Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-23
Democrats Approve Some Fiji
teen Amendments Made by
Finance Committee.
MAY CONSIDER INCOME
TAX FEATURE TONIGHT
Eight California Congressman Unite
in Protest Against Proposed
Sweet Wine Levy.

The democratic caucus this morning
continued the consideration of the metal
schedule of the tariff bill. approving some
fifteen amendments made by the majority
members of the finance committee. The
schedule. however, was not completed
when the caucus adjourned at noon.
There was considerable discussion over
a number of minor matters, it was said.
among them a proposition to put hand
saws on the free list.
The caucus will meet again this after
noon following the session of the Sen
ate and continue with the consideration
of the tariff schedules. Chairman Sim
mons of the finance committee said today
that in all probability those paragraphs
referred back to the committee by the
committee until all of the other schedules
have been disposed Of by the caucus. The
object at present, he said. is to get along
as quickly as possible with the consid-
Grafton Of the tariff bill in the caucus,
and those items over which 1t appears
there will be much discussion may be re-
ferred back to the committee so as to
gain time and go ahead with the bill.
Senator Simmons said that he hoped to
have the income tax feature of the bill
and the administrative features of the
measure completed and printed for the
caucus tonight.
Ca1ifornians Unite in Protest
Eight California congressman, repub-
licans and democrats. have united to pro-
test to the Senate caucus against rati-
fication Of the Senate committee amend
ment, which would compel California
sweet wine manufacturers to pay the
full $1.10 internal revenue tax on brandy
used in fOrtifying wines.
Representatives Kahn, Kent, Church,
Kettner, Knowland, Nolan, Curry and
Bell joined in the protest to several SEN
ators today and also called on Senator
Pomerene Of Ohio, author of the amend
ment. They sought to have the Ohio
senator withdraw the amendment. but he
has declined. Tomorrow the committee OF
representatives will see Senator Simmons,
chairman OF the finance committee.
This action" said Representative Kett-
ner. was proposed by the finance COM
mttee to raise revenue. In that it will
fail, because If it is passed 1t will COM
pletely wipe out the California sweet
wine industry, and there will be abso-
vince members Of the Senate finance
committee that this is a fact"
Perfects Income Tax Amendment.
The subcommittee of the democratic
majority of the committee on finance OF
the Senate spent yesterday in perfecting
the income tax amendment to the tariff
bill. The members wrote out the con-
illusions reached last night by the full
committee. putting them into shape to &c
before the caucus. 1t is understood that
the amendment will go to the printer late
today and be taken up in caucus Tues
day.
The committee reached the conclusion
that incomes OF mutual insurance COM
panies should be exempted from taxation
under the Underwood bill in SO far as
insurance company question has been one
Of the most difficult with which the COM
mittee has had to deal In rewriting the
income tax law.
The committee finally decided that
many companies that claim to be mutual
are only partially so. and it decided that
the only exemptions allowed this class OF
taxpayers should be upon SO much of
their incomes as may be actually mutual.
The committee also decided to put into
the bill an amendment specifically ex-
empting the incomes from investments by
states and municipalities.
Objection to Feather Amendment.
Serious objection is made to the amend
ment adopted by the majority members
Of the finance committee permitting the
importation of the feathers of wild birds
killed for good or as pests W. T. Horna-
day of the New York Geological Society,
who has taken a leading part in the fight
for the preservation Of wild birds issued
a circular today giving objections to this
amendment He showed that by this
amendment grand total Of 2343 species
of wild birds will be endangered, since
IT will be possible to import their feath-
ers into the United States for the benefit
of the feather trade
On the other hand fishermen of this
country are raising objections to the feath-
er provisions of the bill. believing that
they will be unable to obtain feathers of
there Is a provision in the bill which
reads as follows: NO articles of fishing
tackle herein named shall be imported
having attached thereto any of the feath-
ers the importation of which is prohibit