Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1916-08-11
More Taxes

Preparedness" is not the on'
reason for the present need
IF increasing our national rev.
anue. Congress has seen fit to
make an appropriation of more
than $40, O00, 900 for improving
and harbors; it will prob
pass the bill now pending
to appropriate some $50. DOC, 900
for the erection of public
buildings in many cities ana
towns throughout the country;
and it has already committed
the treasury to great eXpendl-
lures to improve the common
roads in all the states. 1t is a
conservative estimate that about
5000, 900, 900 additional revenue
will be required to make the
books show a balance to the
good next June.
The revenue bill, which the
House of Representatives has al
ready passed, and which the
senate will undoubtedly accept
without material change, is
avowedly framed on the princi-
pie Of laying the full burden on
the rich, No one who is not a
stakeholder in a corporation or
ganized for profit, unless his in
come exceeds $3000-if he is the
head of a family, S4000-will
contribute a dollar more to the
treasury than he has paid in the
past. Almost the whole addi-
ton will come from those whose
income exceeds $50, 600 a year.
The normal income taX-that
laid on incomes of more than
80, 900 and of less than $50, 600
has been one per cent. 1t is
doubled by the pending bill; but
as $4,000 for a family is exempt,
the man whose income is $10,
900 will pay only Sl20-not 6
serious matter. The rate in.
creases with the size of the in.
come, insomucA that the poses
sor of an income of 81, 900, 00(
will have to pay more than $50,
900 a year.
Many of the states impose
taxes on the estates of deceased
persons. Now the general gov.
,rnment will exact a percentage
)fsthe value Of every such estate
hat exceeds $50, 900. The in.
leritance tax also increases If
rate from one per cent on the
excess of value above $50, 900 un.
til it reaches five per cent of the
excess above $500, 900.
Next, there is a wholly new
tax upon the gross receipts OF
all persons and companies that
manufacture gunpowder or other
explosives, or any sort of fire
arms or cannon, or ammunition
of any kind. That tax, like
those already mentioned, is
higher for the large than for
the small concerns. The bill re-
adjusts the excise duties on
wines and on manufactured to-
bacco; it also requires all pro-
prietors of theatres, bowling al.
Ieys, billiard rooms, concert
halls and motion-picture shows
to pay for licenses--and those ir
large places must pay a higher
tax than those in smaller towns
Finally, it lays a protective
duty on dyestuffs, in order tt
encourage their production il
this country.
The bill also orders the crea
ton of a tariff commission. Boil
of the great parties have at las
come to an agreement that sue
a commission will be useful,
is to lie non-partisan, charge'
with the duty of collecting infor
nation in regard to the workin!
of the tariff laws in general ant
!. in detail, at home and abroad
and of communicating the sam
to congress to assist it in fran
=. ing or amending tariff laws. O
, course, it can neither make no
change the rate of duty upo
; any article. Congress woul
: not, and could not if it would
part with its exclusive right
do that. Youths Companion.
y We douht if many farmers rno