Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-11-26

WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov. 21-A new
wv species of profteering has recently
sprung up to prevent us from DecOm-
ing too optimistic concerning the rapid i'm
prOvement of human nature. This is the
practice of adding the amount of a war tax to
the price of commodity before the tax has
gone into effect.
The taxes on commodities included in the
new war revenue bill do not go into effect
of course, until the measure is passed. This
Judging by present Indications will not be for
many weeks. But, according to complaints
received by the government from people in
various cities, retailers are already adding the
future tax to the price of articles Some cigars
for example, are already bearing the future
war tax OF one cent per cigar, whereas the
present tax is only fraction of a cent. Many
liquor stores, it appears, are adding the new
tax or $40 per gallon to the price of their
VINE and whisky, and some theater box offices
are charging the new 20 per cent tax on adj
missions which has not yet gone into effect.
There is no excuse for this practice These
additions to the prices do not go to the govern
ment; they go into the pockets of the retailers
charging them. In order to combat this
method OF prOfiteering, everyone should know
the amount of war tax he is supposed to pay
on every article, and then refuse to pay any
more. FOR it is only the careless ignorance
of the public that makes this particular form
of profteering possible
Taxation is a matter vitality affecting all of
us, and is, therefore, question that should
be carefully studied by every American who
looks upon himself as an intelligent voter.
While the present war revenue bill being
worked out in congress seeks to impose taxa
ton on those who are best able to bear it,
every American whose income is over one
thousand dollars year should be intensely
interested in the provisions and progress of
this BILL AS it is, the only people who are
keeping their attention fixed on the bill with
view to looking after their own interests are
our manufacturers, who do not hesitate to
register protest whenever they consi-Ser that
one is necessary.
Similarly, no protest has been receiTr from
that vast horde of small salaried Americans
whose income is just above the minimum eX-
Guided from taxation by the revenue bill
Apparently, it has not occurred to the aver
age American working on a small salary to
protest his income tax. All the protests have
come from individuals whose incomes con-
siSt of six figures or more. The man with a
million-dOllar income (and there Is aurpris-
ing number on record in the office o. internal
revenue at the treasury department. cannot
remain Indifferent to the payment of 60 per
cent of it to the government-the percentage
called for in the bill before congress.
Many of the provisions in the bill will be
altered before it becomes law. AS It stands.
the first and most important item is the in
come tax. This calls for fiat rate of per
cent on all incomes above $1,000, in the case
of single persons, and $4,000, in the caes Of
married persons, up to the amount of $4,000.
Incomes above $4,000 are to be taxed a fiat
rate of II per cent
In addition to this tax, there is a surtaX of
incomes over $4,000, beginning with 1 per
cent en- incomes between five and six thou
sand and gradually going up the scale until the
surtax on an income of one million dollars is
60 per cent.
There is also an inheritance tax of 1 per
cent on inheritance in excess of $4,000 up
to $25, 900, which rises gradually with the
value of the estate until the tax is % per
cent on an inheritance exceeding $2,500,O00
The tax on corporations is figured on fiat
IL per cent basis in addition to an excess
profits tax which is so per cent, 60 per cent
and so per cent, in proportion to the amount