Evening journal., 1919-05-17
SATURDAY, MAY II. 1919.
AIR STILL UNTAxED.

MO better example Of the slip-shod manner in which
~ the last Democratic, Congress handled the business
Of making laws, controlled 10 by the admnistra-
ton party be given than the socalsd luxury taxes
which tackled The bin Of 1918 aud which
went into effect May ist
Until The next Congress meets and takes action TO
peal these taxes it clearly the duty Of the Commission
Of Internal Revenue collect the taxes That the
Congress viii repeal these luxury taxes is almost
assured fact
The Democratic Congress which drew up the BILL in
Guiding The sections taxing wearing apparel above a
stated value, lighting fixtures umbrellas carpets
trunks toilet articles OF all kinds and so on indefinitely,
claims that these sections would have been repealed dur
ing the closing days Of the last session had II not been
Tor The congestion OF pending legislation
While this may have been true. it did not the
drawing up Of taxes articles which although termed
"uxurcs" used by people in all walks OF life and
used because they TO the modern mode OF
living, especially after the signing Of The armislce and
the war practically at end.
Certainly the ARTICLES included as 'luxurlcs' not
luAures at an
il luxury to have carpet or rugs the floors OF
your homee Section 9O Of the act says 70 is
and taxes you 10 cent the amount in OF IS
per square yard
II man pays more than So for a hat or his wife more
than SIS, The tax is levied
II man pays more than 50 for nccktic, the tax is
right on the job.
And when il comes to paiamss. nlghtgowns under
Tor either sex, large small and tho price is
50. again the 10 per cent tax looms up front OF The
purchaser
And IL YOU your wife pay more than $40 for a pair
Of shoes the amount in excess is taxed.
a may be able TO PURCHASE a pair OF shoes that
viii last while FOR less than $40 but there few
stores selling shoes for less than the stipulated
$40
And when 10 comes to perfumes toilet waters, tooth
pastcs and The like the law quite clear The tax
FOR every % fraction thereof Perfume
may be luxury, but quite that tooth paste
> not
Then, too, the soda fountain hound is hard hit
With most Of the country already dry and the rest
OF it going July T. the soda fountain is the only
thirs-quenchng establishment left
The tax is 10 per cent and there is no alternative In
other words Ocent drink Of soda water or dish OF ice
will cost II cents and i5-cen soda or plate Of
cream, Il cents
In all Of these The tax must be paid by the pur-
chaser to the retailer the time purchase and can
not be included in the retail price
All during the the American people paid taxes
no matter what they were, quickly and without a word
Of protest
They watched the tremendous waste Of money on all
sides without whimper because were at war.
But that time has passed. and the average American is
She kind who will protest at the expenditure OF slOO
when It is Justified, but win kick Ike mad bull pay
ing cent tax the necessarcs Of life especially
when the necessity for the tax is gone
It is cheerful thought TO pay tax on an umbrella in
order that we may send more wheat to the gentle
bolsheviki or the defeated Germans.
The next Congress can do greater thing for this
country than to repeal these 'so-caed luxury taxes"
at the first opportunity. We have doubt that they
Will do