The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1917-05-25
WAR TAX BILL
FORMULATED

The tax gataerer is going to lay his
heavy hand with unprecedented heavi-
ness on the people. Our citizens in
former times have grumb.ed at high
tariffs, high taxes and high prices but
the things they complained Of were
picayunish compared to what is now
on the program. The government sim
/ ply has to have the money, and the
question was how to raise it with the
least popular protest.
The sum to be realized was so vast
that the ordinary sources of revenue
were entirely inadequate and MANY
new sources had to be tapped. The
house ways and means committee has
been earnestly considering the matter
for weeks and it has completed the bill
and submitted it to the house. No
doubt there will be some changes in
this measure before it is made into
law, for already the kickers are legion.
No one has any objection to taxa
ton so long as it does not hit him, but
when it does hit him, he is prompt to
squeal There is holy purpose among
the legislators in congress to place the
burden of taxation on some other sec
ton of the country than their own and
on articles in which their own sections
and friends are not interested. The
south is in the saddle, with the west
hanging on to the tail of the democrat
ic donkey, and it is not natural that tax
legislation should be so framed as to
bear hardest on the effete east and
wicked north--those sections of the
country where plutocracy and reaction
ism flourish.
Unluckily, the experience is that tax
es are passed along and pretty evenly
and in the present case the
people all over the country will find
that never before were their tithes SO
burdcnsome. We have not quite reach
ed the point that they have in Turkey,
where the government takes from two
iifths to fve-ffths of everything that
anybody has the enterprise to produce,
but we are pointing that way.
The war taxes are to be literally
brought home to the people. No house
hold will be able to plan its affairs in
such way as to avoid paying full
share Of the levy. So many things are
to be taxed that the tax man will get
you going if he doesn't get you coming.
and you will be lucky if he doesn't get
you both going and coming.
Secretary MeAdoo has figured that
t would require at least 1,800,000,000
new revenue to meet the needs of the
government for the ensuing year, over
md above the ordinary revenues which
'un about $1,500,000,000. 1t is not nee
sssary to go into details yet, as these
will be dealt with as the bill progresses
Here, in general way, is how the new
axes are planned to run:
Income taxes 700 millions, LIQUORS
% millions; soft drinks 20 millions;
lgars,etc., $50 millions; freightsAne.<I
enger and express receipts 1875 mil
ions; electric and gas lighting, tele- :
hone and telegraph messages 40 mill
ons; advertising and insurance IL 8
llllions, autos, motorcycles, tires, etc,
0 millions; musical instruments, 8
monographs, moving picture films. /
&C., Is millions; jewelry, sporting 4
GODS, perfumes, medicines, chewing q
um, etc, 25 millions; inheritances 35 b
lIIlons; postage increases 90 millions.
C. The tariff rates will also be boost n
so as to produce 200 millions extra. .
The new taxes will go into effect
lne |. They will increase federal tax !,
ION in this country to over $50 per G.
plta, or about $3.50 per family, to saw 'e
'thing of local taxes. This is still
lily half what it is in England how
Ter. -