The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-07
NEW TAX SCHEDULE.
LEVY ON TOBACCO PRODUCTS
DOUBLED.
Eenarture Made Practically Witheut
Opposition-EHort Fails to fiace
Tax on Cotton.

ettes and increased taxation OF brok-
ers, theaterS and other amuScmehls-
billiard and pool parlors, bowling al
leys and capitalization of corporation:
were agreed on by the house ways
and means committee today in fran
ing the $S,000,000,000 revenue bill.
\ new tax Of 1 per cen. on sale 0.
mail order houses doing more thar
100000 annual business was adopt
ed. Pullman seats and berths and
passenger rates will be subject 10 :.
uniform tax Of per cent. Stamp
taxes were undisturbed.
The special tax on mail order
houses was unofficially estimated as
capable Of yielding several million
dollars of revenue and was adopted
with practically no opposition. Pro-
poSalS that a tax of one-hat OF ]
per cent. be imposed on gross sales OF
chain stores and a 5 per cent tax be
laid on goods manufactured by con-
Germs employing child labor, under
certain standard ages were rejected.
A proposal to tax cotton was re-
jected almost unanimously.
Representative Moore. Pennsyl-
vania. proposed tax Of $3 per bale,
which he contended would produce
S33 100000 year revenue but its op-
ponentS Immediately suggested tax on
grain and anthracite and similar ar
:icles produced in the North. Only
Representative Moore and Fairchlld
New York, voted for it. Mr. Moore
also proposed a tax on dogs, which
the committee voted down.
Chairman kitchin, after the COM
nlittee adjourned, summarized the
situation as follows:
I'VE have put tax of per cent
on retail sales on mail orders that
do 100000 annual business. We
have increased the special tax. Brok-
ers now under special tax of $50
will pay an annual tax of S1OO and
if they are members Of stock eX-
change or board of trade engaged IN
buying and selling, will pay $3.50 an
nually. We have increased the tax
on pawn brokers from $50 to S1O0;
ship brokers from $50 to $50, custom
house brokers from $40 to $50.
''Theaters, including moving pic
ture shows, museums and concert
halls having a seating capacity Of not
over 25O people will pay an annual
tax increased from SIS to $50; seat
ing capacity between ESQ and 500, in
creased from $50 to s100; 500 to SOC
seating capacity increased from S79
to $50, and all over 500 capacity in
creased from 500 to $500 annual
tax. We have doubled the present
special taxes on theaters, circuses,
bowling alleys, billiard and pool places
and on manufacturers of tobacco,
cigars and cigarettes.
eve have put {. new special ta& or
sales of seats on stock and produce
exchanges Of 10 per cent on the sale
price of the seats and on annual dues
Of these exchanges a tax of 20 per
cent on the amount of the dues. This
is to put them on the same basis with
clubs and other organizations already
put under tax.
Pullman seats and berths under
the present law are taxed 10 per CEN
and passenger rates s per cent OF the
amounts paid for ticket or coupons.
We today agreed to make the tax on
both of these s per cent. This was
at the request of the director general
of railroads who wanted the taxes on
them made the same to simplify the
mileage coupons about to be issued
We imposed a tax of 10 per cent or
the sales Of yachts.
We considered the stamp taxes !:
the present law and they will remain
rs at present.
Mr.. Kitchin announced that under
the action of the committee so far tn:
excise taxes would produce about
81. 1.0O0.O0O,O0O which includes beer,
whiskey, automobile, soft drinks,
gasoline owners and similar taxable
subjects. This is about one-haH o.
the amount allotted to commonly
termed luXuries and non-essent1ai>
but Mr.. Kitchin said the allotted 81
OO0. 900, 900 under this head would be
levied.
Taxation Of tobacco manufacturers
but not retail dealers was considered
today. The tobacco schedule as
adopted provides that 50 days att
the passage of the new law and there
after on July l Of each year. ..pecia
tax computed on the basis of the sale:
of the preceding fiscal year Will bf
made as follows: Tobacco manufac-
turers with annual sales not exceed
! ing 5000 pounds. sc a year; 5000
to 100000 pounds, s12: 100000 tf
200 900. $24; and in excess OF 2eO.
900 pounds, Is cents per thousan'
pounds; cigar manufacturers with an
nual sales not exceeding $4,000 cigar
81: not exceeding 100000 cigars, Sc
not exceeding 100000 cigars. s12; no
exceeding 100000. s24; above 400.
600. 10 cents per thousand cigars
cigarette manufacturers. lncludln!
small cigars weighing not more thai
three pounds per thousand, cents 10
every 10000.
ACTION IN SIBERIA.
I,uilcd States. Japan and Entcnt