The Hayti herald., 1917-05-17
BY EDWARD w. PIckARD.

The house of representatives re-
ceived from the ways and means COM
mittee on Wednesday the completed
war revenue bill designed to raise ST.
S0O,000,0OO, which is additional to the
normal revenue of $1,5O0,00O,OO0. The
measure is so drafted that every home,
every individual, will share in the bur.
den. Under its provisions the Ameri
can people will be paying direct taxes
of $33 per capita for the year 1917.
The people of the British isles now
pay per capita taxes of $50.
The principal features of the levy
are the increases in income and profits
taxes, in internal revenue rates and in
customs duties, but the householder
and indeed everyone is hit, for light,
heat, and telephone bills, admission
tickets to nmusements, fire and life in
surance, railway tickets, automobiles,
automobile tires and tubes, soft drinks,
postage rates, golf clubs and baseball
bats, club dues, and Il host Of other
everyday necessities or luXuries come
under the taxation. At the last min
ute the committee added paragraph
placing Il tax of . cents Il pound on tea
and l cent pound on coffee, and an
additional tax was placed on sugar.
The bill proposes Il normal tax of .
per cent on individuals having incomes
between $1,000 and $4,000, if single,
and $1,000 and $4,000, if married or the
head of family. An additional nor
nal tax of . per cent would be added
in the case of larger incomes. At S5,-
600 an additional surtaX, graduated
until ut 100000 and over it reaches
33 per cent, would be imposed.
All articles of import now on the
free list will be taxed 10 per cent, and
an additional 10 per cent tax IS placed
on all articles now on the dutinble
list. The tax on excess profits Is 16
per cent on profits over per cent and
$1,000. Heavy taxes are placed on
beer, spirits, whisky and tobacco and
its manufactures. The tirst-class mail
rate goes up to 3 cents and the second
class rate is increased according to the
zone system.
Army Bill Compromise.
Spurred to action by the president,
the senate and house cOnferees com
promised the differences over the
army conscriptiOn bill. The amend
ment authorizing the Roosevelt expe-
dictionary force of volunteers was elm
mated. The age limit for the draft
was set at twenty-One to thirty years
inclusive, Liquor Is barred from the
training camps and immoral resorts
from their. vicinity. The pay of en-
listed men is raised $40 month to $25,
and that of other grades proportion
ately. The machinery for draft ex-
emption Is provided.
1t Is estimated that under the bill |
more than 100000 men are liable |
for war service. From these Will be |
taken the first 100000 recruits for the |
conscription army, the second 100000 |
when the president decides TO call for |
them, and the men necessary to bring
the regular army and National Guard |
up to maximum war strength IL volun-
teers do not come forward In sufficient |
numbers.
Reports during the week concerning
the submarine warfare were conflict.
ing and confusing. Germany claimed
Its campaign was still successful be-
yond its expectations, while Great
Britain issued figures showing n con.
siderable decrease In the number of
C.boat victims.
Great Britain reported the sinking