The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-05-10
WAR TAX BILL
NOW IN HOUSE
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.

Bitter Attacks From Both Democrats
and Republicans.
Washington, May 1U.-The new war
revenue bill to raise $500, 100000 in
the next year was ordered reported to
the house by the ways and means CON-
mittee.
1t proposes probably the most extern
s:ve and greatest line Of taxation ever
faced by the American people.
House leaders expect the bill to be
subjected to a severe attack by both
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 OF one cent
a 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 the hands
Of retailers. It Is expected to produce
about 100000 revenue.
Most 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 supertaxes on incomes of more
han $4,000: six per cent on corpora
tons: increased taxes to be effective
from January l, 1917.
On excess profits, sixteen per cent.
On inheritances, new taxes by a
graduate scale running from one-half
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 tc
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 it is proposed to
charge on the parcel post zone system
The charges would range from two
cents to six cents pound, according
TO the zone Of delivery.
Country newspapers gain by 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 income
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 s125O0 to SIS,
900.
Five per cent from $4,000 to $50.
600.
Six per cent from $4,000 to O,O00
Eight per cent from $4,000 to $50,
900.
Eleven per cent from 100000 to
$4,000
Fourteen per cent from $4,000 to
100000.
Seventeen per cent from 100000
to s150,000.
Twenty per cent from $4,000 to
$1,000
Twenty-four per cent from 100000
TO $3.50 900.
Twenty-seven per cent from $3.50,
COO to 100000.
Thirty per cent from 100000 to
100000.
Thirty-three per cent upon the
amount by which the total net income
exceeds 100000.
Commuters tickets were exempted
from the passenger ticket tax Of ten
ger 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 a 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 rectined spirits was re-
duced from twenty five to fifteen cents
when 1t was shown that twenty-five
cents would make manufacture i'm
practical
Cigars were graded from fifty cents
to $40 a thousand cigars selling at
the latter tax.
The bill specifies that purchasers
shall 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 costisg less
han $40 ZACH were eXre't
COAL MEN URGE PROHIBITION
West Virginia Association Declares for