The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-04
President Signs Meas
ure, Surrounde d d by
Happy Legislators.
FIN AL ACTS ARE
HURRIED THROUGH
Congress Disposes Of Last Work
With Speed, and Necessary Sig
natures Are Affixed Without
Delay-Cotton Futures
Tax Comes Up at
Next Session.

Washington. October 3.-Surrounded
by leaders of united Democracy.
president Wilson at 900 o'clock to-
night signed the Underwood Simmons
tariff bill at the White House. Simul
taneously tclegrams were sent customs
collectors throughout the country by
tue treasury Department. putting into
actual operation the first Democratic
tariit revision since 1894. a
n happy group OF legislators. mem
bers OF the Cabinet and friends. en-
circied the President. as he smilingly
sat down and slowly affixed his signi-
ture with two gold pens
Make Short Work OF It,
The speed with which CONGRESS- dis
posed OF the last work on the tariff
OIL and sent the measure to the White
House demonstrated tho anxiety OF
!,ouse ana Senate to get through with
the burden that has held them in con-
tinuous session since April
The bill came into the House TO-DAY
as soon as that body met For more
than an hour the House debated as to
what action 1t should take. some arpu-
ing that no further action was neces-
sary, while others insisted the House
must rccedc from it's COMPROMISE cot
1on FUTURES tax. Speaker Clark finally
upheld the latter contention and the
House quickly voted the cotton tax out
OF the tariff bill. The last vote was
reached'at Leg: at 1925 the Speaker had
! afh%ed his name to the completed bill.
and within ten minutes Chief Clerk
Jerry South had carried it to the Sen-
ate. and 1t had been signed by Vice
freSident Marshall Clerks of the Sem
ate then took charge OF the bill and
conveyed 1t to the White House.
Relief In Apparent
The relief of both houses Mt tba
examinations OF the tariff fight was
apparent. Scores OF members OF senate
and House had left the city Yesterday
ana there was less than n quorum pres
eht IN the House when final action was
.hkeh' only extraordinary efforts of
senate leaders kept enough Senator's IN
town TO enable that body to work to-
day on the urgent deficiency appropria-
tion Dill Many members LEFT Wash
ington tonight. although both houses
OIL congress Will remain constructiyely
in session.
The final steps taken by the House
to day TO complete the tariff bill aid
not involve rates or principles Re-
pupHc0hs and Democrats concurrcd i'm
the action Of reccding from the cotton
luture TAX, agreeing that no questions
Siouiu oe ieit open TO future attack in
the courts
1t generally is understood that n de-
'erinined efrort VIII bo made as soon
rs the new Congress convenes for the
regular session. in December If not be-
iore then. To take up cotton futures
tax legislation and to endeavor TO mass
separate bill
Eernnny Ready for RecIprocity
Iefh'ahy VIII be the first nation to
lake advantage OF that section of tho
ne" ,ariil act. which provides for the
negotiation OF reciprocity arrnns,e
lnents SMbodying mutual CONCESSIONS
IN customs taxes. Already the initial
st"ps nave been taken in anticipation
OF tnc signing OF the bill.
as 1t emerged from conference. this
section no longer contains the retalia
tor% provisions Inserted. in the Senate.
nnd how is nothing more than an au
thc' Za,i"n 10 The executive to 'nego
t!ate trade agreements with foreign
hatlon" Wherein mutual concessions
are made looking toward freer trade
relations and further reciprocal ex
pAnsion OF trade ana commerce."
Keep Omcinls Busy
Embraced in the tariff bill 10
&C tiAp!ete revision and q general reduc-
tion OF nearly all the import ,,ntv
levied ny this government on foreign
i'urc"ahu'sc' me-, new income tax that
VII strike every person having n NOT
income above $4,000, and an array or
changes IN customs laws and internal
revenue regulations that will keen
treasury Department officials busy for
months in adjusting administrative af
1850 "''u "h'ti VIII nave an import
ant bearing on all trade developments
OF the country for the next year or
two.
1t proba, Is Will require ten DAYS
Tor the customs service in all parts
CT thr country 10 adjust Itself even
IN ageneral manner. 10 the new law.
nut Il VIII require months before ali
the intricate problems concerned in ITO
are settled.
Effects Are Fnr-Reachinv
President Wilson'S signing OF tho
Underwood Simmons bin brings into
effect one OF the most far-reaching re-
visions OF tariff rates and revenue lave
enacted for many years.
- new income tax, applying direct
i to the incomes OF citizens; the aboif-
tica Of all tariff on scores of items Of
immense Importance to American in
dustry and American consumers, and n g
heavy reduction OF tariff rates on moat fgs
or the articles in general use In this y
country. are It's chief features
While certain portions OF the new q
law do not take effect at once p1oaf
OF Its provisions. and almost all tha
direct tariff reductions, do
Revenue Collections New nusga
At every port collectors OF customs
appraisers of merchandise and hun
dreds OF other employees OF the Trcax- ~
ury Department VIII plunge at Gree NJ
into the task of collecting tho nasiontss
revenue on a new basis. and with hnn. ss
dreds Of new c'assificattoas and new %