Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-10-12


Statesmen at Washington Have
Been Put Forward to the Accom-
pllshment Of the country's Ends.
Washington.-The Joint ~conferees on
the war venue bill completed their
draft after two weeks Of elaboration.
As revised by the conferees the
measure has been raised from the levy
fxed by the senate Of $2,416,670,OO0 to
an aggregate of approximately $2,TOO,-
100000. Chairman Simmons Of the
senate finance committee estimated
that the increase made by the con-
ferees would approach $275,000,000.
Profits Tax Modified.
The excess war profits tax, as agreed
to by the cOnferees, is a modification
Of the senate bill, the principal
changes being in the maximum and
minimum rates of exemption upon
which the tax is to be determined.
The senate graduated scale Of exemp-
lions ran from 9 to 10 per cent, while
the house exemption rate was 8 per
cent. The conferees adopted the grad
uated rate of from Z to 8 per cent.
The definition Of capital, which was
a point upon which the c%Onferees ar
gued for days, was modified so as to
provide that the actual value of tangi-
BILE property paid into a corporation
or partnership or individual business
before January 1, 1914, shall be taken
as Of that date. The proviso as to
good will and other intangible prop
erty has been somewhat liberalized.
As to Invested Capital"
In calculating war excess profits the
terms invested capital" of corpora
lions and partnerships was declared
to include "actual cash paid in, actual
cash value and other tangible prop
erty paid for stock or shares at the
time of payment or January /, 1914,
but in no case to exceed the par value
Of the original securities paid in or
earned surplus and undivided profits
used or employed in the business, ex-
elusive of undivided profits earned dur
ing the taxable year."
The allowance for intangible assets
includes actual cash value of patents
and copyrights paid in for stock or
shares at the time of payment .
good win trademarks, trade brands,
franchises If for bOne-ide pay
ments not to exceed the cash value"
It stipulates that such intangible
assets exchanged for securities before
March 3, 1917, not exceeding 20 per
cent of the total, shall be included at
a value not exceeding a fair cash
value at the time of purchase.
Postal Increases.
A fiat increase on reading matter Of
4 cent per pound until July 1, 1919,
and n cent thereafter was provided.
Advertising matter exceeding 8 per
cent Of the total space would be taxed
from 4 to pa cents additional until
July 1, 1919, and from n to Az cents
more until July 1, 1920; and from y
to 6% cents to 1921 and from 1 cent
to 8 cents thereafter.
An additional tax of u cent per
pound until July 1, 1919, and 4 cent
thereafter, on religious, agricultural
fraternal and similar publications was
adopted.
The 1 cent tax on letters, excepting
drop letters and postal cards, was re-
stored by the conferees. A l cent ad-
ditional tax on postal and private
mailing cards was added. The first
class mail increases are estimated to
raise S90,0O0,OO0, and are effective 30
days afetr the passage Of the act. The
senate. provision exempting from post
age Letters written by soldiers and
sailors abroad was retained.
Railroad Tickets Hit.
The c~Onferees levied 8 per cent In
lieu of the senate rate Of 5 and the
house rate of 10 per cent IN passenger
transportation, estimated to raise from
the compromise levy abouOt 100000,
900 instead Of S37,5O0,000 under the
senate plan. The 3 per cent tax OF
freight transportation was retained
and the tax on express transportation
was Increased so that / cent would b'
levied on each 20 cents paid instead
of each 25 cents. The house 10 pei
cent tax on Pullman accommodations
: cut to 3 per cent by the senate, wal
restored and Is estimated to raise 50,
100000.
In lieu Of the house 5 per cen
tax on sales of automobiles by manu-