The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-06-11
TARIFF CHANGES
NOT DICTATED
Current that President Wilson
Suggested Them Is Denied
by Senator Simmons.
THE PUBLIC Is SET RIGHT
Dumping Clause" Of Bill viii Be
Stricken from Measure Before
i Reaching Caucus.

A denial that President Wilson has
dictated any Of the changes made in the
Underwood tariff, bill since it was re.
ported to the Senate was issued yes.
terday by Chairman Simmons. of the
Senate Finance Committee. He said:
so much has been said In the press
concerning the Presidents alleged con-
nection with certain amendments recon.
mended by certain subcommittee of the
Finance Committee that is misleadinp
and erroneous that in order that the
public may understand the real facts
l wish to say that while the President
has expressed to the members of the
Finance Committee, es he is reported &c
have expressed TO members of the Ways
and Means Committee when the bill was
In the House, strong views and convic.
tons with respect to placing on the free
list wool and sugar, he has not, so far
as I know, expressed any views as &c
the other provisions OF the bill except
when his opinion has been asked and has
not in any WAY attempted to dictate 10
the committee.
Current Report Incorrect.
THE view current in the newspapers
TO the effect that a subcommittee of the
Finance Committee has decided to recon-
mend that wheat and live stock, as well
as meat and -four, should go on the free
list at the instance and dictation of the
President Is not correct. So far as I
know the President has expressed no
opinion with respect TO this matter, ex-
cept that when told of the probable &C.
ton Of the subcommittee putting these
articles on the free list in response TO
an inquiry as TO his opinion on the SUBJ
ject he expressed approval.
No. - Z
adopted the countervailing proviso with
respect TO wheat and -four at the Presi-
dents dictation after much discussion,
as has been represented. On the con-
trary the President has expressed no
views SO far as | know to the committee
on this subject, and the committees ac-
ton with reference to the countervail-
ing duties on these articles was taken
at the same time IL decided TO recon-
mend that they be put on the free list. 3"
Dumping Clause 10 Go.
The dumping clause of the Under
wood bill will be stricken from the meas
ure before it reaches the Democratic
caucus. Because of manifest difficulties
in enforcing and administering this fea-
ture OF the bill, the Williams subcommit-
tee decided to eliminate II. The clause
provided that any article consigned to
tire IHiteu otdttS at less IMAM the nome
market price in the country from which
II was shipped should be taxed the diff
ference between the two prices. The spe-
eial or dumping" tax in no case was to
exceed Is per cent ad valorem, and was
not to be applied to goods on which a
duty OF 80 per cent or more is levied.
Owing to reported opposition from
President Wilson 1t is believed that the
proposal to force a dissolution of the
monopoly by imposing a heavy
tax on its products will be dropped.
The Underwood bill was considered by
the entire majority of the Senate Finance
Committee yesterday for the first time.
The subcommittee brought i'm reports Of
what they had done with the schedules
referred to them, and the work of going
over the entire bill was begun The
and wood schedules were COM
pleted. 1t was determined that tanning
products and indigo dyes should be
placed on the free list and that coal
dyes should be greatly reduced. Cedar
" God and all of its products were placed
IN the free list.