The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-29

average than those in the original
| house bill.
The tariff on automobiles fixed by the
| house at 40 per cent and radically cut
by the senate, was finally compromised
| by making new classification of au-
| tomobiles valued below $4,000 for which
| a rate of 80 per cent was fixed.
Agricultural Products.
Some of the more important changes
| agreed to by the conference covered
the schedule of agricultural products
and provisions. In addition to putting
cattle and sheep on the free list the
conference agreed to reductions on
oats, butter, beets, extracts of meat,
curran nts, chocolate and other provi-
sions. The five per cent rebate in tar
iff made by the house bill on goods
brought in American ships was retained
in the conference with the added pro-
vision that it should not be so con-
strued as to abrogate or in any manner
impair or affect the provisions of any
treaty the United States now has.
The conference also amended that
portion of the house bill requiring for
eign manufacturers or exporters to
submit their books to American GUS
toms agents, so that if the exporter re-
fused to allow such examination an ad-
ditional tariff duty of fifteen per cent
ad valorem can be imposed on his ex-
ports.
The conference agreement repeals
section s of the Cuban reciprocity
treaty. which provided that Cuba
should have a preferential rate of 20
per cent on sugar, and that the gen.
eral sugar tariff of the United States
should not be reduced below the fig
ures of the Dingley tariff law of 1897.
The section of the house bill which
has thrown outside the civil service
the entire force of income tax admin
istrators for a period of two years
was nh yod 1aX-t ho
mittee. In it's new form employees of
the internal revenue office in Wash
ington below the grade of chief of
division" concerned with the income
tax must still be selected under civil
service rules. Those outside may be
appointed by the commissioner of in
terna1 revenue under rules fixed by
the secretary of the treasury. The
new provision of the income tax al
lowing a $4,000 exemption for a mar
ried person provides that only one de-
duction of $4,000 shall be made from
the aggregate income of both hus-
band and wife when living together
La Toilette Refuses to Sign.
The conference committee met
shortly after 10 O'Clock and the COM
pleted report was submitted to the
full committee by Chairman Simmons.
After a brief discussion it wa sap
proved by the eight Democrats, while
the six Republicans. who had taken
tions, refused to sign it.
Senator La Toilette, one of the Re
publican confereeS who voted for the
tariff bill in the senate announced to
the conference that he did not de-
cline to approve the report because of |
prejudice against it, but because he |
had not. been consulted in the prepar-
alton of the agreement. The confer
ence. report did not appear in the SEN
ate at today's session and Senator !
Kern obtained niT1Ou at
today's adjournment of the senate /
should extend until Wednesday. BY |
that time it is expected the house will |
have disposed of the report.
Senator Simmons, chairman of the |
senate finance committee planned to /
keep the senate in session as long as |
possible, Wednesday in the hope that /
the conference report can be adopte
before adjournment Wednesday or at
the latest by Thursday
Majority Leader Underwood pre-
sented the conference report as soon
as the house met, he explained that !
members might wish to debate its ac- /
ceptance for some time and secure an
agreement by which the house will |
meet at IL o'clock instead of noon to-
morrow.
After the report is acted upon"
said Mr.. Underwood, I'VE expect to
take up and act upon the senate
relating to cotton futures,
which is the only thing in disagree
IlenI between the two houses.
Murdock'S Amendment
Two amendments offered by minor
lty members of the conference com
m1ttee were rejected by the Demo-
Gratis Representative Murdoch, pro-
gressiVe moved the house accept the
Clarke cotton futures tax; while Rep
resentatiVe Fordney, Republican, Of
fered an amendment to extend from
March to June, 1914, the time when
ihe new sugar tariff becomes effec-
tive. Representatives Fordney, Muir
dock and Payne and Senators Pen
rose and La Toilette did not sign the
conference report. Senator Lodge was
absent.
Representative Underwood chair
man of the house conferees, in state
ment today expressed satisfaction at
the outcome of the final tariff nego-
t1ations. The house was compelled to
Yield on some items where it believed
higher duties should be retained in
order to obtain revenue" he said.
The bill is lower in it's average than
either the house or the senate bill as
originally passed because the house
accepted most of the senates de-
creases and rejected most of it's in
creases.''
Members of the house were caution
ed by Mr.. Underwood not to leave
inquirers that he expected the senate
to act upon the report by that time.
Its adoption by both houses will see
a great exodus of members of the
house from the capitol, scores of
whom do not expect to return for
several weeks.