Evening star., 1917-11-01
WAR TAXES TODAY
BECOME EFFECTIVE
Uncle Sans Hand Goes Deep
Into Pockets of the Ameri.
can Citizen.
THE NEW LAW IN DETAIL

Beginning today. the American citi-
zen will find Uncle Sans hand in his
pocket deeper than ever before. long
series of war taxes became effective
today that will remind every American
that the United States is at war and
that war costs money. Some provisions
of the law went into effect october 3.
the day that the President signed the
war revenue act. which carries the
provisions for raising by taxation rev.
enues aggregating about $2,5oo. o.ooo,ooo.
With the exception of increased let
ter rates and tobacco taxes, which go
into effect tomorrow. the special stamp
taxes on documents. legal instruments
and parcel post packages which go
into operation December /, all special
taxes began to apply at midnight last
night They include:
Taxes Beginning Today.
One cent on each dime paid for
amusement admissions.
Three per cent on payments Tor
freight transportation.
Eight per cent on passenger fares
Ten per cent on payments TOT
Pullman and similar accommoda-
tions. -,
Five per cent on Oh pipo iie
transportation.
one cent for each 90 cents or frac-
ton paid for express packages.
Five cents on each telegraph, tel
ephone or radio message costing 10
cents or more.
Various taxes on cigars. ciga-
rettes tobacco and products.
Ten per cent on club dues
Insurance Policies Taxed. :
Eight cents on each s1oG new life
insurance and l cent on each doiiar
of premiums paid on fire, marine
casualty and other insurance poll
ces.
Although the tobacco taxes DO not
become operative until tomorrow, many
dealers have already advanced retali
prices in anticipation OF the tax ieSies.
other taxes of the new law. including
those on hard and-soft drinks, incomes
and war-eXcess profits, have been IN
effect since the law was approved oc-
tober 3, but in indirect form.
including those on parcel post packages.
wi.l uc payable, putting the entlTe Ia"
into complete operation. except Tor IN
creased rates on Second-ciaSS Hdli
postponed until July next.
Three Cents to Garry Letter.
Increases in first-class mail rates. ef-
most generally felt by the people. The
law provides that the postage on let.
ters, except drop" or local letters. snail
be 3 cents. and that on post cards, IN
cluding private mailing cards, snali oe
/ cent more than heretofore. This In
crease includes so-called picture post
cards The advances were made eHect-
i've thirty days after passage OF one
law and are construed by the fost VI
lice Department to begin with letters
r1S Z.
The Increases also have been extended
by departmental order to hrst-ciass fhai
to many. foreign countries, when. un-
der postal conventions. have enjoyed
the domestic rates The new 3-cent let
ter rate, therefore, will apply to let
ters to Canada. Cuba, Mexico, Panama,
England, Ireland, Scotland. Wales, the
Bahamas, Barbados. British Guiana
Dutch West Indies, Leeward Islands,
Newfoundland and New Zealand. The
post card increase will extend to Can
ada, Cuba, Mexico and Panama. the only
countries which have enjoyed the uo-
meStic post card rate.
For consumers convenience, books OF
postage stamps containing scent
stamps are in readiness for sale and the
department has had printed thousands
of 2-cent post cards. Ffrst-class mail
postmarked today or any time prior
to 1901 am. Friday, regardless of time
taken for delivery. will be transmitted
at the old rates, but that poStmarkeQ
thereafter must pay the increased Toll.
Moving Pictures and Theaters.
Amusement admission taxes become
effective today at places charging
more than cents. They are cent FOR
each 10 cents or fraction paid for such
admission. payable by the person ad-
mitted. but collected by the govern
ment from the amusement proprietor,
N
Treasury A fiat tax of l cent for each
| child under twelve admitted when
children are charged also is provided.
Passes also are taxed. except those
| to bona fide employees. municipal OFF,
| GERS and children under twelve, at the
regular rate, which also is extended
| to cabarets or other entertainment in
which the admission is included In the
price paid for refreshment, merchan-
| disc or service. Persons leasing theater
| boxes must pay 10 per cent on their
rental.
| The new rates on cigars range from
| 25 cents to 81 per thousand and on
| cigarettes from so cents to $1.20 per
| thousand. Five cents a pound is the
] new tax on tobacco, snuff and other
| manufactured tobacco, while cigarette
/ papers are taxed from y cent to
! cent per hundred. AS the taxes are
| now reaching the ultimate consumer.
! the raises mean about l cent more on
| cent tobacco packages, from to
| cents on cigarette packages and from
| | to 10 cents on cigars.
Da;1road T;cLote Tayad