TAXING U. S. BRIDAL DOWRIES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 316, 16 February 1910, Page 2

TAXING U. S. BRIDAL DOWRIES

Congressman Sabath is a liuui wiio believes tliat the -bestowal of groat American fortunes upon foreign noblemen by their marriage with American women involves an economic waste which ought not to go u'nenecked, and ke lias therefore framed a Bill which he will introduce next week, providing for an export tax on dowries, and, as regards all dowries over .€20,000, a home tax as well. The export tax on dowries is to be heavier than the internal revenue tax, on the theory that it is worse to take money out of the country than to keep it at home. The export tax ranges from 1 per cent, on fortunes 1 of £20,000, and increases ad valorem, until any bride wit]) 1,000,000 dollars must 'pay Uncle Sam 20 per «ent. Mr. Sabath is in earnest about his proposal, but it is doubtful whether the home tax will be passed, because in many cases the .prospective husband does not possess' sufficient funds to pay j the duty, and so the burden would fall upon the father-in-law. The export tax tax on dowries may pass, because the I frequency of marriages between EuioI peans with big titles and small purses jnnd American heiresses has' nettled \ quite a large number of people who | believe in protecting home industries. llt is doubtful, according to some au-

thorities interviewed, whether the export tax will affect the number of international marriages. American heiresses and their mothers are really the responsible parties, because they seem to encourage European s'uitors, and native rivals are usually handicapped because no matter how rich they may be, they are generally too busy getting still richer to spare much time for courtship.—New York correspondent of the Telegraph.