The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-25

SENATE: Not i'm session. meets
Thursday,
Democratic caucus continues revision
on wool
HOUSE, Met at noon.
Judiciary committee determined on
hearings in the Diggs-Caminetti white
slave and Western Fuel prosecutions
Adjourned at 3:22 p. m. until noon
Thursday.
Radical changes in the income tax plan
Of the Underwood tariff bill and altera-
tion of the administrative features of the :
measure to overcome most of the objee-
tions raised by foreign governments we're
agreed upon in tentative way today by
the. democratic members of the Senate
finance committee.
The income tax, under the new plan.
would apply To individual incomes over
$9o00. but would make important exemp-
tions for individual. municipalities, civic
bodies and mutual Insurance companies.
Changes in the administrative sections.
include a new provision giving the Presi-
dent authority 10 increase tariffs against
certain foreign articles coming from coun-
tries that discriminate against the United
States
Important Changes
The proposed 5 per cent concession In
tariff on goods brought in American
ships; the anti-dumpins clause, and the
provision giving United States authori-
ties ''inquisitoral powers" To examine
books of foreign manufacturers when
! the valuation of goods in dispute. were
stricken out These provisions brought
protests from many foreign nations.
Democrats of the committee made {
clear today that some further changes
might be made in the income tax and
administrative sections before they were
reported to the Senate caucus, but these
revised sections as made public today ara
expected to stand with but little altera-
ton until the caucus reaches them SEM
ate democrats in caucus on the bill spent
Il the entire day in wool and sugar. just
before adjournment stonglsstc milaNap
Simmons OF ethe- ffAancta sesfffffsstte .seSls
| cured agreement 10 vote upon both not
later than O'Clock tonight Amendment
to the free wool provision has been Of
| fered, but the majority senators Will have
an opportunity to express their opinions
| on two sugar amendments.
Senator Shaffroth offered TO fix ths
rate at the end of three years at about
one-half cent pound instead of the Tree
list provision now in the bill. Senator
Thornton offered the second amendment
to provide that the rates remain as they
are in the PayneAldrich act.
May Concentrate Support
1t was regarded as probable tonight
/ that the anti-free sugar men would get
| together tomorrow before the vote is
taken to decide to concentrate their sup
port behind one amendment, If the other
| is beaten. Leaders of the majority were
confident that despite the oratory against
| free sugar it would be retained in the
bill and that only the two louisiana sem
ators would be found opposed to it when
the measure reaches the Senate
Under the proposed new form of the
income tax an additional exemption OF
$1,000 would be allowed to married men
| or married women with dependent wives
| or husbands, not taxable under this law,
and $500 would be added for each depend
| ent child living with and dependent upon
| the taxable parent. In case of both
parties being taxable, however. no ex-
emption for children would apply
/ Other important changes in the plan
include the exemption from taxation Of
that portion of the premiums contained
by the mutual life or mutual marine
insurance companies which may be
turned to policy holders in the form of
dividends The taxation of this portion
of their income had been bitterly opposed
by the insurance companies The Tn
derwood bill had exempted only mutual
fire insurance companies on this basis.
i Chambers of commerce, civic bodies and
cities counties and states are added to
the class of organizations whose incomes
will not be taxable
To secure the payment of tax upon
coupons, checks or bills of exchange
collected for foreign residents, a provi-
sion was added requiring all firms col
ecting such funds to secure "A license
frem the commissioner of internal reye-
nue so the amount OF their collections
might at any time be inquired into.
The revision of the administrative fea-
lures eliminates many of the reforms
proposed i'm the Underwood bill as it
passed the House. the Senate COMMITTEES
proposes an amendment, however, pro-
viding for joint committee to investi-
gate the revenue administration laws with
the view TO simplifying, harmonlznS, re-
visng and codifying' them.
This committee would consist of three
senators to be appointed by the vice pres
ident and four members of the ways and
means committee to be appointed by the
speaker and their recommendations would
be required to be reported not later than
tCOntinned ON page Eleven)