El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-09-23
.CONGRESsSEEKST To
AVERT 4 TRADE WAR
Tariff Rates May Be De
ferred Until New Agree
ments Are Made.

Washington, D. c., Sept. 23.-Consid-
GRAFTON was given by the tariff con-
feres today to the plan to supplement
the tariff bill with a special congress-
ionaI amendment to prevent trade wars
with foreign countries.
Guard Against Penalties.
Apprehension that the Democratic
! tariff bill might lead foreign nations
to impose tariff penalties against the
United States as soon as the new law
goes into effect caused administration
and senate leaders 10 plan the intro
ductiOn OF a joint resolution In con
gress making specific provision for the
continuation of existing relations with
all countries until president Wilson has
time to negotiate new trade agree
ments.
The seriousness Of the situation that
VIII confront the administration was
impressed upon chairman Simmons, Of
the senate finance committee, by state
department officials. It was pointed
out that the trade re.ations established
1y president Tafts proclamatiOns IN
der the Payne-Aldrich law would ter
inmate as soon as the new laws became
effective and that me United States
would face the possibility of having
higher tariff rates applied against its
exports by many countries While the
tariff law would give the president au-
thOrity to negotiate trade and reciproc-
ity, it would authorize him TO apply
special penalty rates against any coun-
try discriminating against the United
States.
To Prevent Trade Wars.
To prevent the possibility of trade
wars. the state department is now
drafting a joint resolution, which will
provide that existing relations shall
continue for four months. This will
not keep in effect the tariff rates on
the Payne-Aldrich law, but will assure
70 foreign countries that the new pen
atty provision of the UnderwOod-Sim-
mons bill will not be applied to them
until a reasonable time has been al
lowed the president and the state de-
partment to negotiate new trade treat
les Practically all nations having any
foreign commerce Will be asked to en-
ter into such pacts.
Bill to be Separate Act.
At the white house and later at the
state department, . senator Simmons
POINTED out to administration officials
hat it would be impossible to insert
the provision desired as an amendment
TO the tariff bill because the introduce
ton Of any new matter is precluded
while the bill is in conference. The
btl will be put through congress as a
separate act, supplementary to the tar
If law.
would authorize the president to assess
extra duties on coffee, tea, fish, china
ware, silks, laces, jewelry, sugar and
many other items coming from coun-
tries not treating the United States as
resolution could not prevent other
countries from imposing higher tariffs
from the United STAKES. it is said it
will induce them TO withhold such &C
ton, temporarily at least.
Increase Income Tax Rate.
The senate eonferees won their fight
for a heavier tax on big incomes, when
the house members of the conference
committee agreed to accept the senate
increasing the tax rate to
= Y INN n incomes
more than 100000.
With prospects for extended discus
sion of the administration currency
bill the senate banking committee to-
day continued to hear Samuel Inter
meyer, of New Yerk, discuss the meas
Ure.
VIII Not Rush Money Bill.
An attempt to hurry along considera-
ton of the currency bill failed. Sena-
tor ShafrOth, of Colorado, tried Vainly
hearings on Saturday, October 4. Sena-
tors Reed, of Missouri: Bristow, of
Kansas, and Weeks, of Massachusetts,
declared against any attempt to limit
the consideration of the bill Il think
other members of the committee are
to see" senator Weeks said,
that this bill will take up most of the
ran ana purpose calling IN the com
ihlItee soon the resolution 1 introduced
IN the senate to allow the bill to go
over to the regular session next win
Necessity for Amendment.
Senator Reed said that hearings We're
bringing out points of the bill which
showed the necessity for amendment
aIlu mat he was in favor OF nearing
everyone who had any important sug
Sesuons TO offer. Senator Bristow in
sisted that the small country banker
shouId be heard, and senator Weeks
said that he had requests from six
Massachusetts, bankers who wished to
appear.