Mexico Missouri message., 1917-10-11
ARRANGE FOR
MEASURES TO
RAISE MONEY
Joint Conferees on War Revenue
Complete Their Bill and Turn
in Their Report.
TAX LEWEs WILL BE HEAVY

M 6LNlEO WILL pE IIEHVl
Under Legislation Provided, Powerful
Corporations VIII Pay Their Proper
Share for the Finances That Must
BE Provided for the Successful Con-
tInuance Of the War-6est Efforts Of
statesmen at Washington Have
Been Put Forward to the Accom-.
pIIshment Of the countrys Ends
WashingtOn.-The Joint conferees on
the war revenue bill completed their
draft after two weeks of deliberation.
As revised by the conferees the
measure has been raised from the levy
fixed by the senate of $2,416,670. 600 to
an aggregate of approximately $2,700,-
100000. Chairman Simmons of the
senate finance committee estimated
that the increase made by the con-
ferees would approach S275, 100000.
Profits Tax Modified.
The excess war profits tax, as agreed
to by the conferees, Is d 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-
tions ran from 6 to 10 per cent, while
the house exemption rate was per
cent. The cOnferees adopted the grad
uated rate of from to 8 per cent.
The definition of capital, which was
q point upon which the conferees ar
gued for days, was modified so as to
provide that the actual value of tangi-
BILE property paid into u 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 Tnvested Capital"
In calculating war excess profits the
terms invested capital" of corpora
tions 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 1, 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 will trademarks, trade brands,
franchises -. il for bOne-fide pay
ments not to exceed the cash value"
1t stipulates that such intangible
assets exchanged for securities before
March 8, 1917, not exceeding 20 per
cent Of the total, shall be included at
value not exceeding a fair cash
value at the time of purchase.
Postal Increases.
A nat increase on reading matter OF
Y cent per pound until July l, 1919
and " cent thereafter was provided
Advertising matter exceeding per
cent of the total space would be taxed
from \ to 2A cents additional until
July 1, 1919, and from "a to Az cents
more until July 1, 1920; and from Y
to 6X cents to 1921 and from 1 cent
to 8 cents thereafter.
An additional tax of 7h cent pei
pound until July 1, 1919, and 4 cent
thereafter, on religious, agricultural
fraternal and similar publications was
adopted.
The cent tax on letters, excepting
drop letters and postal cards, was re
stored by the cOnferees. A 1 cent ad
ditional tax on postal and private
mailing cards was added. The first
class mail increases are estimated tC
raise $90,000,000, and are effective 81
days afetr the passage of the act. Th'
senate provision exempting from post
age Letters written by soldiers anC
sailors abroad was retained.
Railroad Tickets Hit.
The cOnferees levied 8 per cent IL
lieu of the senate rate of 8 and th'
house rate of 10 per cent on passengel
transportation, estimated to raise from
the compromise levy abOuot 100000,
600 instead Of $37,500,000 under tn,
senate plan. The 8 per cent tax OIL
freight transportation was retained
and the tax on express transportation
was increased so that cent would b,
levied on each 20 cents paid insteat
of each % cents. The house 10 pc
cent tax op Pullman Accommodations
cut to 3 per cent by the senate, wa
restored and is estimated to raise $5,
100000.
In lieu Of the house per cen
tax on sales Of automobiles by manu-
-