Evening star., 1943-12-09

creases pending completion of a
cost study within the department
Under the committee action
which still is subject to Senate ap-
proval or rejection, the rate on local
first-class mail would rise from to
8 cents an ounce, air mail would 90
up from to cents and post Offices
would charge higher fees for money
orders and registered, insured and
c. O. D. mail.
The committee now has acted on
majority of the proposed excise
tax changes, granting downward re-
visions, as compared to House rates,
in several cases.
Travellers, telephone users, whisky
drinkers, clubmen, pool players,
night club playboys and women
buying furs, face powder and hand
bags are among those affected bv
the new levies, previously voted by
the House but still subject to Senate
approval.
Increases Listed.
The committee approved reduc-
tons below the House levels in four
categories, raised two left eight
unchanged and specified fiat
rather than a percentage rate on
the sport of bowling.
The following increases, provided
in the House bill, were approved by
the Senators without change:
Whisky, from Sc a proof gallon
to SO.
Beer, from 81 barrel to So.
Toilet preparations, from 10 per
cent Of retail price to 25 per cent.
Telephone service, local, from 10
to IS per cent; long distance, from
20 to Is per cent.
Domestic telegraph. radio and
cable service, from IS to 25 per cent.
Transportation of persons Cin-
cluding sleeping car charges, from
10 to Is per cent.
Dues Levy Raised.
Club dues and initiation fees, from
II to 20 per cent.
Billiard and pool tables, from $40
table annually to $40.
Raised even higher than House
rates were taxes on
Leased wires, from Is per cent to
Is per cent. House had voted &c
per cent?
Burglar and fire alarms. from s
per cent to per cent. (House had
voted 7 per cent?
The items subject to higher taxes
IL an at present, but below the
House rates, were:
Furs-Increased from 10 to 20 pei
cent. blouse voted Is per cent
Electric light bulbs-Raised from
5 to IS per cent. (House voted q
per cent?
Cabarets-From 5 to 20 per cent
contrasted with 80 per cent approved
by House.
Luggage, wallets and ladies hand
bagS-l5 per cent of retail price, ir
place OF 25 per cent voted by the
House. Luggage at present is sub
Ject to 10 per cent manufacturers
excise tax, while handbags are un-
taxed.
The committee voted to raise the
bowling tax from $40 an alley tc
$40. The House had approved a &c
per cent rate. The committee also
retained the existing 10 per cent tas
on international telegraph, radio
and cable charges.
All End Altar yNar
All the increases will be cancelled
six months after the end of the
war, it was provided by both the
House and the Senate committee.
Following up the liquor tax in.
crease, the committee approved 6
section levying corresponding floor
taxes on liquor held in stock by
dealers.
A few excise taxes remained to be
acted on, including increases rang
ing from so to 100 per cent above
present rates on various types OF
wines; a proposed doubling of the
admlttanceS tax, now l cent or
each 10 cents of the charge; a pro-
jected 5 per cent tax on pari-mutue
betting at race tracks, and a House
approved boost in the jewelry tax
from 10 to 20 per cent of the retail
price. Without acting on the jew
Ielry rate, the committee rejected q
House provision exempting silver
IfateWare from the tax.