The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-03-13
MINUTE MEN URGE
FILING OF INCOME
Period Ends April lst, And Persons
Affected Must Make Statements
Promptly.

Washington, d. c.. March IL
Twenty-Five thousand Four Minute
Men will start cut 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 l. 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,UOG, and
an additional assessment of 80 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 addresses.
Don't delay is the warning that
will be given by the speakers. Tax
payers will be urged to protect
themselves and aid the Government
by being prompt. 1t will cost the
Government money and trouble to
hunt down the man who lodges the
income tax, but the word has gone
forth from headquarters that this
will be done. The "slacker" 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 procras-
tinate, but to get his blank and tl1a
his return at once.
In every address the Four Minute
Men will lay stress upon that pToVI-
sion of the law which requires a re-
turn from every unmarried person
whose net income for 1917 was ST.
900 or more, and from every mar
ried person whose net income was
$4,000 or more. They will be sup
piled with facts and figures to show
that the rich man and the r:ar of
modest income alike are made to
bear a just share of the common bur
den Tables Will be produced COM
pairing the rate of tax in the United
States and Great Britain. Here the
married man with an income Of 81
500 pays $40. In Great Britain the
man with an income of 500 pays
a tax of 1925 and $500, if his income
is not earned, but is from interest
on bonds or the like. AS the income
increases the difference between
American and British taxes becomes
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 per
cent on the net income of unmarried
persons in excess of $1,000, and on
the net income of married persons in
excess of $4,000. Under the act of
September 8, 1916, which remains
in force, the normal rate of tax is
per cent. on the net income of un-
married persons in excess of $4,000
and on the net income of married
persons in excess OF S4,UUU.
Incomes under the 1917 act are
subject to a surtaX which ranges
from 1 per cent. on incomes between
$4,000 and $1,000 to so per cent. on
incomes in excess of S 100000. The
surtaX under the 1916 act ranges
from l per cent. on incomes between
$4,000 and $4,000 to 13 per cent.
on incomes in excess of $2,OOO,0OO.
The multi-millionaire is assessed g.
per Ceul. Ou Ills lHCOllIS III SACcSS VI
S2,000,000, while the man with
$4,000 income pays per cent on
his income in excess of $4,000.
These and other facts and figures
will be used to refute the statement
of German sympathizers that this is
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
capitalist is simply a person who has
claim on bit of the worlds stor-
ed up wealth. The unmarried man
and woman earning $1,000 a year is
by no means 'poor'-with rare eN-
ceptions he or she has something laid
by in a bond, real estate or a few
dollars in a savings bank. An i'll
come of 1000 is considerably above
the average.
And after all, what is s4 tax,
your share if you are single and
make $1,000, and what is a SO tax
to a married man earning $4,000?
| Surely we, as Americans, will pay
| that much cheerfully."