The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-11-10
HINT TAX LEVY
 ON MUNITIONS:
 GATHERING DATA

branches of the government are con- ducting an inquiry into the extent and value of the business of supplying munitions of war to belligerents in census of military manufacturers may be is at present only a matter of conjecture. A government official under whom a large part of the ouiry is being directed said today that this information was being collected mainly because Congress would be sure to want it. The inference is that inasmuch as the first part of the work of gathering information in regard to the making of munitions of war and their export to Europe was taken up under the Commissi oner of Internal Revenue, it is expected that Congress will, in seeking oppOrtuni- ties to raise more revenue, attempt to place a tax on munitions of war.
 This tax could not be placed on s,1ch articles as exports, but there is a possibility that Justification may be sought for imposing a direct tax, The inquiry is being prosecuted by h. ternaI Revenue Collectors in all parts of the country, and an independent in ouiry is being made by the War de- partment at the request of the Secre- tary of the Treasury
 Army officers and War Department officials have obtained much 1nfor- 1nation in regard to manufacturing plants engaged ner of war supplies. These reports cover ammunition, high explosives, roiectiles parts of ordnance, en- zines. machinery and parts of ma clinery, automobiles. copper, brass, grain supplies, horses and mutes' wooden cleth, boots and shoes, blan- kets, cars, locomotives and a vast va riety of articles necessary for war operations
 A still further inquiry is being made through Customs Collectors under the direction of the Department of Com m4rce, This part of the investiga- ton extends only to observing at a few ports what goods and articles are sent abroad to belligerent countries and also to neutral countries where there is a prospect of re-export into some one of the belligerent- coun- tries.
 Nothing has been done in the way of assembling the data received from these variousNsourqes. Under the or ders that have been issued all reports fare to be gathered finally in the Treas ury Department, and there classified for ultimate presentation to Congress, should occasion arise when such in formation might be desired in connec- tion with the raising of revenue. > It is the view of experts high in the gov ernment service that manufacturers of war supplies might well be expected to bear their share of the burden of taxation because they are enjoying an unprecedented prosperity, and are said to be receiving prices far in ad- vance of those of normal times The list of manufactures under in-1 uuiry Is large It includes the chief industries of the wh ole country. The shipments in the first eight months of this year of automobiles for use in the war countries reached the aggregate value of $65, ,463, 5000; copper ship sments for, war purposes amounted to s$7O, 900, 600 in the same period; horses and mules to the value of 86,0O0,000 were sent abroad; barbed wire and wire for electrical purposes wholly to sbeIIigerent countries were sold to the value of $14,0OO.0OO; boots and shoes were sold to the value of $24,0O0,0o0; leather to the value of $55, ,000, 900, and explosives $65,OOo. 900. These ex- ports are four or five times as large as in peace. time. This list does not include grain and breadstuffs and meats of all kinds, which have been shipped in a volume that equals in value over half of the total of the oth-- CT items.
 Tn some of these lines profits are very large, owing to the unusual de- marid, but costs are high due to the 1-reessity of enlarging plants and pro- v1ding amortization funds to cover temporary investments that will be unproductive when the war ends. New ertheless there are experts in taxation who maintain that the extra ordinary profits should be made to contribute toward bearing the burden of taxa ton.
 It was said at the Treasury De>l partment that all the data would be- assembled in a short time and the work of classification then would be- gin. The whole matter was held to be more or, less tentative, but none the less of great practical value, both for the pIrpose of taxation and also as a precaution in the matter of military preparedness.
 The coronation of the Emperor of Japan takes place today.