Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-04-18

Carry a few extra pennies in your
pockets after May 1.
Uncle Sam is going to take them
away from you to help pay for the
war
Every time you spend a dime at a
on and after May L you'll have to
throw an extra penny on the coun-
ter to pay the war tax.
Many soda fountains which charged
Is cents for sodaes and sundaes dur
ing the war have reduced the price
back to 10 cents, but you're likely
soon to see signs over their foun-
tains reading:
"Sodas and sundaes now II cents
The tax on ice cream and soft
drinks is only one of the many which
go into effect under the revenue act
on May /. The most important of
these are the so-called luxury tax
es." which are written into the reve-
nue. bill before it became apparent
to our congressman that they were
unnecessary.
Repeating Measure Talked to Death
An attempt was made to pass a bill
repeating them before congress adj
journed, but it was one of the bills
talked to death in the filibuster. 1t
be repealed during the coming spe-
cial session, but until then We'll have
to pay 'em.
They call these luxury" taxes, but
the commodities taxed are by no
means all luxuries. Congress intend
cd the taxes to fall on the rich and
the well-to-do people of the country.
heavily on the great 80 per cent of
the population represented by the
middle classes and the poor.
Take, for instance, the tax on med
icines. After May 1 you'll have to
pay a tax Of 1 per cent for each IS
| cines you buy, whether they are pills,
| tablets, powders, syrups, tonics, plas-
terS, salVes or ointments. If you
pay 81 for bottle of medicine, you'll
| say 4 cents tax.
The same tax will apply to tooth
powders, hair dyes, hair restoratives.
toilet waters, perfumes and other
| toilet articles.
The tax on other "luxuries" is not
so heavy as that on medicines. toilet
| articles and beverages. The reason
for this is that, while the tax is 10
per cent, it is imposed not on the
entire price of the article taxed, but
on that part of it in excess of spe-
Gifted amount.
For instance. carpets and rugs are
taxed 10 per cent on the amount you
pay over IS a square yard. That is
if you buy ten square yards, or $50.
You will pay no tax. But if you pay
Sc a square yard for ten yards, or
$50, you will be taxed on that extra
dollar a yard. Thus you will pay
$50 a yard or Sol for the ten yards.
Movies Are Taxed Some More
Another "luXury' tax that will hit
the poor after May is that on NOV
ing pictures, which requires every
person leasing moving picture films
for exhibition to pay a monthly tax
nf &c l.; ;IY,,G-
produce in rentals. This tax, of
course, will be added to that already
being paid by the public on admis-
sions to moving picture theaters. In
many cases it will double the price
of movie tickets.
many others which went into effect
on April l. Prominent among these
is the tax of per cent of the total
price paid on all articles of jewelry.
still other luxury taxes, which
affect wealthy people principally, but
here and there dig into the pockets
of the poor, have been paid ever
since the revenue act was approved
by the president in March. These in
clude the following percentages of the
total prices:
Automobiles, 5 per cent.
Automobile accessories, ) per cent.
Musical instruments and records,
) per cent.
Sporting goods, 10 per cent.
Chewing gum, 8 per cent.
Candy, per cent.
Cameras, 10 per cent.
Photographic films and plates,
per cent.
Firearms and ammunition, 10 per
cent.
Hunting knives, 10 per cent.
Portable electric fans, 5 per cent.
Thermos bottles, per cent.
Cigars and cigarette holders, hu-
nidors, smoking stands, 10 per cent.
Slot machines, per cent.
Livery uniforms, 10 per cent.
Hunting or riding habits, 10 per
cent.
Fur clothing and furs, 10 per cent.
Toilet soaps, per cent.
Pleasure boats, 10 per cent.
Paintings and statuary, 10 per cent.
Then there are the taxes on alco-
holtc drinks, which we won't nave
to pay after July l, anyway, because
therea int going to be no lcoholic
drinks, and the taxes on cigars, CT
Sarettes and tobacco. which every