The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-09-09
SOURCE or WAR TAX.
COMMITTEE PRACTICALLY TO.
GETlIEK UPON MANY COM
MODITIlS.
Tax ON Liquor Heads LiSt-S1J, ,OOO.-
600 in SiSht-StrOng Opposition to
l"NicS on Railroad Tickets and
Commercial Paper.

washington, Sept. 5.-Democratic
members of the ways and means COM
mlttcc virtually agreed TODAY upon
commodities susceptible to spcciaI tax
alton to realize SIS, 700, 600 of the
Sloo,O0O,OOO requested by President
Wilson to offset the loss i'm customs
receipts caused by the conflict in Eu-
rope. What shall be taxed to raise
the other 25,OOO,O 900 has not been do
cidcd, scores e. commodities and
means OIL taNal being proposed.
me committee II meet next Tues
day and expects complete the bill
next week.
Although no louncement was
made, it is certain at beer and fer
mcntcd liquors will one first among
articles taxed. The additional beer
tax will be either fifty or sixty cents
a barrel. probably fifty cents, produc-
ing $32,OOO.OOO year. A tax of
20 cents gallon is probable on do
mcstic wines bringing in from $1O,-
OOO,0O to 100000.
From a tax on proprietary meili-
ClncS and preparations of all kinds and
on soft drinks it is hoped to raise
approximately $2O,OOO,06O while a
small additional revenue tax on dis
titled liquors. probably not more than
Is cents Il gallon, would bring the to-
tai tax on whiskey, etc. to $1.25 a
gallon. From these sources it is csti-
mated, $75, 100000 would be assured.
So severe was the opposition to a
tax on railroad tickets among COM
mittee members chiefly because Of it's
unpopularity and probable political
effect. that further consideration is
unlikely. An alternative to tax railroad
freight has been suggested, but this it
has been pointed out would be cXpcn-
sive and difficult to collect.
1t is also improbable that there
will be any stamp tax on commercial
instruments, such as checks, drafts
convcyances, mortgages, etc. Nearly
all members of the committee agree
that such tax would require too
much administrative detail.
The majority of the committee also
oppose an additional tax on tobacco
because of the burden it now bears.
There is some urgency however, for a
graduated tax on cigars according to
value, from which it is asserted large
increase in revenue could be procured.
Taxation of gasoline is strenuOusly
objected to. Opposition, it was stated
lies chiefly in the fact that it would
be expensive to collect, nccessitatinS
government agents in refneries.
Among new subjects for taxation
seriously discussed by the committee
were monthly and weekly magazines
and periodicals., including magazines
circulated through Sunday newspa-
pers. 1t was proposed to levy tax on
circulation at a given figure per thou
S1nu. "A TAX on automobiles also is
being considered, either an excise tax
on the manufactured machines, a tax
based on the horsepower or a tax on
cars owned by individuals.
Taxation Of moving picture films as
we'll as theatre and amusement tickets
has been suggested. The latter would
be included in moving picture the
atres at u fraction of a cent per ticket
10 be paid by the amusement license
"lf We only had to raise 1000
O00," said Representative Underwood,
chairman of the committee tonight
Eve could complete our bill in 4 few
hours. We are all agreed upon what
could be taxed to raise that amount
Man, other things have been suggest
cd and upon these there is Il disagree
ncnt, but we will work out COM
plctcd bill next week"