The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1918-09-03
TAX NECESSITIES If
PROHIBITION Wins
TEA, COFFEE, SUGAR AND 9TH
Err ESSENTIALS TO MAKE UP
LOST LIQUOR REVENUES.

WASHINGTON, D. C.-Consump-
ton taxes on coffee, tea, sugar and
many other articles commonly used,
including both food and clothing, will
have to be written in the new revenue
bill if absolute wartime prohibition
Is to become effective soon.
The committees of congress charg-
ed with raising revenue count on get
ting S800,000,000 to 100000
or even more, by doubling the rates
now applied on distilled spirits, beer
and wines, provided this source of
revenue is not completely wiped out
of existence by the prohibitionists.
But for the uncertainty over this
question the revenue bill would have
much smoother sailing, even with the
problems connected with taxation of
incomes and profits. If the taxes
from alcoholic beverages are shut off
congress at once will have to explore
the field of taxes available from arti-
Giles of consumption.
The ways and means committee
was told that 81 ,000,000,OO0 to 81
O00,O0O,OO0 could be raised with lit
tie difficulty by gross sales taxes, or
taxes on the amount of goods sold
by individuals and corporations. This
sort of tax has been written by the
ways and means committee on auto |
mobiles, cosmetics, drugs, and must |
cal instruments. The committee want |
ed to avoid extension of these taxes |
to list of items that are of common |
use. This is especially true as to tea,
coffee and sugar. Taxes on them |
would add to the expenses of a great |
mass of the people. Yet it is agreed |
these must be taxed if the rates on
alcoholic beverages cannot be longer
levied because of prohibition.
Big Task Lies Ahead.
The largest collection agency in
the world is being assembled, drilled |
and equipped in readiness to admins
ter and enforce the $8,000,000.000
revenue measure which will be ready
for congressional consideration this
week.
Daniel C. Roper, commissioner of
internal revenue, will head this great
collection agency. AS a stimulant to
surprising eXertions his salary will !
be increased from $4,000 to $4,000,
but couple of thousand below that
of a cabinet minister. His plans for
making operative the new revenue
acts have been completed. He has
chosen the chief portion Of his exec
utive staff. He is gathering from ev-
cry section of the nation men best
adapted to the work which they are
intended to perform. New bureaus
have been created with special du-
ties, and the forces to man them !
have been selected. At the drop of a |
hat Mr.. Roper will be ready to milk |
the COW dry" 1t is his purpose to !
bring in every penny possible under
the law. He will uncover tax dodgers |
and obtain the governmental funds |
due from all those who seek to evade |
payment by subterfuge, misrepre-
sentation and otherwise In addition
to enforce the new act the COM
missioner of internal revenue has
solemnly promised to discover and
collect 00,000,000 in taxes due
from all sources falling under exist
ing laws. These will include the in
come and excess profits levies and all |
other items on which corporations
and individuals are inclined to dodge
payments of their obligations to the
government.
Force of $4,000 Employees.
This greatest of collection agencies
will have at its disposal the enormous
sum of SIS, 100000 for bringing in |
the revenues due under the new law. |
This is $7,500,000 more than has been |
heretofore allowed for a similar pur-
pose. A force of 10000 employees !
will be utilized in the work undertake |
en-. There are now 9,120 attached to |
the internal revenue bureau. This
means an additional force of at least |
5000 men and women. A goodly |
portion Of these will be expert ac-
countants. They will take the musty |
tax ledgcrs and probe through them
to 'iscover the tax dodger.
The income and excess profits divi- |
sion of The internal revenue bureau is !
now and will be the most important |
in that branch of the service. At |
present the force comprises approx
imately 1900 employees. This must |
be largely increased to meet the ad-
ditional work imposed by the coming |
law. There will come TO this division |
$500, 600, 900 income and excess
profits returns.