Evening star., 1924-04-05
SENATORS APPROVE
TAX ON RADIO SETS
Those Costing Less Than
$50 Wholesale Exempted.
1OPer Cent Levy O.K.'d.

All radio sets selling for less than
$50 wholesale were exempted from
the new proposed 10 per cent tax
by the Senate finance committee to-
day in winding up its consideration
Of the revenue bill.
The committee also agreed to ex-
empt only articles selling for s25 OF
less from the jewelry tax of per
cent, instead of articles selling for
less than $40, as voted by the House
Watches selling for less than $50 are
exempt from the tax as passed by
the House.
Previous agreement to change the
brackets to which the estate tax
rates would apply so that $4,000. 900
additional revenue would be raised
annually, was set aside and the pres
ent rates of the estate tax restored
TO the bill. The House had increased
these rates to maximum of 40 per
cent over the present 25 per cent
ana this was opposed by Secretary
Mellon.
The radio tax, which is applied to the
manufacturer, was first fixed on all sets
selling for SIS or more President Cool
ldge yesterday voiced opposition to the
imposition Of new taxes as a general
policy.
from the jewelry tax the committee ex-
Guided from total exemption under this
tax musical instruments, eyeglasses and
SpectacleS.
Articles used for religious purposes,
however. were given complete exemption
from the tax. The changes in this tax.
Chairman Smoot said, will bring in
S2.0o0,000 more than under the pro-
vision as passed by the House.
Freed from meeting of the Senate
hwr
the COMMITTEES went ahead with a view
to concluding today its work on the
bill
A report of the measure to the Sem
ate hS next Monday or Tuesday was
promised by Chairman Smoot
Most of the miscellaneous and ex-
cIse tax reductions made by the
House were approved last night by
the committee in concluding it's work
on. the rate schedules
The present tax on telegraph and
telephone messages, eliminated by the
House, however, was restored to the
bill, as were the levy on billiard and
pool tables and bowling alleys. The
former involved $34.000,0o0 in reve-
nue. annually, it was estimated, and
the latter about $1,o50,o0o.
$47,0OO.OO0 Shortage.
Restoration of these taxes. coupled
with other changes in the bill passed
by the House, leaves the measure
about 1900, 900 short of raising suf-
hclent revenue next fiscal year, Mr..
Smoot declared, but he predicted this
could be met through probable in
creases in actual returns over Treas
ury estimates. This prospective deficit
funds which the government would
race with passage of special appro-
priation bills now pending and the
soldier bonus bill.
The tax on all coin slot machines
was placed at 10 per cent, whereas
under the present law some are
charged only per cent and some are
entirely free from tax.
/ Brokers who deal exclusively in
farm products were exempted from
the tax on brokers.
Bonus Measure Next.
The committee approved the action
of the House in repeating taxes on
knives, dirks, daggers, liveries; hunting,
shooting and riding garments, yachts
and motor boats, carpets, rugs, trunks,
purses and floor space of theaters.
circuseS and showers.
The committee also approved the
House action in reducing the tax on
admissions and dues, automobile
trucks and tires and accessories, jew
elry and produce exchange sales.
A report of the bill probably will
iioS oO PoosApio' diIihdu oihooI Sdiu
before Tuesday. Action on the floor
of the Senate will not be sought,
then, for a few days, he added, in
order that members may have an op-
portunity to study the bill.
The soldier bonus bill will be taken
up by the committee Immediately
after disposal of the tax measure, Mr..
Snoot said. He thought it was en-
tirely possible, he said, that the bonus
bill would take precedence over the
tax reduction measure on the Senate
floor.