The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1921-08-11
SOFT DRINK TAX
MAY Be ELIMINATED
LUXURY DUTY ON WEARING
APPAREL MAY ALSO
GO.


eliminate the taxes on fountain drinks
and ice cream and the so-called lux
ury tax on wearing apparel Is under
stood to have been reached by Repub-
lican members of the house ways and
rseans committee, sitting in executive
session. A reduction of one-haf in
the 10 per cent. ley on sporting goods
also is said to have been agreed upon.
The total loss of revenue from
these proposed changes would be
slightly less than S50,000,OOo and the
reductions are the first to be passed
upon by the majority members in
their effort tc carry out the announc-
ed program IF Republican house lead
ers to cut half a billion dollars from
the nations tax bill.
Repeal of the 10 per cent. tax on
c:rbonated bottled beverages, which
is collected and paid by the manu-
facturer monthly, also was discussed
at the meeting, and favorable action
was predicted by some members Of
the committee, who argued that it
was not fair to remove the tax on
drinks at fountains in the cities and
retain the levy on bottled goods sold
largely in the rural districts.
Before undertaking revision of spe-
cific sections of the existing revenue
law, the committee majority spent
several hours discussing possible cuts
ir both taxes and expenditures, to-
gether with the probable amounts OF
government income from the various
sources other than internal revenue.
Several sets of figures were consid-
cred, but it was said no farmal agree
ment was reached OH any final totals
It is understood that in the course
OF this discussion there was sug-
eestion that the committee appoint a
delegation to 60 over the whole sit
uation very frankly with President
Harding and Secretary Mellon with a
view to obtaining their counsel as
we'll as urging that the executive de-
partments hold down rigidly on ex-
penditures. So far as was disclosed
no action was taken, but at the con-
clusion of the days session, Chair
man Fordney said he might confer
with Mr.. Harding upon the latters
return from New England.
Estimates before the committee re-
Gently were said TO have contemplated
total cuts of approximately s579,O00.-
coo in probable expenditures for this
fiscal year, leaving the total at 3d.
sos, 100000 exclusive of postal, esti-
mated at S575,O00,OO0.
Tax reductions suggested totaled
$7zO,OOO,OOO, including $45O,O00,OOO
excess profits, S9O,O0O,O0O income sur
taxes, S5O,0O0,OC0 nuisance taxes and
100000 transportation taxes. AS
an offset against these reductions es-
TAINTED increases in all income in
cluded S262,J0O,000 from the proposed
5 per cent. increase in the corporate
income tax to Offset the excess prof
its levy, S7O,OOO,000 from customs be-
cause of the proposed new tariff law
and S6O,OOO,UOO from the sale of sur
plus war supplies.
The net loss in government revenue
this fiscal year on this basis would
be S45s, 100000 if the repeal of the
excess profits and higher income sur
taxes were made retroactive to last
January 1, but it was said that senti-
ment to defer these repeals until next
January 1st was growing. Should the
committee finally decide to postpone
the date of these revisions, the net loss
il revenue on the basis of this set Of
figures woulG be $1SO,O00,oOO leaving
the total net income for this fiscal
year at S4,11O,000,OO0, exclusive of
postal receipts, estimated at S5O,OOO,-
600.
It was indicated by some committee
members that the repeal of the excess
profits and income sur-taxes might
be the last of the revisions to be tax
er in the hope that meantime senti-
ment might become more clearly pro-
nounced, particularly as to the effec-
tive date of the repeal.
The o.octors of Williamsburg coun-
ty met in Kingstree last Thursday
August 4th for the purpose OF reor-
ganizing the County Medical Society.
The following temporary officers were
leected: DR.. E. T. Kelley, president;
q. NJ. Montgomery, vice-presldent; and
T. C. Harper, secretary and treasurer.