Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-01
OPPONENTS HEARD AGAINST LOAN BILL CLOSE OF HEARNGS|
Ways and Means Committee
Ends Tariff Discussion.
MAY ADD TO FREE LIST
Hospitals Want Free Medicines and
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Changes Suggested.

| The tariff hearings We're to wind up to-
day after almost month of practically
daily sessions of the House committee on
ways and means. The final testimony
today was by witnesses interested in the
free list and in the phraseology Of the
administrative portion of the tariff law.
The program included a discussion of fur.
milk products, tapioca, church statu-
airy, beeswax and bristles and other
things.
With the evidence all in, supplementary
to mass of information gathered when
the Payne-Aldrich bill was framed in
1909 the committee is ready to proceed
next week with executive sessions. pos
sibly both day and night. that may con-
tinue not only through February, but
through most of March, in the formula
ton Of tentative legislation for the in
coming Congress.
May Add to Free List.
The free list part of the revision plan.
which was up today, will not substantial
IN differ from the former democratic
free list bill so far that measure Went.
but it may carry some additions. The old
to involve reductions of $s37J.67G a year.
though President Taft raised that estl-
mate to $1O,OOO.OOO or $14.O0oOO.
Propositions for amending the admins
trative feature of the present law We're
discussed largely today. William J. Glib
son of New York. the principal witness
along this line, suggested numerous ideas
in the interest of those bringing in a
large amount of merchandise from
abroad
LODI hat fla Lax Ia
changed so that importers, now penal
lied for each l per cent of advancement
made by an appraiser above the entered
value of goods, be given a leeway of -
per cent without penalty. and explained
that there used to he 10 per cent lee
way. He said he did not believe this
would give any loophole for greater I'M
dervaluations
Wants More Examiners.
He suggested that the number Of eX-
amners at the New York customs house
be doubled. so that two should examine
goods instead of one. and where they do
not substantially accord that the matter
| be referred to a deputy appraiser. which
he said might save the government con-
siderable money. He made some suS-
gestions regarding remission of penalties
and forfeitures where fraud was not
shown and favored interest. perhaps at
J per cent, on money paid over on excess
valuations when the enhanced valuation
was found to have been unwarranted.
Says Consumer Pays.
Representative Payne of New York, for
mer committee chairman. suggested tina:
it was really the ultimate consumer that
had this equitable interest due him. as
the importers charged up the extra duty
to the consumers.
The hearings were finally closed this
afternoon after Thomas NJ. Lane of New
York had spoken in the interest of church
statuary. Lee Stein of New York on
| tapiOca and James l.. Gerry of New York
| on customs administration.
Hospitals Make Pleas.
] Modification of the administrative pro-
visions of the tariff law. the free admis-
sion OF medicines and surgical instru-
ments for hospitals and scientific APP
paratus for institutions of research and
continuance of free admission of numer-
Gus raw materials were urged at the con-
Guiding hearing before the House commit
tee on ways and means yesterday.
Approximately 600 leading hospitals in
the country had spokesman. George r.
| Glover, supertnt eraent of st. Luke's Hos
pital in New York. Mr.. Glover asked
| that the free list be so amended as to in
cIude hospitals that render medical and
| surgical aid free of charge among the in
| situations permitted to import free appa-
| ratus, utensils, instruments and prepare
! tions for medical and surgical purposes.
| He gave as a reason the interest of
| charity for all the people and cited the
| constant discoveries in European labora-
| tories which may he Of utmost value to
! the life of the people OF the nation DIR.
| AIlerton S. Cushman of this city made d
similar appeal for industrial research sci
| entific work.