El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-11-23
TAX REVISION IS
ABOUT FINISHED
Latest Examinations In
clude Levy On All Bank
Checks.

Washington. D. c.. Nov. 2s.-Further
reductions in the proposed yield Of the
new revenue measure, in addition 10
those on tobacco. made yesterday by
the senate finance committee in revis-
ing the measure downward 10 a six
billion dollar total. apply 10 taxes on
luxuries, semiluxuries and other spe-
cial and excise schedules. The de-
creases aggregated s5o0.000.000. not
81, 900. 000. 900 as reported.
Among the more important decisions
were elimination OF the luxury sched-
ule proposed in the house bill. levying
20 percent on costly articles OF cloth
ing and other merchandise and esti-
mated to raise S1S4,795. 900: elimina-
ton of the house tax OF two cents a
gallon on gasoline, estimated to yield
$40. 100000; reduction from 10 to 5
percent. or about $200.000.000 in
revenue in rates on many articles,
classed as semiluxuries.
Cut Affects Many Articles
In cutting the excise. or semiluxury
schedules. the committee reduced from
10 to 5 percent the house rates on the
following articles: Piano players,
monographs. Photographic films,
candy, portable electric fans, thermos
bottles. slot machines and toilet soaps,
and powders The chewing gum rate
was cut from 4 to percent; that on
hunting and bowie knives from 100 to
10 percent; on fier arms and ammuni-
ton from rs to 10 percent, and on
sculpture. paintings and statuary from
10 TO 5 percent.
House Feature Eliminated.
Ten percent taxes. imposed in the
house bill, on bathing suits and photo
graphs or reproductions were entirely
eliminated and that OF 10 percent on
fur and wool articles made applicable
TO fur manufacturers only. In the
excise schedule no change was made
in the 5 percent sales tax on automo-
biles, tires and accessories nor in the
10 percent rate on sporting goods and
liveries, tapestries, textiles and yachts
and motor boats.
The 10 percent sales tax on precious
stones, Jewelry and limitations, clocks,
watches. opera glasses and similar
articles was reduced to ) percent.
Bank Check Tax Gone.
The war rev aue bill was revised
downward by the senate finance
committee today almost TO the six
billion dollar estimate proposed for
1919. Reduction Of the special taxes
was virtually completed
Among the miscellaneous items
stricken from the bill today were the
proposed taxes OF two cents each on
bank checks, estimated TO raise S50,-
600. 900 or more. and the tax Of one
percent on gross sales OF mail order
houses with sales IN excess Of 100000
estimated to raise $1,000. 900.
Medicine Tax Changed.
IN lieu OF the 10 percent tax on
sales TO consumers Of perfumes. cos
metics. pills. patent medicines and
similar articles. the committee adopt
ed a tax of 5 percent upon manufac-
turers' wholesale sales.
All Of the stamp taxes. except that
on bank checks. were retained.
Several reductions in the special
taxes on brokers were ordered. The
house tax Of 500 on stock brokers
was cut to $40. The ship and custom I
house brokers tax of $50 was reduced /
to $40. as compared with $50 and SO. I
respectively. under the present law. I
The committee also reduced the $500 /
license tax Of the house on circus /
to 800. the present rate. /
and the house tax Of $50 on proprie- |
tors Of other public exhibitions for
profit was reduced to SIS.
Same Rate for Theater Men.
The taxes on proprietors Of shoot
ng galleries. riding academies. bowl
ng alleys. billiard rooms and sight
seeing automobiles were left IN
as were the rates proposed
-or theater proprietors-
The committee also kept IN the
ill without change its reduced rates
or a federal license tax on the use
II motor vehicles
The section Of the house bill amend
ng the Harrison drug act was entire
y eliminated.