The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-12
Argument to Begin in
Senate at Noon
Wednesday.
SIM MONS WILL
FIRE OPENING GUN
Penrose in Charge of Fight for
Republicans, and Two Minority
Reports Are in Preparation.
Debate May Be Concluded
Within Five Weeks Is
Latest Prediction.

Washington, July 11.-Discussion Of
the Underwood Simmons tariff revision
till, with its lengthy free list, greatly
reduced rates on all commodities and
its altered principle OF adj valorem in
stead of specific rates will actually be-
gin in tho Senate next Wednesday at
noon. on Monday. however. the open
ing assault upon the Democratic meas
ure will be made by Senator McCumber,
Of North Dakota. who gave notice he
would speak on the agricultural Schcd :
ule.
The Finance Committee agreed that
he should speak ahead of the formal
opening because he is called away from
Washington Monday night. After the
Finance Committee had ordered the bill
reported early to-day. minority mem
bers Of the committee began to plan
their reports. There probably will be
two. one by Senators Penrose. Smoot,
Lodge. McCumber. Gallinger and Clark.
and a separate report by Senator La
Toilette. who has had a corps of cX-
perts at work on the bill and will have
amendments that will constitute prac-
ticaily an entire new bill
Senator Smoot has in preparation an
entire new wool schedule. which he
intends TO submit AS an amendment
"Wednesday. Chairman Simmons. Of
the Finance Committee, will file the
majority report Wednesday and will
make the opening argument for the
DEMOCRATS and the administration
During consideration of the meas
ure. Senator Simmons will have general
charge of the debate for the Democrats
and Senator Pcnrose for the Republi-
cans.
Few Changes Made.
The bill. reDOTtei the Senate
contained comparatively few changes
from that which was reported three
weeks ago 60 the Democratic caucus
by the Finance Committee majority.
Among these Were few changes in
rates and The free listing Of anthony
ore. blankets costing less than 40 cents
pound. Cast-iron pipes OF every de-
scription, raw furs. gunpowder and a
few other commodities
An amendment made necessary be-
cause Of changing the date from Jan
uary !, 1913 10 March !. 1913 from
which incomes shall be computed for
;hc income tax for the first year pro-
ridcs that the excise corporation tax
OF per cent shall be collected for the
months Of January and February. 1913
The cotton future stamp tax of one
tenth OF cent per pound Is inserted
In tho bill as a special section, and
upon this tax IL Is expected that the
government viii derive some revenue
as its most sanGuine supporters do
not expect that the tax Will entirely
eliminate stock gambling in cotton
futures.
In the Finarcc Committee meeting
there was informal discussion over the
length OF time the bill will require in
the Senate. When Chairman simmons
speaking for the Democrats said he
thought the debate could be concluded
in hve weeks. Senator Smoot. OF the
minority, agreed with him. declaring
that the Republicans had no intention
OF pnrposely prolonging the discus
sion.
AS II goes to ;he Senate. the bill is
much lower rate bill than the House
bill by nearly 10 per cent, the Senate
Finance Committee majority and the
caucus having greatly extended the
already liberal free list and reduced
many rates. notably in the metal, wool
and agricultural schedules
The Underwood bill, passed the
House May S. and for two months II
has been under careful scrutiny by The
Finance Committee majority, which
made many changes. and finally by
the caucus which dcliberated on the
measure more than two weeks. Sweep
ing changes were made in the admin
istrative features and the income tax.
The basis of assessment OF incomes
WAS Cnd from Sf.UUO TO incomes
over $4,000 for single persons. with
$1,000 additional for married persons
and $500 for each dependent child not
to exceed two maximum exemption
OF $4,000 SurtaX provision for in
creased rates of taxation on incomes
of $4,000. $4,000 and 100000 were
retained. the normal tax being left at
l per cent
Stricken From BrI.
Tf lao IT,,Ia L
signed to grant a tariff discount of
per cent on imports in American ships.
to compel examination of books of for
eign manufacturers when valuations
are in dispute, to provide an extra
duty on goods sold in this country at
less than the foreign price and other
reform features were stricken from the
bill by the Senate Democrats.
Since the changes made by the FL
nance Committee. the caucus still fur
ther revised the bill, the principal
changes being: %
Cast iron pipe. transferred to free
from IL per cent ad valorem; automo-
bilcS. minimum rate of 10 per cent,
established on cars valued at 1000 or
less: railway wheels. reduced from %
to - per cent textile machines re-
duced from % 10 20 per cent. and agri-
cultural implements put on the free
list: extracts of meat. reduced from Is
to 10 cents pound and fluid extracts
of meat. from to cents n pound:
woolcn ard cotton stockings. valued
at less than $l.20 n dozen. 30 per cent
ad valorem and more than $l.20. %
per cent. the division in the House bill
being 20 cents instead of S1.20; combed
wool, reduced from Is to 5 per cent;
woolen yarns. from 20 to Is per cent;
woolen blankets valued at less than
40 cents pound, transferred to free
list from 25 per cent: silk yarns. from
35 to 90 per cent; Gunpowdcr and full
minating powders, transferred to free