The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-06-20
Tells House Committee 1t
Would Close Nearly Half
+, Of the Theaters
MEANS REDUCTION
OF,REVENUE LATER
Three Per Cent on the Rental of Films
Is Suggested by P. A. Powers-Tax
on Passes Has Brought Large Res
turns to Government.

WASHINGTON, June 20.-An in
crease in the tax on motion picture adj
missions will result in loss of rev.
enue to the government, according to
William A. Brady, president of the ma
tional association of motion picture
shows. Mr.. Brady appeared before the
house committee on ways and means
TO protest against the suggestion that
movies be taxed further.
Patrick A. Powers, representing the
Universal Film company, and Maurice
Goodman, treasurer of the Vaudeville
Managers Protective association, also
discussed the effect of the tax on other
motion picture industries. In opposing
any increase in the tax NJ Brady said
those who appeared represented SO per
cent of the motion picture industry and
90 per cent of the theatrical and motion
picture industry,
Mr. Brady pointed out that in in
creased tax. say to u per cent instead
of 10 per cent, as now prevails, would
net hit the purchaser of 50 seats for the
legitimate attractions or the purchaser
of opera seats. These classes, he said,
could stand an extra tax. Those who
would suffer would be the patrons of the
motion picture houses whose admission
fees were 10 and p cents.
I He said he was willing to see the >
cent theatres taxed and also favored
4
/ which. charging 10 cents before the tax
was put on, had taken advantage of the
war to raise their price to 10 cents, in
lcluding the l cent tax.
i ITO increase thfS tax will put dent
in our business and cause the govern
ment loss, = said Mr.. Brady - 1t took
MS four months to recover from the IL
per cent tax in the larger Aties. In the
cmaller cities we have never recovered
"Oms is the only industry taxed
twice. We are taxed on the film and OF
i the admission Some day the screen
/ NAV teach the word of God, it may
teach the operations of great surgeons
\ Every class in the schools and colleges
/ Of the country may be taught by Tho
I s6ffaenf.@ We hot onf3 want to do foul
bit Abf tHt. Wal. nut VIC Witt 10 wv Z
chunk. Leave us where we are and W,
will keep ourselves alive and bring il
a big war revenue for the government
Mr. Brady said he was glad the ia,
had been put on passes. as he loves t.
see the deadhead give up. He adde,
that the tax on passes had brought in
tremendous revenue.
Gentlemen, = said Mr. Brady in con
elusion, 4 honestly beg you as an cx
pert and the second Oldest man in tn
motto picture industry, as good Iris
American patriot, that YOU do not max
the fatal mistake of doubling this ta1
If You do you viii put IS per cent o
the theatres out of business, instead o
getting fifty odd million dollars wort
of revenue for the government
Mr.. Powers suggested 3 per cen
tax on rental of films, instead of tn
present quarter of a cent tax ON une,
lposed films and a half cent tax on e,
posed films. He said that by the pres
emit scheme absolutely worthless film
were taxed the same as good films.
system he considered unfair.
Mr.. Goodman objected 10 the tax of
per cent on theatres, saying it W:
wrong to tax theatres on a basis of eal
ital. He recommended a.tax on prof
based on receipts.