The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-03-11
Army of Twenty-Five Thousand of
These Speakers Will Begin
Nationwide Campaign
to Aid Public.
PATRIOTIC DUTY OF ALL
Returns Must Be Made From Unmar.
ried Persons Whose Net In
comes Are $1,000 or
Over.

WASHINGTON, D. c., March IL
Twenty-Five thousand four minute
men will start out today on nation.
wide campaign to impress upon the
American public their patriotic duty
promptly to file their income tax re-
turn and pay their taxes. The period
for filing ends April 1. Taxpayers
have seventeen days, not counting
Sundays. in which to comply with
this provision of the law The pen
atty for failure is fine of not less
than $40 nor more than $1,000 and
an additional assessment OF SO per-
cent Of the amount due.
The four minute men will appear
in theatres, moving picture houses
and at public gatherings. Special
meetings will be held by chambers
of commerce, boards of trade. rotary
clubs, luncheon clubs and business
organizations to hear the address
Don't delay" is the warning that
will be given by the speakers. Tax
payers will be urged TO protect them"
selves and aid the government by
being prompt. 1t will cost the gov
eminent money and trouble to hunt
down the man who lodges the in
come tax. but the word has gone
forth from headquarters that this will
be done The Stacker" will be
shown no leniency.
The man whose intentions are
good but who is inclined to put off
until tomorrow what should be done
today will be urged not to procrasti-
nate, but to get his blank and file
his return at once.
In every address the four minute
men will lay stress upon that provi-
sion of the law which requires a re-
turn from every unmarried person
whose net income for 1917 was $1,000
or more and from every married per-
son whose net income was $4,000 or
more. They will be supplied with
facts and figures to show that the
rich man and the man of modest in
come alike are made to bear a just
share of the common burden. Tables
will be produced comparing the rate
of tax in the United States and Great
Britain. Here the married man with
an income of $2,500 pays SO. In
Great Britain the man with an in
come of $4,000 pays tax of 1925
but is from interest on bonds or the
between American and
British taxes become less and finally
when million dollar incomes are
reached the amount paid in this
country Is greater than in Great
Britain.
The normal rate of tax under the
war revenue act of 1917 Is percent
IN the net income of unmarried per-
sons in excess of $1,000 and on the
net income Of married persons in
excess of $4,000. Under the act of
September s. 1916, which remains in
force, the normal rate of tax is 2
percent on the net income of unmar-
led persons in excess of $4,000 and
IN the net income of married per-
IONS in excess of $4,000.
Incomes under the 1917 act are
subject to a surtax which ranges
rom 1 percent on incomes between
$1,000 and $500 to SO percent on
Incomes in excess of $1,00O,O0O The
,urtax under the 1916 act ranges
rom 1 percent on incomes between
30, 900 and $4,000 to 10 percent on
Incomes in excess of 100000 The /
nulti-millionaire is assessed CT per- !
ent on his income in excess Of 3d. |
10000, while the man with $4,000 |
ncome pays percent on his income
n excess Of $4,000.
These and other facts and figures !
will be used to refute the statement |
+ German sympathizers that this is !
Capitalists war"
I'VE must learn to realize says
bulletin issued to the four minute !
zen by the committee on public in
that all of us who pay
ur mite are really capitalists. |
apitalist is simply a person who
as a claim on bit of the worlds
tored up wealth. The unmarried /.
ian and woman earning $1,000 a
ear is by no means "poor"-with
are exceptions he or she has some
hing laid by in bond. real estate
r a few dollars in a savings bank.
n income of $1,000 is considerably
bove the average.
and after all, what is a 81 tax. /
our share if you are single and .
lake $1,000 and what is a $40 tax
0 a married man earning $4,000? /
urely we, as Americans, will pay
hat much cheerfully."