New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-15
TAX IMPORTED LUXURIEs

To the Editor Of The Tribune


Sir: Up with the high cost Of living. do.
with the consumer "The destruction a, ~,
poor is their poverty" The consumer ~ :.
cessities mas no friends Let's bang III.
The war brdegrooms" are Fastening 70 ,b...
haven with their hoard. Why despoil tho,
Of their quick gotten profits?
A deficit in revenue, over 5000 900 ono -.
facing the United States Treasury A. an.
the plan IS urged upon Congress to ine,s,,.
the duties on necessities like sugar. wool ,os
fee, rubber, etc.
Why not raise the tax on imported Inv,
ries? In 1915, according to the commerce !.
ports, there were brought into the Unit.
States importations Of precious and sem
precious stones amounting 20 SIS. 900 .OOO nav
ing an average duty Of II per cent In leis
s24,000,000 came TO our shores. To this al
gold and silver manufactures 10 the tune !,
100000.
This is a free country. " people with am.
plus moneys want to spend them on these "a,
eign Injuries let them do 80. But let then
pay for it. Put duties Of 90 per cent and 2N
per cent on imported Injuries. This will p,.
deter the well-to-do from buying them. r
will only increase the inducement 70 ha,
them. No luxury was ever taxed out OF O.,
istence. Increased taxation only enhane..
its value in the eyes Of its purbind deyotse,
Meanwhile, government, which means you an
me, will derive revenue, and the oyerwheln.
ing burden on the shoulders OF the way,
Garner and the salaried man to make living
will be somewhat relieved.
IT. IL
Take ostrich feathers. II women must have
this costly means Of decoration 20 enhane,
their natural charms, let them pay for IT, r
1911 100000 Of crude feathers we're in.
ported from South Africa, paying A duty o.
but 20 per cent Why should not such /,
luxury pay 100, 200, even 500 per cent? To
him that hath shall be given Why should
the poor perpetuslly pay? II the plethora
piper must have his pleasures and psstimes,
why not let him pay for them?
Enlightened self-interest is the keynote o.
modern economics as well as philanthropy.
Since our solons are scraping the legiss.
tive bins for new sources Of revenue, let then
consider this. Under the present tariff az
importation of plumages, like paradise and
gourah from the junsles OF Sumatra and thc
Celebes is prohibited. There apparently !.
no dearth of them, however in this country.
View the gorgeous window displays and the
stvlish headgear of fashions throngs o.
Fifth Avenue any afternoon. But lately the
newspapers announced the sentence in a Fed.
eral court OF a ships steward for smuggling
in $4,000 worth. If women are going 70
have these plumages, let them come IN
through the regular Legitimate channels, and
let them pay revenue TO government Beng
excessive Injuries, let them, too, pay exce'-
sive revenues.
A searching survey OF the luxury imports.
like silks furs, costly fabrics etc. VIII
soon show our worrying legislators how this
5000, 600 900 deficit can very easily be made
Up by those best able 20 pay il.
"And from him chat hath not shall b
taken even the little that he hath Why
pile everything on the back Of the unre'isi'
ing consumer, poor ard inartculate?
Let the legislators shift somewhat the LOAF
now straining the wincing shoulders Of the
CALLED iade For once let's play that hapN
little game. passing the economic bues, r.
the backyard of the well-to-do, yclept hard
20 do.
Let's apportion the economic burden more
equitably, and well all be happier!
Hands off the necessities!
Make up the Federal deficit throus' III
creased taxes on imported Injuries,
B. ~ BRIGGS
New York Jan II, 1917