Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-05-10

washington, May 9.-The war tax bill
Extending its excuses to the fabric of every
American home was formally presented
to the House to-day by the ways and
means committee with plans for quick
passage. As a foretaste Of what may come
later, It proposes special taxes to raise
81. 800, 0O0 900, in addition to the present
normal annual revenue of $15OO,O0O 900.
When it's terms are effective the Ameri-
can people will pay direct taxes of s33
per capita. The people of the British
! Isles-half as many-now pay per capita
taxes of $50.
While tho principal features of the new
war levy are the increases in income and
profits taxes, increases in internal revenue
rates and increases Of customs duties
many of it's provisions reach the inner
most structure of every home and make
UP list of taxes, probably the most for
midable ever faced by the American peo-
pie.
The household light. heat and telephone
bills, admission tickets to amusements fire
and life insurance. railway tickets. auto
| mobiles, automobile tires and tubes, soft
drinks, postage rates, golf clubs and
| baseball bats, club dues and a host of
other everyday necessaries or Injuries
receipts for the next fiscal year under
existing law, will amount to $3.50 100000
| The proposed bill is estimated to yield
! during a twelve-month period 81 800 900 600
additional This will make the total
receipts of the government for the next
| fiscal year 1890, O0O, 900, or about $33 per
| capita as compared to Great Britain with
| a population less than half that of the
United States whose receipts. including
| postal receipts for the year ending March
Il, 1917. amounted to e. 79O. 100000, or about
80 per capita
Tho committee believes that the Amer
lean people were never in a more favor
able condition to pay reasonable amount
Of taxes for war purposes in addition to
those for formal purposes than at the
present time. The committee has en-
deavored to distribute equitably this addi-
tional burden Of taxation and SO levy
the proposed taxes as to necessitate as
little readjustment or disturbance to bust
ness as possible.
The committee estimated the war ex.
pcnditures for the remainder of this and
the whole. Of the next fiscal year at about
g, 500, 900 900. exclusive Of the bond issue 20
finance the foreign loan.
I'VE have already authorized a bond
| issue of two billion dollars" it added. "to
/ provide a portion Of. the necessary funds
4 to fnance-war Therefore. the amount
necessary to raise by taxation. or fur
ther bond issue at this time, is 81 800, 00o,-
co."
The bill to-day Is calculated to raise, in
/ exact figures. $3.50. 4oo, 900. It is expected
to produce this yield:
Income tax: New war income tax, $685.
10000; retroactive tax on incomes, $685.
000.0o0
Additional excess profits sos, 000.00O.
Liquors: Distilled spirits. 500, 900, 900;
rectihed spirits. s7,5O0.OO0; fermented IL
quors. $S7,0oo.00O: wines. $s,Oo0,00o.
Soft drinks, syrups. etc, S20.0000o0.
Cigars. $1,000, 900: cigarettes. $25, 0oo, 900;
Tobacco. $50 0o0 snuf. 2,0Oo. oC0; cigarette
papers. 100000.
- Stamp taxes. including documents and
! playing cards. $33,00o.000
Increase in customs duties s9O0. 1000 O0o.
81. Increase in first class mail matter, $7o.-
000,000; in second class mail matter 49,
100000
~" Transportation: Freight bills. ST.
ss00. 900: passenger tickets SIS. 900 000
I express bills. $l5.o0O,o00 pipe line. 81
.600. 900; seats, berths and state rooms
= $760,00o.
r'' Electric lights, gas domestic power
telephone service. $30.O00,o00.
Telegraph and telephone messages.
J 81, 1000. 900.
q Advertising. $7.500.000.
=. Insurance, $5,000,000.
Hr Automobiles. trucks. and motor cy-
Scles. s68.000,0O0; tires and tubes. s12.-
4 100000.
~ Musical instruments, monograph
records, 100000.
q Motion picture Aims. $7O00.000.
- Jewelry. $7.b00,0 900.
a. Sporting goods. golf clubs. baseball
r,bats. billiard and pool tables and balls.
,k 200. 900.
e. Pleasure boats. $500 900.
Il. Perfumes and cosmetics. $4,750,000.
TX Proprietary medicines. $s.500,000.
n Chewing gum, $1,000,000.
I'd Admissions to theatres and other
,eAmusements. $500, 000,0 900.
i, 81. Dues in clubs and other organiza-
sations. $1.500,000
~ War estate tax. 100000 ESTIMATED
fshowever. that the increase will yield
$3s.000.000 when in full operation).
II, Virgin Island internal revenues. $780,
300.