The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-06-22

In these days OF sacrifice. saving and
SIjnting. what is more reasunab Bile than
that the luxurieS that wealth and conf
p.Irucr indulge in should bear all The
burden of taxation they will stand"
Ot course one of lhr objects Of impoS-
ing greater taxation on luXuries is 10
enforce greater economies on The peo-
pie. Up 10 this time Congress has
dealt lightly with the production and
sale Of luXurieS. Economies in person
al expenditures in the first year OF the
war have not been sufficient. TO aid,
the government, Americans must save
instead OF Keeping up the old race be-
tween their expenses and incomes.
\ heavy taxation on luXuries will be.
most .vaslable to America when It
yields the least 10 the revenue collect;
or. That state OF affairs will mean
that our people have abandoned their
extraragances Of vain display. OF pei
sonal adornmrni. of eating and drink
ing. of pleasure-seekiug. unnecessary
travel or our Sorely- pressed war trans
purta1ion systems. gambling and dis
siparion. 1t will mean that vast 70
sources in labor, capital, raw mate
ralS. buildings and fuH will be divert
cd from these unworthy uses TO the
nobiest OF services. 10 the defense Of
America and of humanity. to the pro
duction Of necessities for our people
and armies engaged in the struggle.
and those Of the war-wearr Allied ma
lions who have borne the burden Of
I the struggle these four years.
There are numerous purchases that
! in time of war become luXuries, though
. in other years they may be necessities.
Some are difficult to reach The man
or woman who continually. buys and
diScardS clothing and furniture after
little wear is wasting our material re-
sources. Appeals to his patriotism,
PERHAPS. weld most satisfaction. A
TAX ;ha, will reach the more expensive
articles of apparel and furnishings
used by The wealthy waSter should
help these appeals 10 take effect. it
is said that we spent S41.001.000 last
year 20 import diamonds, pearls and
other precious stones and limitations,
i not Sct. They paid Il war tax OF only
three per cent. when made into jewel
rv America. could be content with
beauty less adorned 10 keep this $40
, zoo 900 at hone. or those who insist
on sending their money 10 African
/ mine owners and Dutch cutters should
! pay q larger tax For imported mil
! linery materials. America spent near
! IL Sl2.0O0.0 900 last year, and We also
spent S3.0O0.0n for mere fearh hers.
/ tributes TO feminine. vanity that filed
! u many ships needed for war use
The greater part of this stuff came TO-
900 miles from China and Japan.
: There are plenty Of substitutes that 7
hi:h war TAX would encourage. No
special war tax is now levied.
: And fErS pay no war tax, yet those
! imported last year COST America S@l.-
: 900 900. SO far as warmth is con-
carneh. our domestic, productions
! would answer legitimate needs. 9th
crs should pay toll. These are only
a few citations out Of the hundreds
and hundreds OF objects that come I'M
der the head of luxuries and which
now do not pay anyways near the pro-
por,inn OF III" lax burden they should
iJr mad" To pay. and that without I'M
posing any real Inconvenience or
hardShfpS on the people.