The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-11
Important Amendment May be
Recommended by Senate
Finance Committee
DEMOCRATS CAN PUT
PROGRAM THROUGH
Will Refer Tariff Bill to Com
mittee on Tuesday With
out instructions as TO
Public Hearings

WASHINGTON. May 10.-The SEN
ate committee on finance held no
meeting today, but the chairman, Sem
ator Simmons. Of North Carolina. held
conference with Secretary Redfield. of
the department of commerce: James
r. Curtis, assistant secretary of the
treasury, In charge OF customs. and
w. T. Denison, assistant attorney gen.
eral
AS result of the conferences. It Is
likely that the finance committee will
recommend an amendment to the I'm
derwood bill comforting on the sec
rotary OF the treasury the authority to
proclaim values of imported goods as
the basis for assessing ad valorem du-.
ties under the Underwood law. AS
sistant Secretary Curtis spoke for Sec
rotary McAdoo, explained to Chair
man Simmons the necessity of some
plan of striking an average on valua-
ton on all articles of fluctuating value.
President Advised.
President Wilson also has been ap-
prised of the importance of such an
amendment, which. 1t is claimed,
would cut down litigation and take
much OF the burdensome work off the
hands of the board of appraisers. 1t
is believed by its proponents to be alb
soIutely necessary for the successful
working out OF an ad valorem tariff
bill
The amendment would give the sec
rotary authority to proclaim the du-
table value of any merchandise as
finally decided by the appraisers. in
case of no appeal, to be dutiable value,
but whenever. in the Judgment OF the
secretary, it lis practicable to make Il
general schedule of dutiable values.
he may from time to time proclaim
such values. publish them to take eff
feet in no case less than fifteen days
after punishment, and. lin the absence
OF such announcement. proclamation
shall take afIect at the close of such
fifteenth dag. and such proclamation
shall continue In effect until revoked
or modified by the secretary upon sixty
days notice
Such proclaimed values by the sec
rotary would De used in lieu Of for
eign market values. thereby steadying
the customs cases as derived from an
ad valorern system.
Another Amendment.
Another amendment proposed by
the treasury and department of jus
tice officials would make IT uniawfui
for any person TO take up appeals
from appraised valuations on a contin-
gent fee basis. Assistant Attorney
General Denison said today that this
amendment, together with the pro-
vision already in the bill requiring a
fee of 81 for all protests and appeals.
would curtail customs litigation SO per
cent
Senate Democrats are planning to
caucus on the tariff bill on Monday.
to thrash out the much-disputed wooi
and sugar schedules and other fea-
lures that have developed isolated par
ty opposition. There also will be set
tied the question OF excusing senators
from supporting any particular section
of the bill.
Secretary Redield laid before Sem
ator Simmons for his consideration a
petition from zoo manufacturers OF
farm implements, saying that they
did not wish any tariff. What they
did wish was free trade with other
countries, the right TO send their
goods into foreign countries for sale
without being taxed
Palmer Called In.
Representative A. Mitchell Palmer,
of the house ways and means COM
mittee, was called in during the con-
ference to explain Just what had been
done in regard to the provisions OF
the tax as ii relates to life insurance
companies He explained that the
bill had been amended in the house
SO as not to put tax upon the pay
ment of the policies to the bene-
ficiaries.
The ACCESSIBILITY Of giving the man
ufacturersr an opportunity to adjust
themselves to the new conditions
which will arise upon the enactment
of new tariff law, by making the
schedules effective not as provided by
the house, Immediately upon the sign
ing of the bill by the president, but
at some future date, was suggested
by Secretary of Commerce Redfield,
who was In conference for two hours
today with Senator Simmons, chair
man of the senate finance committee.
Secretary Redfield said after the
conference that he had suggested no
specific date for the schedule to go
into effect, but had merely called the
attention of Mr.. Simmons to the >uat-
ter as one well worth attention. He
said that the textile manufacturers,
II any, might require little time to
adjust their business to the new
rates.
The Income Tax.
The question OF when the income
tax should go into effect also was dis
cussed, and It was suggested that pos
sibiy it might be better to exempt
the first six months Of the present
year from the tax.
1t is evident that the Democrats
in the senate will be able to put
through their party program on Tues
day, which involves the reference Of
the tariff bill to the finance commit
tee without instructions as to pub
lie hearings.
Resume Work On Roads.
Especial 10 The Richmond Virsinian.)
n pVCKCpTYnfz A~.,