Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-04
PRESIDENT SIGNS
HUGE WAR TAX BILL
New Schedules Become Effective
at Once, Except Certain
Specified Rates.
PLAN TO ADJOURN BY FRIDAY
Senate Adopts Conference Report
on Urgent Deficiency Measure,
Carrying $7,757,434,410.
IRy Associated Press.l

tBy Associated Press.J
WASHINGTON. October 3.-The war
tax bill became a law late to-day. with
President Wilson'S signature.
All new taxes in the bill become ef-
fectivo when the President signed It.,
except certain specified rates
The 1-cent letter and post card tax
becomes operative in thirty days, and
the second-class mail increases July 1.
New income and war excess profits
taxes are based on income of the 1917
calendar year. and payable before
March 81, 1918.
All stamp taxes. including those on
parcel post packages. become effective
December 1. Amusement admissions
and taxes on club dues go into effect
November l. as do taxes on freight and
passenger transportation, sleeping car
drawing-room and steamship berths;
pipe line transportation, insurance
policies and telegraph and telephone
messages costing Is cents or more.
The bill was signed by Speaker Clark
and VicePresident Marshall shortly
after noon. and was sent at once to
tho White House.
No formalities attended the signing
of the measure. which levies for this
year more than $4,000. 100000 new
taxes to provide war revenues. 1t
touches directly or indirectly the
pocketbook Of everybody in the coun-
try. through taxes on incomes, excess
profits, liquor. tobacco. soft drinks,
passenger and freight transportation
proprietary medicine, chewing gum,
amusements. medical instruments, talk
Ing machines. records and many other
things.
INCREASE IN DISTILLED
BEVERAGE PRICES
One of the immediate effects of the
signing of the law will be an increase
in distilled beverage prices to meet the
new tax of s2.1o gallon, which
reaches even the stock of retailers in
excess Of fifty gallons.
Congress will end its extraordinary
war session. which began April 2, on
Saturday. or possibly Friday.
Agreement OF the Senate to-day to
take a final vote late tomorrow on
the administration soldiers and sailors
insurance bill, and the adoption, with
record-breaking speed. of the confer
ence report on the war deficiency ap-
propriation bill, paved the way for
adjournment.
Arrangements for the final formali-
ties were made by Senator Martin and
Representative Kitchin, majority lead
ers. Representative Kitchin prepared
to introduce in the House tomorrow
a resolution proposing ADJOURNMENT at
o'clock Saturday. Such speed was
made on legislation in the Senate late
in the day. however. that Senator
Martin said tonight 1t might be pos
sible to finish Friday instead.
The military insurance and deficiency
measures are the only important bills
awaiting final action at this session.
Leaders are determined to pass over
all other Legislation until December.
including the soldiers and sailors
civil rights bill. which the House took
up to-day and probably will pass to-
morrow.
PROMPT HOUSE APPROVAL
ALSO IS SCHEDULED
But brief time is expected to be re-
quired for conferees' agreement on the
insurance measure after the final vote
in the Senate tomorrow, and prompt
approval by the House Of the deficiency
appropriation final draft also is sched,
uled.
Before adjourning. both houses will
send n committee to wait upon Presi-
dent Wilson to inquire formally IL the
executive wishes any other matters
disposed of. but SO many members OF
both bodies already have left the city,
and the demand for immediate ad-
journment is so insistent, that the pro-
gram for a getaway not later than
Saturday is regarded as certain to be
carried out.
Within less than three minutes to-
day the Senate adopted the conference
report on the war urgent deficiency
appropriation bill, carrying s7.757,434,-
40 in cash and authorized contracts.
Tomorrow the House Is expected to
adopt 1t and send 1t to President Will
son.
The measure is said to be the great
est of the kind in the history Of any
government. 1t emerged this after.
noon from conference between the two
houses in which items involving over
s7s0,ooo.o0O had been in dispute. and
went through the Senate in record
CONTINUED on Third Page0