Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-04-19
Democratic Love Feast Under Dr.
reCtiOn of T. A. Bell of California,
Who Gives a Private Luncheon,
Where ReCOnCiliatiOnIs Effected.
Tariff Revision Bill May Reach House, April g.
The Republicans Ready for The Fray,
THE TARIFF PUZZLE.

Washington. April lS.-The tariff
revision bill, pressed rapidly in the
| Democratic caucus of the House, to-
day. was considered simultaneously by
a conference of the Republican repre-
sentatives, who agreed To propose
amendments and Democratic Leader
| Underwood. tonight, predicted that the
bill would be brought up in the House,
| next Wednesday.
| In the Democratic caucus the ways
and means committee majority was
sustained at every point during Sc
ries of fights over proposed amend
ments to the income tax, the only iiu-
portant change being by acquiescencc
with the committee to strengthen the
provision exempting life insurance pol
icies
The $1,000 exemption and gradual
ed scheme of income taxation running
up To per cent. on 100000 or more
was retained intact.
The House Republicans in an open
conference endorsed the proposed
amendment to the bill that would pro-
vide for tariff commission changed
so as to require the commission u
report annually and deferred until
Monday action on a proposition to iu-
troduce a Republican amendment t.
the Payne Hill wool bill that was Of
fered, two years ago
Meantime the Democrats of the
ways and means committee met and
agreed upon number of MINI
changes in their bill, which Will lie
offered probably late tomorrow to cor
rect defects disclosed in the caucus
proceedings. in kilograms and letters
to the committee and in renewed study
of the measure.
The Democrats have been lombard
ed with inquiries regarding a clause OF
the income tax provision intended To
exempt life insurance policies.
To avoid complication the caucus
changed the language so as to read:
Provided the proceeds of life insur-
ance policies paid upon the death If
the person insured shall not be incluc
ed as incomes"
Representative Sherley of kentucky
proposed to reduce the income exemp-
tiolrs from $4,000 to $1,000 and to make
incomes of more than 100000 pay 5
per cent. tax on the ground that the
bill made too small a minority of the
people subject to the tax. Representa-
tive Hobson of Alabama wanted to
make the minimum $4,000 with rate
of enc half of per cent. between $4,000
and $1,000 and a per cent. surtax on
incomes between 100000 and per
cent. surtax above s25O000. Rep.
Thatcher of Mass, figured the mini
mum at $4,000. All these amendments
We're voted down.
Tonight, it was expected that the
House would take up the bill the mid
die Of the week with passage there
before May l probable, according To
Mr. Underwood.
The Republican caucus opened with
a lively fight over the general tariff
policy in prospect.
| Rep. Moore of Pennsylvania and
Fordney of Michigan, a minority of the
| Republican representation of the ways
and means committee We're On hand
with a resolution which would prevent
| the Republicans taking any construc-
! tive steps in the making of the tariff.
| Republican Leader Mann and his lieu
1 tenants prevented a vote on the reso-
| luton although Representatives Moore
| and Fordney endeayored to force ae-
| ton.
| II do not wish to find myself tive
| years from now, after the Democrats
have made their mistakes, said Mr.
| Moore. bound by some fool actor
taken here, today, on a bill prepared
bv some individual who may or may
not be the representative of lobbyists
now in the capital The new Republi
can members who have not had tim
to consider or prepare bill shoule
rot he bound by any hand-me- down
bin left over from previous Con
gress."
Rep. Payne discussed his propose
, substitute wool bin rat length. declar
ing that it was the most equitable ar
. rangement of duties on wool tina
) could he devised He explained tha
the rates were arranged on basis o
i Is cents a pound on pure raw WOOL
with compensatory duties on wool II
the different stages of manufacture
equally distributed on a basis of woo
content. He said the bill had the en-
E dorsement of the tariff board.
Rep. Fordney attacked the rates a
roo low and objected to the conference
: endorsing any bill.
S Il am opposed" he said, ito tn
e Republicans presenting any sub fo
. The rates in the tariff bill. We hav
nothing to gain and everything to los
. in such a transaction. If we put in
IS bill now and we are returned to powe
Is two years hence, that will meet us o
e the trail like a scare crow.
l. After a lengthy debate action wa
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