The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-05-11
CHANGE BEING
CONTEMPLATED
IN TARIFF BILL
An Amendment Relating to
Assessment of AID Valorem
Tariff Duties Is Proposed
to the Committee.
LITIGATION WOULD
BE MUCH REDUCED
Leaders Look Upon the Pro.
posal With Great Interest;
Matter Is Discussed With
the President.

WASHINGTON, May lo.-Chairman
Simmons Of the finance committee sees
merit in the amendment to the tariff
bill suggested today by Assistant At
| torney General Dennison and Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury Curtis to
authorize the secretary of the treasury
to proclaim valuations on imports that
would prevent undervaluations and to
avoid confudon resulting from fGuc-
tuation Of foreign market values and
ad valorem rates.
After the department officials had
explained their proposed amendment to
the senator today, he declared it wor-
thy proposal and that it would receive
the most thorough consideration by the
committee. The plan seemed to him
to be Of chief value as a preventive
Of fraud on the part Of importers in
willful undervaluations to reduce du-
ties they would be required to pay.
Contains Safeguards.
"The bill as it Is" Chairman Sim
mons said, tbas many safeguards
against undervaluations, but the pro
possal to empower the secretary of the
treasury to fix import valuations in
the American market would be an ad.
ditional check. II would answer the
principal objection advanced toward an
ad yalorem tariff system. The sugges.
tion Will be given the most serious con-
sideratiop.
The plan will be taken up by the
committee next week. Chairman Un-
derwood Of the ways and means COM
mittee also was consulted by Mr. Den
ison and Mr.. Curtis.
Chief interest in the tariff now lies
in the contest over the question of pub
lie hearings precipitated by Seuator
Penrose. There is q possibility that
the Republicans may rally enough Dem.
ocratic support to their plan to defeat
the majority party in its tariff pro-
gramme at this iuncture. Such q de-
veDopment undoubtedly would result in
slowing up consideration Of the meas
ure in the senate. That is the Demo
cratic chief objection to public hear
ings. They feel that hearings would
not result In material alterations Of
the bill and that the country is emit
tied to the new law as soon as it pos
sibly can be made ready for the statute
books
Publicity Is Favored.
Senators Ransdell and Thornton Of
Louisiana are openly in favor of the
hearings. Senator MARITIME and others
have expressed themselves favorably to
them, but the Democratic leaders assert
that they will have enough votes to de-
feat the Penrose amendment when it
comes up Tuesday. The bill then will
be formally referred to the finance COM
mittee.
Secretary Redfeld today suggested
to Chairman Simmons that the commit
tee consider the advisability Of chang.
ing the date that some Of the schedules
become effective. The textile industry
is particularly desirous of gaining lit
J tie time to adjust itself to the new
conditions and to get rid Of valuable
material upon which high duties have
been paid.
Another suggestion made by Secre-
tary RedAeld referred to the advisable
, Iity Of having the income tax computed
from July l, 1918, instead of January
l, 1913
President Is Pleased.
President Wilson has been apprised
that the ad vnlorem amendment
would cut down litigation, take much
! work from the board Of appraisers aud
| lis believed by its proponents TO be alb
solutely necessary for the successful
working Of an ad valorem tariff bill,
Another amendment proposed would
2 make it unlawful for any person to take
UP appeals from appraised valuations
on a contingent fee bnsis. Assista nj
Attorney General Denison said today
that the amendment with the provision
2 already in the bill requiring a fee OF
j 81 for appeals, would curtnil customs
litigation SO per cent.
With the senate in adjournment until
Tuesday, the Republican fight against
r consideration of the tariff bill by the
3 finance committee without public hear
a ngs will be continued, the Republican
= leaders endeavoring to win votes fol-
/ the Penrose amendment to instruct the
committee to open its doors.