within its own domains. Claret wines
are sold in California at 27L cents per
gallon and the imposition ot IL cents on
each gallon will mean an Increase OF
about 80 per cent in the selling price In
California, 20 which must be added
freight and other charges. There will
be a heavy decline In both prOductio'
and consumption / do not think the
ss.oo0.oo0 expected on wines Will be
forthcoming"
The California Grape Growers Associa-
zion In san Francisco has sent telegram
20 President Wilson saying that a tax
Of 20 cents n gallon on light wines would
! he confscatory and would make il impos-
shle TO sell tho grape crop now ripe
= These same arguments have been pre-
scented 20 the President p Ee:!;lon
signed by leading wine producers IN the
champagne district ueg Egg Harbor.
y j
The protest Of The brewers was formu-
lated FOR THE SrS by Eugene Geary.
editor OF Beverages. as follows: IN the
United states beer seems 90 be 2 neces-
/ T'y rather than a luxury brewers are
our hcalthicst ard wealthiest citizens
They pay pretty much all the taxes and
ncve~ grumhle They doubt very much
" President Wilson ia right In his present
( line OF policy. The Federal tax on beer and
LIQUORS is row s?55 o00. 600 The tax in
Scw York state is SEE 600 600 This rev.
, '1ue supports the army and navy A. Il
paws a generous share OF the national
E debt"
The prospect OF n levy oF two cents a
gallon on casol"nc meets with indifference
on the part of the large producers and
/ distributors and with premou!''ors Of IN
3 ,-Iuivocal protests on the part Of CONNER
( clal vehicle Industries raraTe owners or
'-pdo leaders and allied petroleum inter
ests
\ peculiar situation f'crs tho ;,le-
rn.'s companies I'm The insane Z tie
proposed tax of ! cent for zach messarc
Icos.re oN,r - cents Te'eoh0ro ad'' -
Iis:rat,rs will be able easily % collect
H." tax from its regular sLrs"- tcrs.
hu. II e rot 50 easy TO Understand how
Il VIII collect tho tax from It's slot ma.
90 .0"s In New York citv :hcro arc
On oct ~ these telephone coin boxes In
public places.
a the o1ice ~ me general manager Of
TN. \,V YORK. T,,rphor. C.mpl". 4 was
- = lhet the new bill had Boon given
ivcr% l'tic consideration, - Il had not