The Detroit times., 1914-09-16
LIQUOR men TRY
TOLAY BURDEN
ON AUTOMOBILES
Booze Controlled Legislators
Aim Blow at Detroit's Prin-
cipal Industry
HEADS OF BUSINESS
STRANGELY SILENT
Effort to Make Car Users Pay
War Revenue Is Almost
Unchallenged
RAYMOND w. PULLMAN,
fswpes Washtngton Bureau, No. 70l
MetroDoHtda Bank RuiIdin0

metropolitan Bank building.
. WASHINGTON. d. c., Sept. IL
Detroit's principal industry Is again
threatened by men In congress who
are trying to lay the burden OF the
war tax on business and commerce
Instead OF on liquors, soft drinks and
Injuries. There will be a determined
effort made tonight In the Democratic
caucus OF house members to raise q
large part Of the emergency revenue
by taxing automobiles.
That such tax IL unreasonable,
unnecessary, ana will work against
the interest OF thriving industry
giving profitable employment to Q
large army Of men. Is admitted gen.
orally by most members OF the house
this morning. but any of these very
men who say privately that they are
against an automobile war tax, win
vote for 1t tonight.
The reason for this Is that many
members come from tobacco growing
districts and sections OF the country
where the liquor interests are strong,
and they fear that the placing of the
burden OF the war tax on tobacco and
liquor, and to increase the proposed
tar of 80 cents q barrel on beer to
81, will result In their defeat In the
November election. In other words,
the personal interest OF individual
members rather than the public In
terests Of all the people, will influ-
ence many votes, particularly In view
OF the fact that the automobile men
OF Detroit and other places have not
wired one word OF objection on the
proposed tax, which will surely mar
row the market and hurt the indus
try.
Neither of the two Democratic
members Of the Michigan delegation
have received kilograms or communi-
cations Of any kind In opposition to
the automobile tax and unless the
opinion OF business men OF Detroit
voices itself during the afternoon,
both Reps. Doremus and Beakes will
go into the caucus tonight without a
single protest against the tax on mo-
line was killed several days ago, but
1t was the opposition OF other Sec
lions Of the country, than Michigan,
which resulted In the abandonment
OF tho idea.
q The PLAN to tax freight will be
fought most bitterly. because II 10 now
thoroughly understood In all sections
OF the country that this tax win be
saddled on the small consumers who
are least able to bear the burden.
The liquor men. patent medicine men.
tobacco manufacturers Of all kinds,
perfume and playing card men and
Of 1uxuries of all kinds
are using every known method to
avoid war tax, which. In the light
Of public opinion, their industries
should bear and they care absolutely
nothing about the prospect OF injur-
ing the great business OF automobile
manufacturing In order to save them
selves
Many members objected to the pro
posal of stamp tax on checks and
paper, believing that II
will act as further interference with
the circulation Of money. 1t Is not
known how President Wilson stands
on the stamp tax proposal, nor wheth-
er he will abandon the freight tax
idea, which Is bitterly opposed
II Detroit's automobile manufactur-
ers will awaken this afternoon to the
danger which threatens the .ity's
most important industry, and will
wire their protests to Michigan con-
gressmen, Rep. Oscar Underwood and
other house leaders, there Is an en-.
cellent chance Of killing In tonight's
caucus the plan to tax automobiles.
IF an automobile IL to be taxed.
why should not q horse and buggy,
or carriage and pair" said one
member this morning.