Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1917-05-18
Measure Most Sweeping Ever
Presented to People,
LEVY ON TEA AND COFFEE
Leaders Expect Bill to be Subjected to
Bitter Attacks From Both Democrats
and Republicans.

The new war revenue bill to raise
81, 800, 100000 in the next year was or
dered reported to the house by the
ways and means committee.
1t proposes probably the most exten'
sive and greatest line of taxation ever
faced by the American people.
House leaders expect the bill to be
subjected to a severe attack by Dotn
Republicans and Democrats on many
provisions.
In executive session, the ways and
means committee at the last hour add
ed a provision to put tax 81 one cent
pound on coffee and two cents a
pound on tea in the hands Of roasters
and importers. The section is drawn
so as not to tax stocks in thafhands
of retailers. 1t Is expected to produce
about s5,000,000 revenue.
Nest of the revenue would come
from these taxes:
On incomes, normal rate of four per
cent for individuals, with exemptions
of $4,000 for married persons and
$1,000 for unmarried persons and grad
uated surertaxes on incomes OF more
than $4,000; six per cent on corpora
tions; increased taxes to be effective
from January 1, 1917.
On excess profits, sixteen per cent.
On inheritances, new taxes by a
graduate scale running from one-ha!t
of one per cent to fifteen per cent,
present inheritance taxes to remain.
On imports, all existing tariff duties
raised ten per cent. and ten per cent
duty on articles now admitted free.
Minor taxes include:
Increase Of letter mail from two to
three cents an ounce, Of postal cards
from one to two cents, and Of news
paper rates by a zone system.
Liquor and tobacco virtually dou'
bled.
Increases on postage rates include
newspapers which 1t Is proposed to
charge on the parcel post zone system
The charges would range from two
cents to six cents a pound, according
to the zone of delivery.
Country newspapers gain by a re-
vision of the postal rate section of the
BILL This was made to provide that
the zone rate of postage on second
class matter "shall not affect existing
law as to free circulation and existing
rates on second-class mail matter with
in the county of publication.
The surtax on incomes will be ap'
piled as follows:
One per cent year upon the
amount by which the total net incoma
exceeds $4,000 and does not exceed
$500.
Two per cent upon the amount by
which the total net income exceeds
$500 and does not exceed $4,000.
Three per cent from $4,000 to $12,'
500.
Four per cent from s12,5OO to s15,
900.
Five per cent from $4,000 to $40,
900.
Six per cent from $4,000 to $4,000
Eight per cent from $40, 900 to $50,
900.
Eleven per cent from 100000 to
$4,000.
Fourteen per cent from $4,000 tc
100000.
Seventeen per cent from 100000
to s15O,000.
Twenty per cent from s150,O00 tc
s2OO,OOO.
Twenty-four per cent from 100000
to $250,000.
Twenty-seven per cent from $3.50,
900 to 100000.
Thirty per cent from 100000 tc
s500,O00.
Thirty-three per cent upon the
amount by which the total net income
exceeds S5OO,O00.
Commuters tickets were exempted
from the passenger ticket tax of ter
per cent, where the one-way fare Is
less than twenty-five cents.
A tax of ten per cent of the yearly
dues has been assessed on all clubs
The members will be required to pay
this.
A tax of five per cent of the whole
sale value has been assessed on chew
ing gum.
Moving pictures will be assessed
not only the ten per cent tax on tick
cts, but motion picture films will be
assessed a tax of one cent lineal
foot.
The tax on excess profits stands as
printed previously, at sixteen per cent
on profits over eight per cent and
$4,000.
The tax on rectified spirits was re
duced from twenty-five to fifteen cents
when it was shown that twenty-five
cents would make manufacture i'm
practical.
Cigars were graded from fifty cents
to SO a thousand cigars selling al
twenty-five cents each or more paying
the latter tax.
The bill specifies that purchasers
ehall pay the ten per- cent tax on
amusement, theatre and base ball tick
cts.
The stamp tax on telephone and
telegraph messages was fixed at five
cents on each message the toll OF
which is more than fifteen cents.
Musical instruments costing, less
than $40 each were excepted.