The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-08-03
SMOKERS HARD HIT
 BY LUXURY LEVY.
Cigarettes Taxed Up to 1 Cent, Cigars to 3 Gents
 Each.

Washington, Aug. 3-It is estimated by experts that the additional taxes laid yesterday on tobacco, cigars and cigarettes will aggregate in revenue SIP 00O,OoO. The higher levies car ried in existing law brought in for | twelvemonth period $16s, ,0OO.
 Under the advanced rates fixed by | the Ways and Means Committee, the l tobacco schedule is expected to aid the Treasury to the extent of $34O,- 000,000.
 The entire day was devoted to to- bacco. It was realized at the outset that ruthlessness must characterize the new figures. Many hard knocks must be given in framing a bill in- tended to bring in sS,0O0, ,OO0,0 900. No item of luxuary and few of necessity can be ignored.
 Although tobacco is near kin to the poor mans breakfast table, no fa- voritism was shown in boosting the levies. The taxable theory was that tobacco is a non-essential and must stand the obloquy of being not far re- moved from the luxury list.
 The favorite increase yesterday was two and half times the present rate of taxation. The rate on one grade of cigarettes was quadrupled. A considerable degree of leniency was shown those cigars that do not weigE more than three pounds thousanj.! The rate mepely was doubled, being advanced from $1 to $2 a thous- and.
 The most favoritism was manifest ed toward cigars weighing more than three pounds a thousand, and retailing at not more than cents each. The tax on this grade was moved up from $3 to $4 a thous- and
 It is supposed that these two grades cover all the cheaper form of cigars, and will meet the requirements of those unable to pay more for their smokes.
 Cigars retailing at more than four cents, and not exceeding ' cents each, hereafter will be taxed $10 a thou sand, instead of $4, as at present. Such cigars as bring from to 15 cents each at retail must pay levy of $15 a thousand in the future. Un- der existing law, the rate is $6 a thou sand.
 The grades of cigars selling at from 15 to 20 cents each will be taxed S20 a | thousand, instead of s under the rates now in effect. All cigars selling at more than 20 cents each must pay l a tax of S30 a thousand. This is treble 1 the present rate.
 ho est | bump of aIs Those selling at 2 cents or more each were advanced in tax able rate from $2.05 to $S thousand. l The rate on such cigarettes as weigh not more than pounds a thousand, and retail now at less than ? cents each, was increased from $2.05 to $5 per thousand. All cigarettes weighing more than pounds to the thousand must hereafter pay a tax of $10, in stead of $4.8O, a thousand. The smoker who rolls his cigarette must pay exactly double the tax for | in figuring out this feature of the and the rate on cigarette makings doubled all along the line. In future the tax will be:
 | Ol odC1 p1ChdSe, DOOh O1 SeL COu- taining more than 25 bot not more than 50 papers, 1 cent; containing more than 50 but not more than 100 papers, ? cents; containing more than 100 papers, 2 cents for each 100 papers or fractional part thereof, and upon tubes. cents for each 100 tubes or fractional part thereof"
 The rates on tobacco were increased from 13 to 30 cents per pound. No figures have been prepared by the ex- perts indicating what sum will be realized from the special taxes im- posed on manufacturers of tobacco.