The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-07-19
Treasury Inclndes Clothing,
JeWelry and Household Goods
WORK ON BIG REVENUE BILL
Hits Gasoline, Autos and TIres-Em-
pIoyers OF More Than One
Servant To Pay lmpost
On Wages.

WIy O6DdTLHGul 1OI IdAlAS uA0l 1Co
+ and semi-luxuries in the $4,000, 900, 900
War Revenue bill was laid before the
House Committee on Ways and Means
and calls for a heavy levy on fancy
furniture, carpets and other Injuries
and semi-luxurious household articles,
and on moderately priced and expen-
sive clothes, underwear, hats, shoes
and other fancy articles of wear.
Jewelry is taxed so per cent IF it's
retail price, while automobiles are
called upon to pay 20 per cent tax
on their cost price and gasoline 10
cents gallon, to be paid by the
wholesale dealer.
Hiqh-Priced Articles Hit.
The tax scheme is sweeping in it's
scope. Hardly an article escapes
which a rich man or man Of moderate
means buys for the comfort of his
home and for adjoining his person.
Only the household articles and cloth
ing which people of moderate circum-
stances are forced to buy on account OF
their limited means are left untouched.
The list Of articles which the Treas
ury Department tax experts class as
luxuries and semi-luxuries runs up
into thousands. They were specified
on a sheet of paper said to be several
yards long. Chairman Kitchin and
other members Of the committee re-
fused to make public the list, because
they held the plan was incomplete,
and returned it to the Treasury De-
partment for additional information.
They especially desired to know how
much money could be raised under
the plan.
The new tax proposition first draws
q price deadline between the necessi-
ties and the luXuries and the semi
luxuries The necessities are not
taxed, but articles costing more than
a certain figure at retail are called
upon to pay 20 per cent tax based
on the retail cost price. AS an illustra-
ton, the price deadline on suits OF
mems clothes is fixed at $50 If
man buys $40 suit he must pay his
Z tailor, in addition to the $40, 81
tax, which represents the tax on the
amount in excess over $50.
Deadline On Shoes, SIS.
This 20 per cent tax hits the price of
all other articles in excess Of the price
deadline. The deadline ON shoes is fixed
at SIS, and anybody who pays more than
that price for shoes must pay a 20
per cent tax on the amount in eX-
cess of SIS. In other words, if $40 is
paid for shes. the buyer must pay ST
tax on the SIS excess. The dead-Ene
price on mems hats is fixed at a.
The women do not escape. If a
woman wishes to pay high price for
hat, she must pay 20 per cent tax
on what she spends in excess of $40,
the latter figure being fixed as the
price dead-line. Two dollars is fixed
as the dead-line on mems shirts. 1t
was not stated what the dead-line
Is on women's shirtwaists.
The scheme also taxes the amount
of money expended for servants. A
family is allowed one servant If it
hires more than one it must pay a
tax on the money paid in wages to the
second servant. If as many as four
servants are hired the tax reaches be-
teween so and 100 per cent on the
amount paid out in servant hire. Serv-
ants include buffers, maid servants,
cooks, hall boys, yard boys, footmen,
nurses and other persons employed
around the home. The automobile
chauffeur does not escape. A tax on
the amount of money paid him for
driving the machine is also levied.
The tax on things to wear includes
every article over certain price.
Fancy underwear, silk stockings, neck
ties and other articles, which cost more
than price fixed in the plan, must
pay the tax. AL high-priced carpets
and furniture are included.
The Treasury Departments sugges-
lions, in nutshell, are as follows:
Retail Sales Plan.
Fifty per cent on the retail price of
jewelry, including watches and clocks,
except those sold to army officers
Twenty per cent on automobiles,
trailers and truck units, motorcycles
and bicycles; automobile, motorcycle
and bicycle tires and musical instru-
ments.
A tax on all mems suits, selling for
more than $50, hats over 81, shirts over
81, pajamas over 50, hosiery over 35
cents. shoes over IS, gloves over So,
and canes.
On women's suits over $40, coats
over $50, ready-made dresses over $35,
skirts over SIS, hats over $40, shoes
over Sc, lingeries over SIS, corsets over
IS. Dress goods: Silk, over $3.50 a
square yard. Cotton over $3.50 a
square yard and wool over So square
ward All fl1rs hoaS and fans