Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-02-28
COLLECTOR TO
 FIGHT UNJUST
 PROFITEERlNC Merchants Can Not BlamS :, High Prices on Taxes. k STIFF FINES WILL is
 PROTECT PUBLIC 
Some Quotations Are Cited for Sales Of Tobacco and
 Cigars.

Whether the five-cent increase in the price of cigarettes which was made effective yesterday by local tobacco dealers is san eXorbitant and justi- liable increase is no. known. Local dealers attribute the increase to the taxes imposed by the new revenue act. It is presumed that local merchants are acting in good faith when they raise the price of cigarettes five cents, and that the new price of cigarettes will cover the tax and allow fair profit.
 Albeit, Jack Walker, collector of internal revenue, headquarters at Lit tie Rock will be the judge as to whether the five-cent raise is justi- liable, and in q statement issued yes terday, said, there will be no prof. teering by tax scalpers' this year"
 MT. Walker stated that the new rev. enue act makes specific provision for handling the dealer who holds out to the public that exorbitant prices are due to tax increases which are not actually in effect. Section 1919 of the new law imposes a fine not to exceed Sl ,000, or Imprisonment of not to ex- ceed one year, or both. on any person who, in connection with sale, or for the purpose of making sale, of any commodity, ascribes as part of the sale price of such a commodity a tax which is not in fact levied according to his statement.
 Will Enforce Jaw
 Mir Walker has stated that he js going to enforce this law to the let- ter. Taxes rates imposed by the new revenue act are relatively high, and taxes are levied for the government not for the dealers," he said.
 MT. Walker quotes the tax on cigar cites as follows: "On cigarettes, in- cluding all popular brands, such as Camels. Fatimas, Lucky Strikes, Pied- Imonts, and the like, the increases in tax is practically one cent on each package of 10, and two cents on each package of 2O."
 MT. Walker said that where goods prior to the effectiveness of the act were sold on very small margin of profit are increased only fractional 1 part of cent, in some cases dealers would be justified in increasing the price the full cent. But, he further stated, on no commodities excepting certain cigars which, retail for more than 20 cents each, and cigarettes Ithere is no justification in increasing fthe retail price more than one cent And on quite few articles there is no, justification at all. | Cigars.
 "Cigars retailing at not more than five cents: On large number of these cigars there is no increased tax On cigars in this class that are tax able the increase in tax amounts to one-tenth of one cent each. Cigars retailing at more than five cents and not more than eight cents; On some cigars in this class there is no increase in the tax, but on most such cigars the increase is two-tenth. of one cent each, while in some case. the increase is three-tenths of ont cent each.
 Cigars retailing at more than eigh' Icents and not more than 15l cents: Tht increase in tax ranges from three 'tenths of one cent to six-tenths of on, Icent each.
 I Cigars retailing at more than I! lcents and not more than 20 cents Tn, increase in tax ranges from four tenths of one cent each to nine tenth of one cent each.
 Cigars retailing at more than 2
 cents: The increase ranges iron
 one-half cent to one and one-fiftl cent each.
 "On little cigars, such as 'Betweel
 The Acts and the like, on packages 0 4 10: The increase in tax is one-hal
 cent on each package, and on large
 packers the increase is proportionate
 ly higher.
 ] Thus far, cigarettes is the only com
 modity which has seen an appreciubl
 raise in price here. Bull Durham to lbacco, retailing at 10c a sack, seem Ito have been slated for, an increase O
 one cent a sack. However. dealer are still quoting Bull at 10 cents
 sack.