New Britain herald., 1918-03-11
MINUTE MEN OUT
 FO RINCOME TAX
Force Of 25,0OO Takes Stump All
 Over Country

Washington. D. C., March H. 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 EaNe seventeen days, not counting Sundays in which to comply with this provision of the jaw. The pen aitY for failure is a fine of not less than S20 nor more than 5 1000 and 20 additional assessment of 50 per cent of the amount due
 The Four-Minute Men will appear ih theatres, moving picture houses and at public gatherings. Special meetings will be held by Chambers Of Commerce boards of trade, rotary clubs, luncheons and business organ iZaGons to hear the addresses Don't delay is the warning that will be given by the speakers. Taxpayers Will be urged to protect themselves and aid the government by being prompt. It will cost the government money and trouble to hunt down the man who dodges the income tax but the word has gone forth from head quarters that this will be done. The ''slacker'' will be shown no leniency.
 The man whose intentions arc good hut who is inclined to put of until tomorrow what should be done today will he urged not to procrastinate, lut to get his blank and flo his re- turn at once.
 Tn every address the Four Minute Men Ail lay stress upon that provi- sion of the law which requires a re-
 
 whose net income for 1917 was T1,- 000 or more and from every married person whose net income was $2,0O0 CT more. Tne% will be supplied wit? facts and figures tc show ti4t the rich man and the man of ??cdc%t ,n- come alike arc made to beer {, i;lst share of the common burden. Tables will be produced comparing the rate of tax in the United States enc, Great britain Here ihe n1arrled man with an ;rc0n?@ Of %' 10 pavs S10. Tn Great Britain ' "1 with an in come of $2.5oG 3N; Il tax of $225 end $500 if h.S i1rolll i& not earned but is from interest on bonds or the like. As the income increases the difference 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 Brit ain.
 The normal rate of tax under the war revenue act of 1&17 is ? per cent. on the net income of unmarried per- sons in eXcc"s of S1,000 and on the net income of married persons in ex- cess of S2.000. Under the act of September s. 1916, which remains in 2 cont. of the net income of unmarried persons in excess of $3,000 and on the net income of married persons in ex- coss of s4.000.
 Incomes under the 1917 act are subject to a surtax which ranges from l per cent. on incomes between $5,- 900 and $500 to 50 per cent. on in comes in excess of s1,000,000. The SurtaX under the 1916 act ranges from 1 per cent on incomes between $20,000 and $40,000 to i 3 per cent. on incomes in excess of s2,000,000 The multi-miilionaire is assessed 67 per cent. on his income in excess of $2,- 100000, while the man with q $2,500 income pays ? per cent. on his in como in excess of s2,O0O.
 These and other facts and figures will be used to refute the statement of German sympathizers that this is a capitalists war
 We must learn to realize" says a bulletin issued to the Four Minute Men by the committee on public in- formation, that all of us who pay our mite are really capitalists. A capital ist is simply a, person who has a claim on a bit of the worlds stored up wealth. The unmarried man and woman earning s1 900 a year is by no means 'poor'-with rare exceptions he or she has something laid by in a bond, real estate or a few dollars in q savings bank. An income of $1 900 is considerably above the average.
 And after all, what is s4 tax, your share if you are single and make $1,2O0 and what is a S1O tax to married man earning $2,500? Surely we. as Americans, will pay that much cheerfully."
 The directors of the mercantile bu-