Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-08
Full Democratic Finance Com
mIttee Will Meet
Tuesday.
CONTESTS ARE EXPECTED
OVER MANY AMENDMENTS
Practically Decided to Decrease Duty
on Cut Diamonds to 10
or Is Per Cent.

tftcr weeks of hard work. the SUD
committees Of the Senate finance COM
pittee IN charge of the tariff schedules
have almost completed their labors. IL
NsS announced last night by members
OF tile committee that a meeting OF the
fuil democratic membership of he
fuaucr committee would he held al
InSo o'clock TUESDAY morning. for thc
purpose of beginning the final con-
xideration of the tariff bill before re
portinC IL to the democratic caucus.
senator Hoke Smith said that he he
reved the bill would be before the full
committee not later than the end "f
this week. and that then il would 30
IL the caucus, with the prospect 81
finally reaching tho senate wech
later.
Thc sUbc ommittees have recommend
81 a number of amendments 10 the
bill. and il is rumored that whcn THESE
changes are submitted TO the full ma
iority membership OF the committee
there VIII lie number OF contests
Over them number Of reductions IN
duties and. in some instances. Tree
listing of articles have been recon-
mendei BY the subcommittee. ana
these reductions are likely 10 cause a
night III committee. il is SAID.
Duty on Cut Diamonds.
The Johnson Subcommittee had UP YES
terday with other things. the increased
dutv in the Underwood bill on cut da-
moEds and it practically has been de-
sided to decrease the duty to 10 or II
rer cent The committee had before II
4 statement filed by Bennett & Cooley
a. New York, which set forth the views
&C government officials i'm the matter.
After the interview which YOU courte-
cusly offered TO us on Friday, May q"
tie statement read. we called upon ME-
Hilkie. chief of the Treasury special
AGENTS. 10 obtain his opinion as to the
shest rate on cut diamonds which would
produce the largest revenue Mr.. Wilkie
states that the total importations of dia-
ntends into this country during the past
Tvo years would not fill peek measure.
He called attention to the possibilities of
Igauscontinental smuggling, either Oh
tls northern or southern borders. and
remarked that any or every Pullman
s'eeper could very well be the means of
tlis country. and that 1t would be mpos
sibic to turn every sleeper inside ous to
detect the presence of the dutiable goods.
I'VE also interviewed Mr.. Curtis. as
-is,snt secretary of the Treasury. who
said that he was in a minority nf one
IN his department with respect to the
duty He said tEat all those in the de-
nartrnent who come in closest touch with
The collection of the revenue were OPP
posed to an increase over 10 per cent.
hut that he personally thought that
slight increase would be safe, but not a
higher rate than Is per cent.
Plumage of Wild Biros.
The subcommittee also decided to
modify the clause prohibiting the mpor-
t4tion Of plumage of wild birds. holding
Hat il is TOO rigid and would shut out
10 .hers OF birds that would be killed
.rswsy in foreign countries. The amend
tn.nt viii not however. admit aigrettes
In a brief filed with the committee by
several importers il was declared:
IT is scarcely necessary TO po4nt our
AT even If the importation of plunage
INTO this country is prohibited the plum
age industries will nevertheless continue
in the other civilized countries of the
world We respectfully submit that as
" are not engaged in the business OF
handling si=rettes. We have no objection
10 tho exclusion thereof from the I'M
uo~tations Of this country. II YOUR COM
iuittee should deem such course Wise or
necessary We arc in entire accord with
anv rational movement 10 conserve the
uxcfuI wild bird and animal life of the
world bu, We are utterly opposed to the
Ses,r,cfion Of any industry engaged in
..anrnercially utilizing such parts OF wild
birdS and animals which. hut for their
commercial use would constitute vast
economic waste.