New-York tribune., 1918-08-02
House Ways and Means
Committee Increases Levy
on Amusements
War Charges for
Pullmans Lowered
Mail Order Houses Must
Pay One Per Cent on
Retail Sales

NASHlNG OAN, Aug. I.-lOQOllllS VI
the present special taxes on manufac-
turers of tobacco, cigars and cigar
cites, and increased taxation of bruk-
srs theatres and other amusements,
billiard and pool parlors and bowling
allevs. and capitalization of corpora
lions, were agreed on by the House
WAYS and Means Committee to-day in
framing the s8,ooO,ooO,0O0 revenue bill
A new tax of l per cent on retail
sales of mail order houses doing more
than 100000 annual business was
adopted. Pullman seats and berths
and passenger rates will be subject to
a Uniform tax Of per cent. Stamp
taxes were undisturbed.
Chairman Kitchin, after the commit
tee adjourned. summarized the situa-
ton as follows:
Special Taxes Increased
ave have put tax of per cent on
retail sales of mail order houses that
have more than 100000 annual busi-
ness. We have increased the special
taxes. Brokers now under a special
tax of $50 will pay an annual tax of
sl00, and if they are members of a
stock exchange or board Of trade en-
gagged in ouying and selling will pay
$3.50 annually. We have increased the
tax on pawn brokers from $50 to s1OO.
ship brokers from $50 to $50, custom
house brokers from $40 to $50.
Theatres, including moving picture
shows, museums and concert halls hav-
ing seating capacity of not over 25O
people will pay an annual tax in
creased from S25 to $50, seating ca
pacity between ESQ and 500 increased
from $50 to s100, 500 to 500 seating
capacity increased from SIS to $3.50,
and all over 500 capacity increased
from s100 to 5000 annual tax We
have doubled the present special taxes
on theatres, circuses, bowling alleys,
billiards and pool places, and on manu-
facturers of tobacco, cigars and cigar
cites.
I'VE have put new special tax on
sales of seats on stock and produce ex-
changes of 10 per cent on the sale
price of the seats, and on annual dues
O. these exchanges a tax of 90 per cent
or the amount of the dues. This is to
Put them on the same basis as clubs
and other organizations already put
under taX.
Pullman Tax Reduced
Pullman seats and berths are under
the present law taxed 10 per cent, and
passenger rates 8 per cent of the
amounts paid for tickets or coupons.
We to-day agreed to make the tax on
both of these per ceat. This was at
the request of the Director General of
hailroads, who wanted the taxes on
tnem made the same to simplify the
ueage COUPONS about to be issued.
we imposed tax of 10 per cent on
the sales of yachts.
=, we considered the stamp taxes IN
at present. 90
a, Mr. hltchin announced that under
the action Of the committee so far the
excise taxes would produce about 81
..oo'ooo'ooo, which includes beer, whis-
Key automobiles. soft drinks, gasoline
mners mgwners and similar taxable subjects.
inis Is about one-half of the amount
@io'led 70 commonly termed luxuri ~
ana non-essentials, but Mr.. Kitchin
sad sad the. allotted $1,000. 900 900 under
tHis head would be levied.
Tobacco Tax Fixed
Taxation OF tobacco manufacturers
ou1 not retail dealers, was considered
oy the committee to-day. The tobacco
sscheaule as adopted provides that sixtv
oays s1ter the passage of the new law.
snu thereafter on July l of each wear.
aspeciai tax computed on the basis of
;s'es OF the preceding fiscal year win
oe made as follows:
iooacco manufacturers with an
ss ssai sales not exceeding $4,000 pounds.
90 20 year; $4,000 TO 100, 900 pounds. s12.
."'ooo TO 100000 pounds. s24; ali in
s1esss oa. OF 100000 pounds, Is cents nor
a,:a a,ouo pounds; cigar manufacturers
~.su annual sales not exceeding so 600
sssats' "a; not exceeding 100000 cigars.
~, ~. NOT exceeding 100000 cigarg, sl2;
aeo %Os oe5 exceeding 100000, s24; all above
.o,oo"' III cents per 1000 cigars; Gig
;esse 80 manufacturers, including small
10000. S"''o ce"'S luz every
Reject Tax on Chain Stores
w.. ne special tax on mail order houses
- 80 unohclally estimated az capable
se'uing several million dollars CT
,,iue. call, and was adopted with pracei-
.ans .ns no opposition. Proposals that
80 ,s1 OF one-half Of one per cent be I'M
@ p.sed On gross sales Of chain stores
~ nu per ceYt tax be laid on goods
csa;aiIa'actured cs;iI by concerns employing
sass a ianor, under certain standard
'sss' were rejected.
10 proposal to tax cotton was 1s-
sssxo ssr.., ALMOST unanimously. Repre-
noxsa .a'iVe Moore, Of Pennsylvania. BRO
son. rns.a a taZ Of SO per bale. which he
yss sa.ended would produce s33 600 900 a
ned M tte,yenue, but its opponents in
ss,la'eiy suggested a tax on grain and
ss..ssracite s,ss coal and similar articles
s.ssaced s.sssd IN the North. Only repre-
YnsSstiye Ya,S Moore and Fairchild, New
praa. sss. voted for it. Mr.. Moore also
comm;.s cea a tax on dogs. which the
"i'Iee voted down.
o3SCIenA Coln. DA.1