Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-22
FINAL ACTION IS TAKEN
: ON PUBLISHERS TAXES
6uate Committee Adopts Increase on
s. Postage Rates and Further
Levy on Profits.
ARoUr s1c,ooo,ooo is EXPECTED
Addition OF Onc-Quarter OF Cent
Pound on Second.ClaSs Mail Nigor-
,ously Opposed by Publishcrs-Dc-
= .cision Is Finally Reached.
LRv Associated Press.l


WASHINGTON, June 2l.--The Senate
Finance Committee late to-day took
Mat the members expect to be final
astfon on publishers taxes in the war
rSvenue bill adopting. by vote OF
II 5. an increase OF Ia OF cent IA
SSSshd on second. class postage rates.
and an additional levy of per cent
upon publishers net profits over Si.-
Revenues OF ss.oocooo annually from
the increase in postage rates Ia ! Ia
cents a pounds. which most publishers
Ave vigorously opposed. and about
$3h0c. 600 from the profits tax are ex-
Hse.ed.
SSl!he committees decision came after
HxNs of dispute. and was coached just
.6ffore members OF the American News
confer with Senator'S regarding the
publishers tax. arrived.
&FsThe increase in postage rates would
SSMy to publishers of newspapers.
maSaznes and all other periodicals. in
oH{N6ins religious publications.
Ehe committee also decided to-day
toNTetain the House increase OF 80
per cent on the letter rates. but tenta-
lively agreed to strike out the doubled
sT6st card rate. AS about 1000. 00o.-
haAn-post cards were sent last year. II
the post card increase is eliminated.
SSSSut soo,o00.ooo in revenues will be
@SSf. The letter increase is expected TO
Elise about 5o,ooo.ooo.
~; In revising the excess profits tax to-
SSHAy, deferrinG a decision regarding
S$6e rate of taxation. the committee de-
Ectded to extend its operation to indi-
ssX3duals in trade. as we'll as corpora
St$ons and partnerships. From indi-
syaduals at the House rate OF l6 per
Esant. it is estimated 100000 ad-
GS3ttonal revenue would be secured 1t
Stton of per cent TO corporations hav-
s3hE subnormal profits during the three
-sSear prewar period and similar OK
Exemption 10 new corporations organized
sSS}nce the war began.
aMUBLISHERS PROTEST. AGAINST
GG ANY DISCRIMINATING TAX
"a tBy Associated Pressl
WI WASHINGTON. June 2l.-Represen-
SSt3tive members of the American News
paper Publishers Association met
uhere to-day and unanimously adopted
.$R statement protesting cmphatically
s~aEalnSt the levy OF any special dis
h.Gr iminatng tax against newspapers.
S4 While the publishers were III ses-
ss3on. the Senate Finance Committee,
6SpS vote Of TO 4. wrote into its re-
kS4sion o. the House war tax bill sec
sxton increasing second class mail rates
s,fS IA cents pound and levyinG Il
Max OF per cent upon publishers net
scpr ohts over $4,000 year. Half an
sshpur later committee from the news
tptper men presented their protest to
shairman Simmons. and went away
EWithout definite assurances, but con-
nNSent that there viii be d reconSid-
peta ton tomorrow.
sTATEMENT OF PROTEST.
NJ SENT TO CONGRESS
MThe statement sent 10 Congress by
Ytse publishers said:
@s"The American Newspaper Publish
nSIs' Association, in meeting June -.
Ssarnestly and emphaticaily protests
GaSa!nst q special discriminating war
Sfa1 in any form levied against the
tpfwSpaper business.
VIZ THAT business is not Il war indus
Ely. 1t is at this time bearing n very
saherous and special burden OF expense.
Stpe entirely TO the war and II is
ItRaking no profits. directly or indi-
FSStly. out Of the war.
ON the contrary. the government it
sen is relying on the newspapers. as
shown in the organization OF publicity
in connection with the recent national
registration Law. the Liberty loan and
the Red Cross fund. for that cordial and
unreserved cooperation without which
the issues OF the war loan. and the
national MILITARY registration could
not have -heGn. Successfully achieved
such co-orc ration with the govern
'
cheerfully and promptly. and a, their
own expense. and they expec, and de.
sire IN addition 10 bear their just
burden OF taxation.
The newspapers recognize the need
OF special war taxes. and they VIII pay
any rate OF taxes that Congress finds
II necessary 20 impose on all other
legitimate ard necessary business
As for the postal rates. they have
been based for generations upon a
public policy that the diffusion Of
knowledge and Information in news
papers and periodicals vas necessary
10 the unity ard welfare OF the nation,
and therefore. ought to be cncour-
aged by moderate postage rates II
TING policy is now, after more than
haf century. 70 be Reserved IL
should be done only after fun con-
SHERATON and investigation: II should
r" done only iu tho public interest,
ana 10, IN the guisc OF war tax
uHon bus!ntaa whicn i. neither Il war
rFoilte!. luxury or one Properly sub
ice, u taxation