Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1917-05-11
STUPENDOUS WAR
TAX ACT FRAMED
Committee Reports Bill Estimat-
ed to Raise 81, $40, 100000
Leader Kitchin Defends McaSure--PrO-
tests Against Many Features Arc
Pouring In.

The war tax bill extending its cxcscs
to the fabric of every American home
was formally presented to the house
Wednesday by the ways and means com
mittcc with plans for quick passage.
As Il forctastc Of what may come
later it proposes special taxes to raise
81 800. 100000 in addition to the pres
emit normal annual revenue Of $500
100000. When its terms arc effective
the American people will be paying di'
rect taxes Of $33 per capita. The pc0-
pie of the British Isles-half as many-
now pay per capita taxes of $50.
While thc principal features Of the
new war levy are the increases in in
come and profits, tax increases i'll in
tcrnal revenue rates and increases of
customs duties, many of its provisions
reach the inncrnost structure of every
home and make Il list Of taxes, prob
ably the most formidable ever faced
by the American people.
The household light, heat aud tclc-
phone bills, admission, tickets to
amuscmcnts, fire and life insuranccs,
railway tickets, automobiles, autOmo'
bile tires and tubes, soft drinks, post
age rates, golf clubs and baseball bats,
club dues aud a host Of other every day
necessities or Injuries come under the
taxation.
Increased postage rates on news
lpapcrs arranged in Il zone system are
such that publishers say they will
force many newspapers out of busl-
ness. Already protests against MANY
features Of the law are pouring in and
attacks upon il will center i'll the sen
ate finance committee which Will cot
duct public hearings on it and probably
make some amendments.
| When Democratic Leader kitchih
presented the bill to the house he an
nounccd that debate would begin yes
ltcrday and that he hoped to pass 1t
by Saturday. There is some objection
however, to hurrying the bin and it
probably will be passed the early part
of next week.
In presenting the bill the ways and
means committee made a report, say
ing in part:-
'After carefully considering the cx
lperience of the European countries al
war the committee believes it is sound
economic policy for the present gcncr
ation to bear fair and equitable por-
ton of the burden of financing the
ing contemplated expenses of the gov
eminent for the remainder of this and
the whole of the next fiscal year he
raised by taxation. The effect of this
Recommendation is that about one
half of this contemplated expenditure
will be met by taxation and the other
half from Che proceeds from bonds.
cit is estimated that the receipts Of
the federal government including post
al receipts for the next fiscal year I'M
der existing law will amount to ST.
00000,00O. The proposed bill is es-
timatcd TO yield during l2.mouth
period $l,sO0OO0,O00 additional. This
will make the total receipts of the GOV
eminent for the next fiscal year So
I300 900, 900, or about $|3 per capita. as
compared to Great Britain with II pop.
ulation less than half that of the Unit
ed States whose receipts including
postal receipts for the year ending
March 81, 1917, amounted to- s., 100,
100000 or about $50 per capita.
"Thc committee believes that the
American people were never in Il more
favorable condition 10 pay . reason
able amount of taxes for war purposes
in addition to those for formal pur-
poses than at the present time. The
committee has cndcaVOrcd to distribute
equitably this additional burden of
taxation and so to levy the proposed
taxes as to neccsstatc as little read
Iiustment or disturbance to business as
possible.