Evening journal., 1919-02-03
LUXURY TAX WOULD
HIT Store PATRONS
Protests Being Signed to be
Sent to Congress
Members
WANT SUCH TAXES
STRICKEN fRUM BILL

how onerous a burden OF taxation Ger
tain features Of the new Revenue Bill
now In the hands OF a conferences CON-
mlttee OF Congress. would put upon th'
man and woman who take natura
pride In their personal appearance sn'
who strive also TO keep their home:
comfortable and pleasant.
Under one Of the schedules In the
new tax measure. which soon may b'
law in its present form unless the pub
lie protests against its Objectionable
features, many articles OF attire, homt
= furnishings and articles which for many
years have been In familiar use not by
: The wealthy alone but by people OF
even modest means, Will carry tss
which must be paid by the consumer
at the time OF purchase. These taxes,
which have been termed luxury taxes,
were included In the original draft of
the Revenue Bill which was enacted
when the nation was preparing for A
long war. The men who made that
Dist Draft not only faced the need Of
raising huge sum OF money % carry
on the war but also desired 10 check
the consumption Of many articles not
deemed OF vital necessity so that ma
chlnery, labor and materials might be
more quickly found for the manufac-
ture OF the things the war required.
In the case Of the luxury taxes" the
new Revenue Bill sets up wholly arbi-
trary standards OF price on all sorts OF
common articles. carpets and rugs. UNI
brellas. hats for men. millinery. hos
iery, shirts and many other articles OF
this type, which, II sold at prices high
or than those which Congress deems
necessary. must carry a percentage tax
20 be paid by the purchaser.
Thus II Mrs. Brown, who Is careful
OF her appearance. should purchase O
pair OF silk hose at more than 81. she
must pay 10 cents upon that part OF
tho purchase price which exceeds 81.
Il may be that Mr.. Brown has no more
money than Mrs. Jones who Isn't SO
particular about her appearance and
flnds the stockings she wants at $3.50.
but, nevertheless. Mrs. Brown Is oblig-
ed TO pay a tax on part OF the price OF
her stockings while Mrs. Jones pays no
tax. Perhaps the husbands OF these
two women earn exactly the same and
both are taxed upon their income and
YET when their wives go TO the store
one must pay an extra tax for indulg-
ing her natural craving for an article
OF little better quality while the other
pays no tax.
This Is only one example OF one az
many Objectionable features Of the lux
ury taxes as they would weigh upon
the public. This is specifically pro-
Aylded In the bill. These taxes are goine
10 prove troublesome kind OF taxation
which will greet consumers at every
point for the retail stores will be pow.
erless 10 do other than enforce the law
whenever Mrs. Brown desires anything
which, IN the Judgment OF certain mem
bers OF Congress. she does not vitally
need.
Many customers Of some OF the lead
ing stores are asking 10 slgn petitions
expressing their oposition 10 the lux
ury taxes. These petitions, which may
be signed at any OF the larger stores,
will be forwarded In few days 10 the
proper officials OF Congress In The az
tempt to demonstrate 10 the lawmak-
ers how unpopular these arbitrary lux
ury taxes are certain 10 be In the eyes
OF the consuming public.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.--House and
Senate conferees on the revenue bill
have reached an agreement 10 recon-
mend no change in the so-callcd luxury
taxes In the bill. but 10 pass II as 10
stands in this respect with the pro-
vision that later a Joint resolution re-
peallng this section Of the bill will be !
Introduced and may be passed In both
houses.
A nationwide campaign against the
luxury taxes, aimed at certain GRADES
OF clothing, etc, costing above a stated
amount has been In progress for some
time. with department stores, whole
sale houses and even manufacturers
protesting against the ievles as an un-
warranted and unnecessary lnterfer-
ence with their business.
The conference committee has also
agreed 10 make provision for deprecia-
tion In stocks In computing the pronts
OF corporations and partnerships.
The elimination OF all the Items that
have been agreed on will leave the
bill one that will yield less than s5,-
500. 100000. whereas 1t originally was
Intended TO raise sS.000.00o.000. this
mount having been cut TO s6,000000.'
100 with the end OF the war.
Tobacco users Will be among those
Iardest hit by the new rates. The to-
'acco tax. along with many others. |
ecomes operative Immediately the BIZ.
ecomes law, and manufacturers and |
etails,s are prepared to give their pro-
ucss considerable boost In price.
his will mean an increased tax on
obacto from thirteen cents 10 eigh-
zen cents pound. II will mean That
he tax on cigarettes will be ip5reased
rom S205 per 1 900 10 So ner 600