The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1913-10-03
TARIFF BILL is
BEFORE HOUSE
Report Of COnfereeS Is Certain
to Be Adopted
MANY CHANGES IN MEASURE


No Agreement on Plan to Tax Cotton
Futures-Rates on Articles In Gen.
eraI Use Reduced-Heavy Increase
In Income Taxes-$18 900 1000 Sur
plus Predicted by Underwood
The long awaited conference report
on the Wilson Underwood-S Simmons
tariff bill was formally presented to
the house after perfunctory adoption.
The report was agreed to by a
strict party vote, none of the minority
members signing it.
The report was bulky document
of II, 900 words, accompanied by
statement of 5000 words by House
Leader Underwood. The conferees
reported disagreement upon only one
Item, that taxing speculative deals in
cotton futures.
That the report will be adopted and
the rates recommended by the con-
ferees become those of the new law
was foregone conclusion. The prin-
Cipal changes made in the bill we're:
House rates on Photographic, sur
veying, opera glasses and similar in
Btruments, reduced. Cement, asphalt
and limestone, placed on the free
list.
Pig iron, scrap iron, ferro- mangan-
csc, used in making high priced steel,
free listed. Steel products rates gen.
orally reduced. House rates on zinc
Increased.
Postponement Of the placing OF su-
gar on the free list was agreed upon.
All duty was removed from cattle,
sheep and other food animals, wheat
and its products, and eggs. House
duties on oats. butter, beets, peas,
currants, chocolate and cocoa were
cut.
BY changing classifications, rates on
fancy weaves and novelty cotton cloths
were slightly reduced. Cotton yarns
were increased. Cheap stockings were
reduced. Lace curtains were in
creased.
Wool rates were generally de-
creased, including filannels, blankets
and cheaper stockings. Duties on
higher priced stockings were in
creased.
The decreased wool schedules are
not made effective until Jan. /, 1914. !
Raw wool becomes free on Dec. l, |
1913. Silk ribbons, bands and narrow
were increased 40 to As per-
cent.
Among the sundries, fur skins, |
and harness were made !
free of duty.
The following important additions |
10 the free list were made:
Sugar machinery, school text books
and unused moving picture films.
Countervailing duties were placed |
On potatoes, wheat and its products.
The principal changes in the in
,ome tax were additional taxes on in
zones over SIS, 900 annually. ranging
% Z percent on swollen fortunes,
md taxing as low as $4,000, except
Up to $4,000.
When Underwood introduced the
report in the house it was
agreed to let it lie over until today to
begin its consideration.
THE bill is eminently satisfactory
Is now drafted, said Underwood. TT
will yield a surplus revenue next
rear of s1S, 600, OOO."
Underwood predicted that the house
will indorse Presidents Wilson's COM
promise plan to tax cotton futures.
lie would not say whether he thought
he cotton futures taxing plan would
De struck out in the senate and post
'oned for separate consideration later.
Il did not sign the report" said
Senator La Toilette, because | had
'een given no opportunity to examine
is contents, not being admitted to the
| did not take a posi-
ion Of hostility TO the bill: l merely
efused to vote in the dark"
Senator Penrose, who represented
he regular Republicans OF the upper
louse, said he would not know, I'M
II he had conferred with his asso-
iates, whether they would make any
peeches on the report.
Both he and La Toilette we're in
lined to believe the debate would be
lrief.
Our refusal to sign the report |
howed our positions" said Repre-
entative Payne.