Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-10-31
MANY WAR TAX
LAWS WILL BE
INEFFECT NOV.1
INCREASED LETTER RATES AND TO-
BACCO TAXES INTO EFFECT FRI
DAY, AND MANY SPECIAL TAx-
ES IN EFFECT TONIGHT.
(By Associated Prcss.)

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Oct. 3l.--ThiS i
the last day of grace for many new war
taxes.
With the exception of increased letter
rates and tobacco taxes which 90 into ei-
feet Friday, the special stamp taxes on
documents, legal instruments and parcel
post packages which go into operation De
cember 1. ali special taxes begin to apply
at midnight tonight. They include:
One cent on each dime paid for amuse-
ment admissions.
Three per cent on payments Tor freight
transportation
Eight per cent on passenger fare~-
Ten per cent on payments for Pullman
and similar accommodations.
Five per cent on oil pipe line transpor-
tation.
One cent for each 20 cents or fraction
paid for express packages.
Five cents on each telegraph. telephone
or radio message costing fifteen cents or
more.
Various taxes on cigars. cigarettes. to-
bacco and products.
len per cent on ttsit NHt~-
Eight cents on each Sl00 OF new llfe m
surance and one cent on each dollar oi
fire. marine. casualty and other insurance
policies.
Although the tobacco taxes do not be-
come operative until Friday many dealers
have already advanced retail prices IN an
ticipation of the tax levies. Other taxes
of the new law, including those on hard
and soft drinks, incomes and war excess
profits, have been in effect since the In"
was approved October 3, but IN indirect
form.
On December ], the new stamp taxes. IN
cluding those on parcel post packages. viii
be payable, putting the entire law INTO
complete operation, except for increased
rates on second class mail, postponed un-
ill July l, next.
Increases in first class mail rates prob
ably will be most generally felt by the peeo-
ple. The law provides that the postage on
letters except drop or local letters, shall
he cents; and that on post cards. lnclnd
ing private mailing cards. shall be one cent
more than heretofore. This increase m
cludes so-called picture post cards. The
advances were made effective thirty day
after the passage of the law, and are con
strued by the post office department to he
gin with letters and post cards post marked
November 2.
The increases also have been extended
bv departmental order to first class mail
10 many foreign countries, which. under
.ostal conventions. have enjoyed the do
nestle rates. The new Scent letter rates,
therefore, will apply to letters to Canada
Cuba. Mexico, Panama, England, Ireland,
Scotland. Wales, the Bahamas. Barbados,
British Guinea. British Honduras, SAINT"
Domingo. Dutch West Indies. Leeward
Islands. Newfoundland and New Zealand
'rhe post card increase will extend Z"
Canada Cuba. Mexico and Panama. the
only countries which have enjoyed the do
nestle post card rates.
For consumers convenience, books 81
hostage stamps containing Scent stamps
re. in readiness for sale and the depart
sent ha~ printed thousands of 2-ceni posi-
cards. First class mail po~tmarked 70
.-,orrow or any time prior To l2sl a. M
-ovember , regardless of time taken i"i
delivery. will he transmitted al the I'D
rates but that postmarked thereafter must
my the increased toll.
Amusement admission taxes become ei-
fective tomorrow at places charging more
i'ian ten cents. They are one cent ~
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