Evening journal., 1917-05-10
S33 PER CAPITA TAX
UNDER REVENUE BILL
War Measure Will Extend
It's ExciSes Into Every
American Home
ENGLISHMEN ARE
PAYING $50 NOW

WASHINGTON, May 1O.-The war
tax bill extending excises to the fabric
OF every American home was for
mally presented to the House yester-
day by the Ways and Means Com
mittee with plans for quick passage.
AS a foretaste Of what may come
later. it proposes special taxes to
raise S1.SOO. 100000. in addition to the
present normal annual revenue OF
100000. 900. When its terms are
effective the American people will be
paying direct taxes Of s33 per capita.
The people Of the British Isles-half
as many-now pay per capita taxes
Of $50.
While the principal features OF the
new war levy are the increases IN IN
come and profits taxes, increases IN
internal revenue rates and increases
of customs duties, many OF its pro-
visions reach the innermost structure
Of every home and make up list OF
taxes probably the most formidable
ever faced by the American people.
The household light, heat and tele-
phone bills, admission tickets TO
amusements, fire and life insurance,
railway tickets, automobiles, automo-
bile tires and tubes, soft drinks
postage rates, golf clubs and base
ball bats. club dues and host Of
other everyday necessities or luxu-
ries come under the taxation.
Protests Pouring In.
Increased postage rates on news
papers. arranged in a zone system,
are such that publishers say they
will force many newspapers out OF
business. Already protests against
many features Of the law are pouring
in, and attacks upon it will center
in the Senate Finance Committee
which will conduct public hearings
on it and probably make some amend
ments.
When Democratic Leader Kitchin pre-
sentcd the bill TO the House he an
nounced that general debate would begin
today and that he had hoped to pass 1t
hy Saturday. There is some obieotion,
however. to hurrying the bill. and 1t
probably will be passed the early part OF
next week
In presenting the bill, the Ways and
Means Committee made a report, saying
in pant:
After carefully considering the expert
ence of the countries at war. the COM
mittee believes it is sound economic pol
icy for the present generation to bear a
fair and equitable portion of the burden
of financing the war and recommends
that the remaining contemplated ex-
penses of the government for the re
mainder of this and the whole OF the
next fiscal year be raised by taxation
The effect Of this recommendation Is
that about one-half OF this contemplated
expenditure viii be met by taxation ant
the other half from the proceeds from
bonds.
S3.3oo. 100000 Receipts for War.
II is estimated that the receipts OF
the Federal Government. including pos
tai reeeipts for the next fiscal yeal
under existing law will amount tC
81 100000. 900. The proposed bill is os
timated to yield during a twelye-montl
period 81 son. COO 600 additional This
win make the total receipts of the gov
crnment for the next fiscal year 50 300.
100000 or about S33 per capita. as com
pared TO Great Britain with population
less than half that of the United States
whose receipts. including postal receipt
for the year ending March 3 1917
amounted TO S279OO 100000. or about S6l
per capita.
The committee believes that The
American people were never in Z
more favorable condition to pay rea
sonable amount Of taxes for war pur
poses in addition to those for norma
purposes than at present time. Th'
committee has endeavored TO distri
hrrN 70 additional hfrrrf az
OF taxation and so to levy the pro
posed taxes as to necessitate as lit
tie readjustment or disturbance I,
business as possible
Estimate Of War Expenditures.
The committee estimated the wa
penditures for the remainder Of thi
and the whole of the next fiscal yea
at about S3.SO0.0OO 900. exclusive o
the bond issue TO finance the foreigl
loan.
I'VE have slreads authorized a bon,
issue OF $4,000, 100000" the commit
tee statement adds. "to provide a pol
tion of the necessary funds to fnanc
war Therefore the amount necessar
to raise by taxation or a further bon
issue at this time is $500, 100000"
The bill today IS calculated to raise
in exact figures Sl,S10, 1900 It
expected to produce this year:
Income tax: New war income ta'
1882, 100000; retroactive tax on il
comes, Sl0S.000,000
Additional excess profits. S10S,000
600.
Liquors: Distilled spirits. 100000
900; rectifed spirits. S7,500,000; fe
mented liquors, SS7,O0O,OOO; wine
s6,000,000.
Soft drinks. syrups etc, $4,000 00
Cigars, S11 100000: cigarettes. S25
100000; tobacco. S3O.00O,000; snui