Evening star., 1917-10-01
CURTA|[ED DEBATE
ON WAR TAX IS AIM
$2,575, 200, 900 Estimated by
Mr.. Kitchin as Total,
in Report.
NEWSPAPERS CRITICISED

Official estimates of the total to be
raised by the war tax bill now are
$2.575. 100000. democratic leader Kitchin
told the House today in presenting the
conference report. This is about $780,
100000 and s175.ooo.ooo more. respec-
lively. than the House and Senate
drafts carried.
Indications were that the report would
be adopted today. An effort to confine
argument on the report to two hours
failed. but leaders said they hoped de-
bate would not run into tomorrow.
They were determined that under no
circumstances should the bill be opened
Censures the Newspapers.
Prefacing his general explanation of
the bill. Mr.. Kitchin said it was the
nrst time in fifty years that a unani-
nous conference report had been pre-
sented to the two houses on a tax
measure. and flayed the newspapers
for publishing details of the secret"
sessions of the conferees.
Not AN inch" of any Of the news he
had read, he said. was correct He also
minimized the committee wrangles as
contests" but not "discord." Certainly,
he declared, no politics was played.
None Will Escape Tax.
The s2.7oo,oo0.ooo war tax bill. which
Is up for final action in the House.
catches" almost everybody from the
cradle to the grave, and, for good meas
ure. levies a few new taxes on the heirs.
Baby's first dash OF talcum powder
will, under the 2 per cent manufactur-
er's tax on cosmetics, help Uncle Sam
carry on the war, and after death, the
federal collectors will be on hand to
get the inheritance tax. at advances on
the present rate of from l per cent on
$1,000 to 10 per cent on 81 200. 900. Between
birth and death most of mans activities
would be taxed. voting a proxy at a
meeting of cemetery associations be-
ing one Of the few actions specifically ex-
empted.
Those who have profited most by the
war, the recipients of enormous excess
war profits. viii pay the most to help
carry 1t on. Almost half the total
amount of the bill. or about $1.11O,-
100000. is to be collected from them.
Post Cards to Go Up.
The person who writes a postal card
will be caught. for cards will sell for
. cents each by the provisions of the
bill. Letters will be cents. One will
be taxed when he goes to moving
picture show. IL the admission is more
than cents, one-tenth of the cost Of
the ticket.
That rate will affect all who attend
amusements, from the man in the gall
lery to the one in the box A host Of
stamp taxes, designed to raise $30.000.-
900. also will get the man with little
money in many ways. His greatest
consolation is that the consumption
IL L, \ l..
on coffee. tea and sugar, were stricken
from the bill.
The man of moderate means, as well
as the wealthy man, is affected by the
income tax section. Normal rates have
been doubled and exemptions lowered
to $1,000 for single persons and $4,000
for married ones. SurtaNes. for incomes
above $4,000, ranged from 1 to SO per
cent. the maximum applying to incomes
over 81 100000. This section is expect
ed to raise $500. 100000.
Levy on Picture Films.
Included in the taxes imposed on
ter of cent a foot on motion picture
films, 2 per cent on the sale price of
chewing gum and 8 per cent on auto
mobiles musical instruments and jew
elry.
Even drowning ones tax troubles in
drink or sending them up in smoke will
cost more. for the levies on all kinds
of drinks and tobacco soar. The new
rate on whisky is S2.10 per gallon. and
beer. $3.50 barrel. Wine taxes will be
about doubled, and even grape juice
will be taxes a cen a gallon.
person cannot escape taxes by
travel. Eight per cent is assessed on
passenger tickets, and steamer tickets
also pay a tax
Some confusion and misinterpretation
has arisen out of the wording of the
section imposing stamp taxes on ne
Sotiable instruments which has been
misconstrued to mean that a tax has
been placed on bank checks
The bill says Drafts or checks pay
able otherwise than at sight or on de-
mand," etc. two cents for each 800
The official Interpretation of this sec
tion Is that as a check is payable at
sight and on demand it therefore Is
excluded from tax.