Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-06-05
Action to Place Meat and Flour
on Dutiable List Is Re-
versed.
THAT FEATURE SETTLED NOW
Genuine Mutual Life Insurance
Companies Are to Be Ex-
empt from the In
come Tax.

washington, June 3.--Reversing its
former action in voting to place wheat
flour oatmeal and freshmeats on the
dutiable list, the Senate finance SUBJ
committee. in charge of the agricul-
tural schedule. voted late to-day to
place livestock, wheat and oats on the
free list.
This action, 1t was authoritatively
stated. was taken to meet the views
of President Wilson, Senator Simmons,
chairman of the finance committee, and
other administration leaders, who dis
approved the decision announced yes
terday to tax meats 10 per cent. com
pensatory to a duty on cattle in the
Underwood bill and to assess a COM
pensatory duty on both -four and oat-
meal.
Senator Simmons conferred with the
President last week about his views
derwood bill with regard. to these raw
materials and their products.
When the sub committees tentative
action was announced this morning,
the senator went Immediately to the
White House.
After leaving the White House Sem
ator simmons called on Senator Will
liams, chairman of the sub committee,
and told him of the sentiment for
free cattle and free wheat Then the
sub committee was called together
and its former action reversed.
The matter is settled now" said SEN
ator Simmons, "and that is the way the
schedule will go to the Senate
The inquisitorial clause of the Under
wood bill which aroused foreign protest
has been giving the Williams sub-com-
mittee considerable trouble and In trying
to work out a modification of Its pro-
visions the committee has had the aid Of
Secretary McAdoo, Secretary Bryan and
John Bassett Moore, counsellor of the
state department.
A plan is being discussed to combine
portion of this provision with the
amendment proposed. giving the secretary
of the treasury the right to proclaim
values, thus to have a safeguard against
undervaluations and at the same time rid
the provision of its features objection
able to foreign powers,
The main purpose of the inquisitorial
clause was to prevent undervaluations, a
necessity under an ad valorem tariff sys-
TEN.
Secretary McAdoo submitted to Chair
man Simmons to-day his views on this
general subject and the committee now
has them under advsement
The proposal to place for the first time
in the country's history a tariff on raw
or undressed furs has aroused loud pro-
tests from furriers. The Underwood bill
proposes a rate of 10 per cent. on raw
furs. one brief filed with the committee
by Joseph Ullman of New York stated
that duty no matter how small on raw
furs would completely destroy an inter-
national trade which United States fur
merchants have built up. Fur skins are
free In all foreign countries except Russia
which has a very small specific duty by
weight. The brief insisted that the tariff
would result in loss to American mer-
chants of se.ooO0OO annually.
1t was reported tonight that the sub
committee considering the income tax
has about decided to amend the bill so
as to give genuine mutual life insurance
companies exemption. The measure. it
was said, would not be fatty amended to
exempt mutual life insurance companies
from the tax. Upon the companies would
rest the burden Of the proof as to
whether they would be entitled to ex-
emption.
Automobiles costing not more than 81 0OC
1t was learned tonight. will be taxed 30
per cent ad valorem instead of As per
cent. as In the Underwood bill. This
will be in the report Of Senator Stone's
subcommittee. Cars worth ZOO or less.
the subcommittee cla5sed as necessities,