The Washington times., 1918-09-05
WAR TAX WILL Be
S76.76PER CAPITA

To collect within q few months
$4,000. 100000 is the task confronttpE
the Bureau OF Internal Revenue. I Nis
ssthe amount the new revenue bfil
now being framed Is expected to yield.
1t is difficult to realize the immen-
sity Of this sum. and yet $S, 1000, ,000, 900
Is less than one-sixth OF the annual
income of the United States, which
has pledged fits entire resources TO
the successful prosecution OF the war.
How well this pledge Is being carried
out Is q matter OF present-day his
tory.
In order to bring to the mind of
the American people q comprehension
OF the sum they will be called upon
this year to contribute by direct taxa
tion to the support Of the war, the
Bureau of Internal Revenue has pre-
pared q set OF figures showing that
IL divided according to population IL
would mean q per capita tax OF ST6.76,
or more than $336 per family. The
amount OF money in circulation
August 1. 1918, among a population
OF 1o6.o12,o00, was $52.44 per capita
Big Crop Value.
The total value of all crops on
American farms in 1910. the last CEN
sus year. was $4,000. 100000. The
total value of all live stock on farms
January /. 1910, was slightly less
than $4,000, 900. 900. In one year,
therefore the taxpayers, according
to the proposed terms OF the new
bill, are called upon to pay more than
the aggregate value OF all farm crops
In the United States in 1910, plus the
value OF all farm animalA
The taH amounts 70 aao
third OF the total value OF manufac-
tHred~ products as reported to the
Census Bureau in 1914. $24,246. .435, 900.
The value added to raw materials by
manufacture, which represents the
wealth produced by manufacturing,
was 10 1914. so,s7e,346.Ooo. or but 23.4
per cent more than the proposed tax
levy.
These figures are presented by the
Bureau Of Internal Revenue, not with
he view of preparing the American
people for heavy sacrifces, but to
bring home to them a sense of their
in the way OF necessary
economies The new revenue bill is
being drawn in q manner to impose
the least burden possible. Every man
will be assessed according 20 his in
come, each will be called upon to do
his share.
Z The amount Of Federal taxes col
iected from all sources during the
last fiscal year was 1904. .0oO, 600. In
collecting more than twice that sum
this year, the Bureau of Internal
Revenue is anticipating no unusual
but is prepared to bene-
dt by past experience. The force OF
office and field employees has been In
creased from approximately $500 to
0 900 and the entire administrative
put in readiness for its
task.
"In normal times Federal taxes are
Inconsequential and impose no bur-
den on the taxpayer" said Daniel c.
Roper, Commissioner OF Internal
Revenue. IN commenting on the work
ahead of him. Their collection Is
a simple matter. involving principally
routine work. But this year we are
engaged IN q war upon which depends
the safety. not only OF the United
States, but OF the world. The col
lection of so vast a sum, so large a
part OF the peoples earnings, in
wolves the morale OF our civil popu-
alton, the keystone OF our success in |
he war.
National patriotism and solidarity, |
by the war, has con-
.ributed largely to our success in the |
past and augurs well for the future.
believe the majority Of taxpayers |
low understand and appreciate more |
han ever the objective of the Bureau |
II Internal Revenue, the collection |
II a fund every dollar OF which goes |
% the support Of American arms and |
he speedy conclusion OF the war"