The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-07-18


of Indiana, said: ;,
1--WE have got to raise the money
he added, land we must get II the
best we can. The taxes may hurt
some people, which cannot be avoid
ed. Although / am republican
intend to stand by the ways and
means committee which is studying
the merits of various propositions.
More From Profiteers.
"Tax the luxuries and take away
all the war profits of the prohteers,
is the view of Representatives VIVA
ley, democrat, of South Carolina, FOR
a tax bill.
81 have always been for taxing
luxuries, profiteering and big IN
comes good and strong for war rev.
enue," Representative Fields, demo-
crat, of Kentucky, said. IF we can
take mans son to war why can
we take his income to support that
soldier with?"
However you look at this bill you
find that the money must come large
ly from incomes, whether called ex-
cess profits or not" Representative
Volstead, republican. of Minnesota,
said today. I'VE cannot collect
large amount of the tariff, yet the
imports have increased greatly. so
much of them is for the government
a tariff would be like taking the mon
ey from one pocket to put in an
other. / take no stock in a horizon
tai raise of rates, but being a repub-
lican, ] think the rates ought to pc
adjusted to suit conditions and to
give protection.
Some of the proposed taxes on
luxuries should be stricken out. The
tax on gasoline would be a great bur
den on the farmers. They use 1t in
the threshing machines and automo-
biles and require it constantly 1t
will be hard to make a distinction
between luxuries and necessities and
care must be had to avoid anything
that looks like class legislation.
Everybody must help bear the bur-
den"
All JeweIry Luxury.
Representative Gard, democrat, of
Ohio favors heavy taxes on incomes
over $4,000 with a maximum of 30
or So per cent. when the million dol
lar folks are reached. Incomes and
excess profits must provide most OF
the revenue from taxation, he thinks.
Mr.. Gard sees in luxury taxes yalu-
able lesson in economy.
''This is the time he said, "for
everyone, rich and poor. to begin TO
husband their resources, and that
necessarily means curtailment of
things classed as luxuries. OF course
there are some kinds of clothing
that are luxuries where others would
not be- / approve the treasury's
plan to tax suits costing over $50 and
l think the prices on shoes are fair.
The other items in the main are we'll
made.
ury, for it is very essential in COM
mercial life and agriculture and Is
increasing in value. 1t adds to the
ployed in actual threshing of grain,
tractors and other implements. OF
course, it should not be wasted"
"All jewelry is luxury is the
unequivocal declaration of Represen-
tative McClintic, democrat of Okla
homa. I'VE could do away with all
kinds of buttons. Before / came to
congress 1 could use nails with my
suspenders. OF course they would
get rusty when it rained. Women
can do without a lot of jewelry. too"
An immense reserve of manufac-
tured platinum in jewelry was advo-
Gated before the ways and means
committee by the chemists of the
country. Dr. Charles H. Herty. edi-
tor of the Journal of Industrial and
Engineering Chemistry and former
president of the American Chemical
society, said:
1.-The immediate place for the plati-
mum in this country is in the vaults
of the treasury department"
Heavy Levy on Platinum.
The jewellers of the country are
opposed to this course. Indications
in the committee are that a prohibit
tive tax Will be put on the sale of
platinum in anticipa ton of the gov
ernments taking charge of the manu-
featured supply. The appeal to dis
courage use of platinum jewelry was
made as early as April IL, 1917, to
safeguard the supply for war pur-
poses.
Luxuries will have to be heavily
taxed before the very wealthy pay
their part, Representative Webb. of
North Carolina, said.
ut is only right that they should"
he said, "for the income and excess
profits taxes do not get at all of
them The tax on hotel bills will
not hurt anyone. The people who
are able to pay $3.50 for meal are
well able to pay the extra war tax
proposed for carrying on the war"
Meanwhile, on the other side of
the capitol the senate is waiting for
the revenue bill with all the pleasant
anticipation of boy with snow
ball for man with a silk hat. The
senate has an entirely new set of
but that is also a sea-
sonal condition, and will pass as the
bill gets close to them.
II will be two months, at least, be-
fore the revenue bill gets it's last
coat of varnish, and things that ap-
pear monstrous now win lose their
aspect by the end of the
summer. McAdoo's letter of last
month will in the end. be the chart