New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-08
Inheritance Taxes Also In
creased Greatly, Despite
Republican Protest
Heavy Toll on Liquor
WAYS and Means Committee
Expects to Complete
Measure To-day

Washington, May In an extended
session to-day the House Ways and
Means Committee wrote new and dras-
tic iauor and inheritance taxes into
the war revenue bill, but adjourned to-
night still in disagreement over many
sections and about S20O,OOOO00 short
Of the 81 500, 100000 it has voted to
raise. The leaders hope to complete
the measure tomorrow. and a pro-
posed retroactive income tax amend
ment. which would yield Sl40,0OO,OOO
during the coming year, and other far
reaching proposals are held in abcy-
arce.
Several Representatives including at
least one member Of the Ways and
Means Committee, already are planning
to carry their fight for changes in the
bill to the Senate Finance Committee
as soon as hearings on the Senate side
begin, probably this week.
Tax on Whiskey and Beer
Proposed taxes on whiskey were in
creased by the committee from Sl.lO to
$3.50 a gallon and on beer from Sl.50
to S27j a barrel. The amount of eX-
empt liquor in a dealers possession a.
the time the law becomes effective was
reduced from an unlimited quantity to
fifty gallons. These changes. It IS pre-
dicted. will result in almost S50,000,O 600
additional revenues.
Inheritance tax rates were greatly
increased over strong protests from
Republican members. II was agreed ten
tatively to increase all such taxes one
third, beginning at the present eXemp-
tion of $4,000, and to impose the fol-
lowing graduated taxes for large fort
unes: Above $S.0O0,000 and below SILL
O0e, 900, % per cent; above S1l,000,0O0
and below Sl5,O0O,OOO, 80 per cent.
As reported to-day in a revised bill.
the corporations tax was fixed at per
cent and the excess profits at IA. OPP
ponents Of the increased corporation
taxes Immediately denounced the
changes, and upon an explanation by
Chairman Kitchn that they were due
to a misunderstanding the old figure of
per cent on corporations and l6 per
cent upon excess profits were restored.
New Taxes Proposed
New taxes written into the bill to-
day include per cent on all adver-
Using, except newspaper and periodical;
> per cent on pipe line transportation
charges; on proprietary medicines. a
stamp tax expected to produce $1,000
600; 10 per cent on the purchase price
Of Pullman car tickets; per cent on
sporting goods; per cent on the fac
tory price of new jewelry; 10 cents
deck on playing cards, and, In addition
To other amusement taxes, one-cent
tax on every theatre ticket sold TO
child under twelve years old.
The proposed tax on retail tobacco
dealers was stricken out Attempts 10
fix a tax on automobiles, motor boats
and pleasure yachts already IN the
hands Ct users failed. go,
Efforts still are being made 70 Kill
the proposed increased zone rates for
second class mail matter, opponents OF
the change to-day succeeding in adding
q proviso chat the rate of postage on
daily newspapers when same are
dropped in a letter carrier office for
delivery by its carriers shall be the
same as now provided by law"
A vote on Representative Moore,s
PROPOSAL to tax cotton $3.50 a ba e will
rot be reached until tomorrow. pro-
posal to tax gasolene will be voted on
at the same time.