New-York tribune., 1913-06-20
TARIFF BILL GOES
INTO CAUCUS TODAY
Democratic Senators to ConSId-
er Schedules While Commit
tee Acts on Income Tax.
MANY CHANGES AGREED TO
Anti. Dumping Clause Out and
President Authorized to I'm ,
pose Higher Duties on
Specified Articles.
lFrom The Tribune Rurcan.l


Washington. June 19.-The Democratic
members Of the Senate Finance Commit
tee completed to-day consideration Of
the administrative section of the tariff
bill and took up the revision Of the IN
come tax section. one of the most com
plex Of the tasks still confronting IT,,
making radical changes in the measure
as it came from the House. To expedite
the progress of the bill the Democratic
caucus Of the Senate was called for to-
morrow TO put the final seal Of party ap-
proval on the tariff section while the in
come tax section IS being revised.
The Finance Committee decided to rec
ommend the appointment Of commits
sion. composed OF members Of the FL
nance Committee and the Ways and
Means Committee. TO dispose Of the ques-
tions involved in the administrative sec
ton of the bill. The Senate revisionists.
however. voted To drop the ant!-dumping
clause, one Of the important features Of
the House bill. and rejected the sUgges-
ton of the Attorney General that the
Secretary Of the Treasury be given au-
thorty to fix ad valorem rates from time
TO time by proclamation.
The committee amended tho income tax
provision tonight by lowering the basic
exemption OF incomes from 500 10
$4,000 The committee further provides
that the tax may be imposed on the in
comes OF both wife and husband when
they enjoy separate incomes. that there
shall be an additional exemption Of $1,000
for q dependent wife or husband. and eN-
emptions Of $500 each for the first two
children. but this shall not be increased
FOR any additional children.
The anti-dumping provision OF the pres
ent law. the committee decided. was suf-
ficient 10 prevent the flooding Of the
American market with the excess pro-
duction II foreign manufacturers and
producers. II this action is approved by
the caucus. IT is probable that the proyl-
sion will be a point OF serious dispute
between the two houses In conference.
as the plan proposed met with the gem
eral approval Of the House leaders.
Power to Retaiate.
In lieu Of the maximum and minimum
feature Of the present law. which has
been OF great value In providing the
government with a weapon against dis
elimination against American products,
the committee adopted a provision al
thoriz!ng the President 10 impose higher
rates on specified articles imported from
countries which discriminate against
American products.
Only specified articles. g. Is understood
are To- be included under the terms OF
this amendment. and the retaliatory rates
are specified also Among the articles
Included I'm tho list on which the Pres.-
dent might suspend rates arc Ash. wheat.
wheat -four coffee. tea. carthenware.
wines and malt liquors. silk dress goods.
leather gloves. jewelry. sugars and mo-
lasses The duties prescribed vary a. 70
the different articles. Fish IL Is reported
would be dutiable az I cent a pound.
wheat at 10 cents a bushel. -four at 70
cents q barrel, and a few cents pound
on coffee and tea. on other items the
penalty would be doubled rate. while
on sugars. which probably never would
be affected, the rate would be only a
fraction Of a cent pound.
The provisions in the House bill relating
to the examination Of the books Of for
eign exporters i'm the case OF a dispute
over values. against which protests We're
filed by several foreign governments were
eliminated The committee also aban-
donod the House subsidy provision re-
duclng the rate on goods imported in
American bottoms. which has also been
the subject OF numerous Diplomatic pro-
tests.
Caucus Work To Be Long.
Although the Democratic caucus viii
begin the work Of final revision to-mor-
row. It is not probable that tho bill will
be finally approved for a week or more.