Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-07
LUXURY TAX OPERATION
BRINGS FEW COMPLAINTS
Explanation Job Is Big Ono for
Sales People Who Collect
Levy.
LAW is LITTLE UNDERSTOOD
Merchants Face Task OF Educating
Public in Intricacics of New Pro-
vision-Aiany Having Posters Nam
ing Articles Not Taxed.

The operation of the luxury tax in
Richmond is meeting w!.a little COM
plant from buyers who have TO pay,
according TO retail merchants. upon
whom falls the necessity of collect ling
the extra levy and of explaining 10
the prospective customer why the
charge OF a few additional pennies is
made.
The explanation job makes the lux
ury tax, according 10 the retailers. as
much OF a tax on patience on pur-
chascs. Buyers ask many questions
OF the sales people as TO why certain
urics. while others. seemingly as nom
essential, have been made subjects of
additional levy.
1T is too bad that the word luxury
people IS oSeroof sae eee,an f iae
them UNNECESSARY or, that, a cheaper
article is just as good. as far as most
purposes are concerned said one
furnishings retailer.
He remarked. however, that it would
take great deal of misrepresenta-
ton to stop the sales of shirts over
so go otf snT his srade has IN
marked, and don't think men who
nave become accustomed TO silks will
go back 10 madras or cotton mate
rails just because tax OF from 10
~ cents is placed on silks. In the
case OF shirts which cost sl2 or up
even so. l do not believe that that will
make man hesitate who wishes 10
pay such sum for Il shirt. Similarly
which are priced so high that the tax
is mora than few cents and if A man
wants TO get $3.50 pair of socks he
won't mind the additional Is cents"
Little known of Tax.
My first days experience with the
tan said a man. Yesterday, ''convinccs
me that the vast majority Of the peo-
PIE know next to nothing about the
great majority OF those who entered
our store were under the impression
that gowns and suits and coats are
Is not surprising when it is considered
that a large number of retailers are
unfamiliar with the fact that these
taxes have been eliminated from the
bill -
II think advertising space would be
vel vel semp:oyed by retailers if they
forming the public that there is no
tax on coats, suits, dresses and many
Other articles which they carry in
stock and which have been omitted
from the luxury tax list"
Tux on Patience
This is tie statement OF one re-
The luxury tax is much tax on
patience as on purchases
For. as yesterday showed. it's really
more nuisance to the merchant than
serious matter TO the customer
inc tax does not, as many people
seem 10 think. apply to the whole
price, nor does il take in all items
included in mems wear
True, the list is long. but it falls
largely on our subsidiary departmcnts
hats, shoes and filings.
CIothlng feXccpt separate waist
coats) is entirely EXEMPT
Now S to how the law works:
suppose you feel a 81 derby is a
real necessity-know from experience
that quality pays
You're all wrong. It's a luxury.
ne law says fre'S enough.
Beng a good fellow, you smile and
gig down for two dimes-the cquiva-
rent or 10 per cent on the 81 difference
between the congressional idea (5)
and the price of hats go"