The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1913-06-20
JOKER" FOUND IN BILL
MISTAKE IN TARIFF MEASURE.
Would Have Made All Refined
Sugar Dutiable and Nullify
Provision For Free Sugar.


Provision For Free Sugar.
Washington, June 19.-An eley-
enth-hour discovery that the sugar
schedule of the Underwood tarifY
bill had a Joker" in it, which
would have operated to make all re-
hned sugar dutiable at two cents q
pound and nullify the provision for
free sugar after three years, resulted
yesterday in an amendment by ma
Jor1ty members of the senate e.
nance committee
Elimination in the Underwood bill
of the Dutch standard of color.
which has been in tariff bills for
many years 1t was discovered, made
applicable to all refined sugar a
paragraph from the Payne-Aldrich
Dill relating to confectionery, which
included the following words:
Sugars, after being refined,
when tinctured, colored, or in any
way adulterated, two cents per
pound"
The majority members of the
finance committee had their atten-
tlon called to this matter by Sena-
tor Sheppard of Texas, who was pe-
titioned by the chamber of com.
merce of Greenville, Texas, to look
into the provisions which they be-
ileved might defeat the purpose of
the administration and majority In
congress as to ultimate free sugar.
IL was suggested tina tthe bill as II
stood could be so construed as to
| apply to all refined sugar which ia
| colored with ultramarine. ~
INVESTIGATION ORDERED.
The Dutch standard, which was
taken out in the house bill, stipu-
lates specifically as to the colorinR
OF refined sugar. Members of the
finance committee ordered an inyes-
tigation and President Wilson. when
his attention was called to it, agreed
that IT should be looked into thor
oughly.
Late yesterday the majority mem
bers OF the committee received ex-
pert reports that the provision might
operate as oker and they prompt
ly struck out the language as it re-
terred to refined sugars and left II
applicable only to confectionery.
| Another important amendment to
the bill agreed upon by the commit
tee would repeal an act passed in
1900 exmepting brandies used by
manufacturers to fortify grape
wines from the general internal
| L..
is estimated, will increase the gov
eminent revenue by $7,00O,OOO a
year.
TO CAUCUS ON FRIDAY.
The committee last night had
completed all the schedules and
Senator Kern, the majority leader.
issued call for a senatorial Demo-
cratic caucus Friday.
The caucus can take up the rates
while the committee is completing
work on the income tax and admin
istration features.
One of the important matters set
tied yesterday was that a confer
va1ling duty should not be put on
live stock and meats, which are to
| go on the free list unrestricted.
Wheat and flour will go on the free
| llst, but with a contervailing duty.
Rates on leather gloves were in
creased slightly over the Underwood
rates. 1t also developed that the
committee had increased the propos-
ed rates on pig lead and smelter
zinc, concerning which some Demo-
Gratis made fight in the house eau
| caus.
Senator Salisbury of Delaware in
troduced an amendment to the bill
"hi'h "ouIu raise Jne limit on per-
sonal purchases to be brought i'm
free by travellers from 500 to.
$3.50. The amendment would per
NIT a traveller to bring in articles,
for personal and household use to
a value of $3.50 and for souvenirs
and gifts to the value of 500, pro-
vided such articles were not bought
on commission or intended for sale"
Senator Works introduced an
amendment providing for a tariff
board OF nine members, not more
than four to be OF the same political
party, and htat no member should
be member or an ex-member OF
| Congress. The board would be di-
rected to provide duties to protect
American goods against Injurious,
oppressive or unjust foreign compe-
| tion."