New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-01
INCOME TAX APPROVED
BY DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
Tariff Bill Section, as Adopted
by Finance Committee, Is
Rushed Through.
From The Tribune Bureau. !

Washington. June 30-Much depleted in
numbers. the Democratic caucus, sitting
almost until midnight, tonight rushed
through the income tax section of the
tariff bill, approving without change the
work of the Finance Committee.
A motion to strike out the committee
amendments modifying the House pro-
vision relating 10 the taxation of divi-
dends OF mutual insurance companies. Of
fered by Senator Pomerene, was rejected
by close vote.
Subsequently motion TO reconsider
was made by Senator Lewis and the ques-
ton went over until tomorrow, when, II
is probable. the amendment Of the COM
mittee will be finally approved. With the
exception Of a verbal change. the re-
mainder Of the bill was approved by the
caucus.
Senator Hitchcock will offer tomorrow
his amendment to impose an excise tax
upon the manufacture of tobacco designed
to curb the alleged monopolistc activities
OF the four independent companies into
which the trust was divided. This will
probably fail also
The hopes Of the Democratic leaders
began to revive tonight when the Jaded
caucus rushed through the income tax
section in the session Of three hours. II
now seems probable that the administra-
tive section will be approved tomorrow
and the task of approving the entire bill
completed before July 4.
Try to Hasten Debate.
The Senate leaders. who are beginning
to view with some trepidation the delay
encountered in reporting the tariff bill 10
the Senate. set out to-day 10 devise some
plan to expedite general debate and make
up. IL possible. for some Of the time lost
I'm the caucus.
Senators O'Gorman. Simmons, Pomerenc
and others stood sponsor for a scheme TO
organize the majority by parceling out
sections or paragraphs OF the bill to
Democratic Senators who would best be
able to defend them on the floor. Accord
ing to this plan. the Democrats were TO
remain silent and let the minority seX-
haust its ammunition without hindrance.
To this objection was made that the
reports Of the debate would be entirely
one-sided and that the public would re-
ceive the impression that everything
was TO be said against the bill and moth
ing for II. II was realized also that II
would be a difficult matter 10 hold the
several Democratic Senators In check
and persuade them to confine their obser-
vations TO the schedules committed TO
their care.
The foregone conclusion that many
Southern Senators would desire to speak
on the cotton schedule. for example, led
TO the admission that any plan that
might be conceived would be difficult OF
enforcement.
The tariff section OF the bill was prac-
tically disposed OF at the afternoon ses-
sion OF the caucus. and the income tax
section taken up. At the outset difficulty
was encountered Many Senators ap-
peared 10 be dissatisfied with the exemp-
ton provisions. The bill. as revised by
the committee. allows an exemption OF
$500 for each dependent child up to 5000.
Some Senators insisted that similar al
lowance be made for dependent grand
children and dependent adults. such az
cripples and persons otherwise afflicted.
Provides for Meat inspection.
A provision for the inspection OF for
eign meat products similar to an amend
ment proposed by Senator Cummins was
adopted by the caucus to-day. The In
spection is TO be made by the government
authorities unless ii is shown that as
thorough an inspection as u required here
has been made by the governments OF
the countries whence the meat has been
exported.
Further efforts to attach countervailing
duties to the bill met with failure to-day
Senator Pomerene offered an amendment
TO place countervailing duty OF 8 per
cent on agricultural machinery and i'm
plements This was rejected by an over
whelming vote and a similar amendment
providing for a countervailing duty on
lumber was also defeated.
Unabashed by the apparent purpose OF
the caucus to make no additions of this
character, Senator Lewis will offer the
general scheme Of countervailing duties
asked for by the Illinois Manufacturers
Association An amendment offered by
Senator Thornton 10 place duty on raw
cotton. the importations Of which con-
sist mainly Of long staple Egyptian, was
rejected to-day.
When the administrative sections Of the
bill are taken up Senator Newlands will
offer his plan for a gradual reduction OF
duties TO the point fixed by the bill, with
the purpose Of establishing the rates on a
revenue basis. II is settled. however,
that the caucus will accept the present
bill without marked change.
DINNER FOR JAMES r. NORTON.