Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-07-12
PROPOSED NEW TAXES
Congress Will Lay Heavy Tribute on
All Kinds of luxuries,

All Kinds Of luxuries.
Members Of the house ways and
means committee are studying with in
terest the list Of luxury taxations sug-
gested by the treasury department, but
opposition Is apparent to many OF the
proposals which committeeman regard
ed as Impractical. The committee will
take up the list item by Item when II
begins framing the new war revenue
bill.
The first protest against the treas-
ury's suggestions came wednesday
during the committees hearing OF rep
resentatiyes of the wholesale and re-
tail jewelry trade. Meyer D. Roths.
child and Robert B. Steele, both OF
New York, declared that the proposed
so per cent retail tax on jewelry was
r,lnous and would force 30 many con-
Germs out Of business that the govern
msnt would not derive nearly . much
reysnue from this soufc6 q II Wound
under the 10 per cent tar.
william H. Hill Of Detroit, who ap..
peared before the committee. proposed
the Canadian plan Of afflxing q gov
ernment tax stamp on patent medi-
cines, the amount Of the tax to be add
ed to the selling price. =.
While Mr.. Hill was on the stand
Representative Fordney. ranking Re-
publican member Of the committee
said the governments actual war ex-
penses this year after deducting the
81. .00O. 100000 loaned to the allies,
would be 100000 The $S,000.-
OOO, 900 which 1t Is proposed to raise
by taxation, he said, represented 40
per cent Of the total actual expense
and added that he did not think that
amount should be raised by taxation.
A ten per cent tax on wire leases,
intended to apply to telegraph. tele-
phones and other wires whose use is
leased, Is one Of the treasury proposals.
The retail tax principle Is new In the
United States tax law. although 1t has
been levied in England, France and
Germany. The treasury suggested that
ten per cent as a basis for this plan
would be too low and that any one
wanting the retail goods would pay as
high as 20 per cent. The treasury pro-
posed a license tax Of SO a year on
every soda fountain.
The suggested tax on domestic ser
wants would allow an exemption OF one
female servant Others would lie taxed
as follows: First servant, 26 per cent
of wages paid; second servant, 30 per
cent: third servant, rs; and on more
than three servants, (not counting the
one female servant). 100 per cent Of
wages paid in each case.
Members Of the committee indicated
that the list would form the basis for
consumption taxes In their draft Of the
bill, though some Of the proposals
would be changed and others diEe-
garded.
Besides doubling present taxes on
liquors and tobacco. quadrupling soft
drink levies, and making general in
creases In other existing rates. the
treasury suggestions include taxes Of
SO per cent on retail prices Of jewelry.
watches and clocks except those sold
to army or navy men; 20 per cent on
automobiles, bicycles, musical instrn-
ments, etc.; 10 cents gallon on gaso-
line to be paid by the wholesale; 10
per cent on hotel bills for rooms over
$3.50 a day or American plan over IS;
10 per cent on all cafe or restaurant
bills and taxes Of unstated amounts on
mems suits selling for more than $50,
women's suits over $40 and coats over
$50: mems hats over 81; shirts over 81,
pajamas over 81; hosiery over IS
cents; shoes over IS; gloves over 81:
underwear over 80; all neckwear and
canes; women's dresses over $26:
skirts over SIS: hats over $40; shoes
over So: lingerie over IS; corsets over
IS and all furs, fans. ETC.; children's
clothing.