Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-12
STRENUOUS TAX PROGRAM
SUGGESTED BY TREASURY
If Enacted by Congress, Nation
Would Practice Unheard
of Economy

WASHINGTON, July 1o.-Treasury
department proposals for war taxes
that would put the entire nation on
basis of most rigid war economy left
congress gasping today.
Hasty analysis Of the departments
suggestions brought this statement from
a leading member Of the house:
IF these suggestions were to be car
ried out in their entirety and without
amendment the American people would
readtust their habits of living on ba-
sis of economy never before dreamed of.
OF course. the proposals are intended to
bring home to the people that this war
is a menacing thing that may take our
bottom dollar. Without doubt congress
will be deluged with protests.
But everybody should remember that
the department submitted suggestions
merely. and that congress will regard
them merely as bases for discussion.
The tax bill must raise $S,OOO,OOO,OOO-
and that will require us TO go into many
new fields of taxation. But congress as
a whole will be opposed to hitting any
tax payer harder than he can bear.
Only the country should realize, and
must realize, that everybody will have
to bear the burden II may be very
heavy burden"
The proposal for doubling the liquor,
beer and tobacco taxes met with gener-
al approval, as did that for putting a
20 per cent tax on the price of new au-
tomobiles The suggestion that a
horsepower tax be levied on all auto
mobiles already purchased, however
was much opposed.
Suggestions that the admittance tax
on movies be doubled while a per cent
rental tax be collected from producers
was received with Gisfavor as tending
TO raise the price of the peoples amuse-
ment' too high. Congress believes the
people should be allowed amusement
cheapIy and freely so that their morale
may be kept up.
In this connection also strong adverse
comment was made on the suggestion
for a 10 per cent tax on all leased tele-
graph wires. Many members declared
anything tending to limit OF hamper the
fullest dissemination of news about The
war and the governments war activities
will have a bad effect on the nations
morale. will interfere with Liberty
loan campaigns. and prove generally Of
more harm than COOL. This tax, they
pointed out, would deprive many news
papers, particularly the smaller ones
which reach readers in less densely set
tied districts,> of wire service, upon
ers with the news of the day.
The proposed tax of from 20 per cent
to 100 per cent on the wages o house
hold servants was accepted as just.
Suggested taxes on hotel bills and
restaurants checks probably will De ac-
cepted to conserve food.
Representative Kitchin, to whom the
suggestions were transmitted, retained
them today to the department, with a
request that an estimate be furnished
him of the amount OF revenue the de-
partment thinks the new taxes would
raise This would involve further sug-
gestions as to the rate of taxation on
clothingf, house furnishings and toilet
articles. In its original suggestions,
the department did not even hint at
the proper rate, stating that this was
within the province of congress to de-
eide Kitchin, however, wants the de-
partments views on this point also,
simply as a basis for starting discus
sion.