Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-26
CAT TAX DOESN'T
GO FAR ENOUGH
Poll Parrots, Coddling Moths,
Wire Worm and Old Friend
Woolly Aphis Remain

In the biennial mad rush to in
crease the revenues of the State, Rep
resentative William j. Howarth, of AL
legheny county, has come forward
with proposition to tax cats so
cents head, estimating it will pro-
duce revenue of upwards of $1,000
600 year. Just how he makes this
estimate of approximately 100000
fel1nes has not been disclosed.
The tax levying powers in the coun-
ties and municipalities throughout the
State, especially the more populous
ones, are showing that much of the
heavy increase in the tax burden
comes from legislation. which carries
with it new offices with salaries. In
order to work out the tax on cats it
would first be necessary to employ a
number of experts to determine when
is a cat not a kitten.
Chairman James +. Woodward, of
the House appropriations committee,
came to Harrisburg last night He
gave out statement showing that the
legislative proposition evolved by Mr..
Howarth meets with his approval,
with the exception that it does go far
enough.
Parrots Overlooked
Mr.. Woodward said: Mr.. Howarth
appears to have solved a part of the
important problem before us of add
ing $5,000,000 annually to the revenues
of the State. OF course, we are wait
tlng to see his proposed enactment
and learn just how he has worked out
the problem of assessing and collect
ing the tax. 81 am of the opinion that
Mr. Howarth could go further along
this line of covering new subjects OF
taxation and add the poll parrot, the
canary bird, the grey squirrel and the
pigeon"
While Mr. Woodward usually covers
any legislative field he undertakes to
discuss he is apparently overlooking
some other good sources of revenue.
which in addition to adding to the in
come of the Commonwealth would
also enable the State to put a curb on
some activities more or less annoying
TO the farmer and the horticulturalist
The records show that the potato
grub ate $15,200,000 worth of the 1916
tuber crop. Having gourmandized to
TINS eXtravaSant extent a proper as
SeSslng of the pest would produce
enough revenue to make the $50, ,0OO,-
600 road bond issue unnecessary.
Among others of his kind who could
be added to the tax list are the fol-
lowing:
The augumois grain moth which is
rampant in the wheat raising sections
OF the State, notably Berks and Leba-
non counties.
Should BE Headed OF
Ihe wire worm which should offer
timely subject for taxation because
when he is gorged on the tender roots
OF the spring grass he turns to the
strawberry crop for his diet,
The woolly aphis which is most de-
structive in the apple orchard in the
spring time and nearly as bad as his
name.
The curculio. which is easily locat-
ed and assessed because it is partial to
greenhouses and hothouses
The corn ear worm whose ravages
are almost making the price of politi-
cal corn roasts prohibitive.
The cabbage fly which turns into a
worm and has practically made sauer-
kraut an article for only the rich, and
caused mourning throughout the
sauerkraut belt of eastern Pennsylva-
MA and made the ''weinie" a drug on
the market.
The tunnel maggot which without
securing a certificate of public con-
Venience from the Public Service
commission bores subways in the
hesh OF apples, pears and ounces.
The Hessian fly which violated neu-
trality to the extent of thousands of
dollars of havoc among the wheat
fields of Pennsylvania in1916.
The red leaf blister beetle which
has its habitat on shade trees and his
relatives the chestnut blight and the
pine blister to say nothing of the old
standby of the professional orchard
sprayer, the San Jose scale, the cod
ling moth and the tussock.