The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-26
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INF R NJ A TON
Blu REAU
FREDERIC J. HAsKIN, Director.
Washington. d. C.
THE REVENUE BILL.
Washington. D. c.

w washington, L. H., NOV. 2o.--<A new
, species of profiteering has recently
sprung up to prevent us from becom-
] ing too optimistic concerning the rapid
| improvement of human nature. This
is the practice of adding the amount
of war tax to the price of a COM
| modify 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 meas
ure is passed. This, judging by pres
ent indications, will not be for many
weeks. But, according to complaints
| received by the government from peo-
pie in various cities, retailers are al
read y adding the future tax to the
price of articles. Some cigars, for ex-
| ample, are already bearing the future
| war tax Of cent per cigar. whereas
the present tax is only a fraction of a
cent. Many liquor stores, it appears,
are adding the NEW tax of $40 per
| gallon to the price of their wine and
whisky, and some theater box offices
are charging the new 20 per cent tax
on admissions which has not yet gone
into effect.
There is no excuse for this prac-
tice. These additions to the prices do
not go to the government; they go
into the pockets Of the retailers charg-
| ing them. In order to combat this
| method of profiteering, everyone
| should know the amount of war tax
he is supposed to pay on every arti-
Gle, and then refuse to pay any more.
For it is only the careless ignorance of
the public that makes this particular
form of prof.teering possible.
Taxation is matter vitality affect
| ing all of us, and is therefore q ques-
ton that should be carefully studied
by every American who looks upon
| himself as an intelligent voter. While
the present war revenue bill being
pose taxation on those who are best
able to bear it, every American whose
income is over one thousand dollars
year will be affected by it. Hence.
every American whose income Is over
one thousand dollars year should be
intensely interested in the provisions
| and progress of this bill. As 1t is, the
only people who are keeping their at
tention fixed on the bill with a view
to looking after their own interests
are our manufacturers, who do not
hesitate to register a protest whenever
they consider that one is necessary.
The other day it was the candy man.
ufacturerS who were protesting; be-
fore that it had been the cloak and
suit trade, and before that, some of
from the general public no comment
has been heard. No one knows
whether it is delighted or disguised
with the new system of taxes. 1t
doesn't know itself.
Similarly no protest has been re-
eeived from that vast horde of small
salaried Americans whose income is
just above the minimum excluded
from taxation by the revenue bill.
| Apparently, it has not occurred to the
erase American on small
| salary to protest his income tax. All
the protests have come from individ-
ais whose incomes consist of six
| figures or more. The man with a
million-dollar income (and there is a
| surprising number on record in the
| office Of internal revenue at the
| treasury Department., cannot NPmain
| Indifferent to the payment of IS per
| cent of it to the government-the per-
centage 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 inn
pertant item is the income tax. This
calls for flat rate of 6 per cent on ali
| incomes above $1,000, in the case of
single persons. and $4,000, in the case
of married persons. up to the amount
| of $4,000. Incomes above $4,000 are
| to be taxed a flat rate Of IL per cent.
In addition to this tax, there is a
surtax of incomes over 5000. begin
| ming Win per cent ON incomes be-
| tween $4,000 and $4,000 and gradual
ly going up the scale until the silrtax
on an income of s1,000,000 is IS per
| cent.
There is also an inheritance tax of
l per cent on inheritances in excess OF
$4,000 up to s26.000. which rises
gradually with the value of the estate
until the tax is rs per cent on an in
heritance exceeding $2,50O,00O. The
tax on corporations is figured on a flat
II per cent basis in addition to an ex-
cess profits tax which is so per cent
portion to the amount of the profits
A normal profit of flat $4,000, plus
. per cent of the invested capital, is
permitted before a tax on excess prof.
it's is levied.
Freight transportation is taxed pc,
cent A tax of 1 cent for every &c
cents worth of express or parcel DOS,
is provided. Passenger tickets on the
railroads are taxed per CT =. ands ar
additional tax of per cent is levied
on all seats in Pullman cars. "A tele.
graph message which costs more thar
~ cents and less than SO cents is taxed
8 cents; costing over SO cents it i.
taxed Ia cents. All fire insurance ant
accident insurance policies are taxed
1 cent on the dollar.
! A tax of $40 gallon-just double
the tax in the 1917 revenue bill,
levied upon all spirituous beverage.
sold to the public. If held in bonded
warehouses on account of existing pro.
hibition, such beverages are not sub
ject to tax, and the tax on alcohol USED
in drugs is only s2.20 a gallon. Cigar.
weighing less than three pounds pei
thousand are taxed So per thousand
5-cent cigars SIS per thousand ant
cigarets 81 per thousand. Cigar& pa
pers are taxed 1 cent for every fifty
papers.
Admission tickets to all forms o.
amusements. including concerts thea
tiers. moving picture shows. cabaret
and roof gardens, are taxed 20 pei
cent. A particularly deadly blow il
aimed at 'scalpers", in this item
which calls for an additional tax of 81
per cent on all tickets sold at an In
crease of 80 cents over the box Office
price