Republican farmer., 1918-08-09
U-B0AT SINKS VESSEL
 OFF COAST OF MAINE
SMOKERS HARD HIT
 . BY LUXURY LEVY
Cigarettes Taxed Up to ] Cent, Cigars to 3 Gents
 Each.

Washington, Aug. 3-It Is estimated by experts that the additional taxes laid yesterday on tobacco, cigars and cigarettes will aggregate in revenue SIP 100000. The higher levies car ried in existing law brought in for twelvemonth period s16S,000,0o0.
 Under the advanced rates fixed by the Ways and Means Committee, the tobacco schedule is expected to aid the Treasury to the extent of $340,- 100000.
 The entire day was devoted to to- bacco. It was realized at the outset that ruthlessness must characterize the new figures. Many hard knocks must be given ir framing a bill in tended to bring in $S,000, 100000. No item of luxuary and few of necessity can be ignored.
 Although tobacco is near kin to the poor mans breakfast table, no fa- Noritism was shown in boosting the levies. The taxable theory was that tobacco is a ncn-essential and must stand the obloquy of being not far re- moved from the luxlIry list.
 The favorite increase yesterday was two and a half times the present rate of taxation. The rate on one grade of cigarettes was quadrupled. A considerable degree of leniency was shown those cigars that do not weigh more than three pounds q thousand. The rate merely was doubled, being advanced from $1 to $2 a thous- and.
 The most favoritism was manifest ed toward cigars weighing more than three pounds a thousand, and retailing at not more than cents l each. The tax on this grade was moved up from $5 to $4 a thous- and.
 It is supposed that these two grades cover all the cheaper form of cigars, and will meet the requirements of those unable to pay more for their smokes.
 Cigars retailing at more than four cents, and not exceeding cents each, hereafter will be taxed BIO a thou sand, instead of $4, as at present. Such cigars as bring from to 15 cents each at retail must pay a levy of $15 a thousand in the future. Un- der existing law, the rate is $6 a thou sand.
 The grades of cigars selling at from 15 to 20 cents each will be taxed $20 a thousand, instead of sS under the rates now in effect. All cigars selling at more than 20 cents each must pay tax of S3O a thousand. This is treble the present rate.
 | Cigarettes were given the hardest bump of all. Those selling at 2 cents or more each were advanced in tax able rate from $205 to $8 a thousand The rate on such cigarettes as weigE not more than 3 pounds thousand and retail now at less than ? cents each, was increased from $2.05 to 5; per thousand. All cigarettes weighing more than pounds to the thousand must hereafter pay a tax of $10, in stead of S4.S0, a thousand.
 The smoker who rolls his cigarette must pay exactly double the tax fol his accessories. No time was wasted in figuring out this feature of tn schedule. The matter was just Jumped and the rate on cigarette making doubled ali along the line. In futurt the tax will be.
 "On each package, book or set con taining more than 25 bot not nor than 50 papers, 1 cent; containing more than 50 but not more than 10 papers, cents; containing more thai
 100 papers, cents for each 100 paper : or fractional part thereof, and upol | tubes, cents for each 100 tubes 0
 fractional part thereof"
 The rates on tobacco were increaset from 13 to 30 cents per pound. N figures have been prepared by the ex : perts indicating what sum will b
 realized from the special taxes i'm
 posed on manufacturers of tobacco.