The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-19

Wv Jullc los-<Ai titNCiiti hOoA
discovery that the sugar schedule of the
Underwood tariff bill had Joker" in
it which would have operated to make
all refined sugar dutiable at cents a
pound and nullify the provision for free
sugar after three years resulted today
in an amendment by majority members
of the Senate finance committee.
Elimination in the Underwood bill OF
the dutch standard of color, which had
been in tariff bills for many years, ii
was discovered, made applicable to all
refined sugar a paragraph from the
Payne-Aldrich bill relating to confection-
AIRY, which included the following words
sugars after being refined, when tine
tured. colored, or in any way adulterated
2 cents per pound"
The majority members of the finance
committee had their attention called to
this matter by Senator Sheppard of Texas
who was petitioned by the Chamber OF
Commerce of Greenville, Tex, to look
into the provisions which they believed
might defeat the purpose of the admins
tration and the majority in Congress as tc
ultimate free sugar 1t was suggested
that the bill as it stood could be sc
construed as to apply to all refined sugar
which is colored with ultramarine.
Order Investigation
The dutch standard which was taker
out in the House bill, stipulated specific
ally as 20 the coloring of refined sugar
Members of the finance committee or
dered an investigation and President VII.
son when his attention was called to it
agreed that it should be looked into
thoroughly.
Late today the majority of the commit.
tee received expert reports that the pro-
vision might operate as joker and they
promptly struck out the language as il
referred to refined sugars and left it ap
plicable only to confectionaries.
Another important amendment to the
bill agreed upon by the committee woulc
repeal an act passed in 1890 exemptinf
brandies used by manufacturers to fortif,
grape wines from the general interna
revenue tax. This amendment, it is es
tmated, will increase the government
revenue by 100000 "a year.
The committee tonight had completed
all the schedules and Senator Kern. tn,
majority leader. issued call for sen
atorial democratic caucus next Friday.
The caucus can take up the rates Will,
the committee is completing work on TIL,
income tax and administrative features
Settled Important Matters
One of the important matters settled to
day was that countervailing dut,
should not be put ON livestock and meat.
which are to go on the free list unre
stricted Wheat and flour will go on tn,
free list, but with countervailing duty
Rates on leather gloves were increase,
slightly over the Underwood rates. II
also developed that the committee hat
increased the proposed rates on pig leat
and spelter zinc. concerning which som,
democrats made a fight In the Hous,
caucus.
Senator Salisbury of Delaware toda,
introduced an amendment to the bill
which would raise the limit ON persona
purchases to be brought in free by trav
elers from 800 to $780, The amendment
would permit traveller to bring in
articles for personal and household use
to value of $3.50 and for souvenirs ant
gifts to the value of s100, provided sucl
articles were not '.bought on commission
or intended for sale.
Senator Works introduced an amend
ment providing for tariff board Of Mint
members, not more than four to be Of
the same political party. and that ne
member should be member or an ex
member of Congress. The board woulf
be directed to provide duties to protec
american goods against injurious, op
pressive or unjust foreign competition