The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-06-25
NATIONS TO REC|PROCATE.
THE PRESIDENT TO PROCLAIM
SPECIAL TARIFF RATES.
Adopted by Ma;Ority
Members Of Finance Committee In.
cludes Only Special Articles -
Clause Giving American Agents
fight to- Examine Foreigners
Books Dropped - Counteryailing
Provision on Print Paper Struck
Out--Caucus Takes Charge of Un-
dcrwOOd Measure Today.

PROVISION on Print Paper Struck
Out--Caucus Takes Charge of Un-
dcrwOOd Measure Today.
washington, June 19.-An amend
ment TO the Underwood tariff bill
adopted today by the majority men,
bers OF the Senate finance committee
would give the President of the United
States authority to suspend certain
rates in the proposed law and to pro-
claim special rates against the ma
tions which discriminate against pro-
ducts of the United States.
The amendment is appended to
the clause giving the President au-
thority to negotiate reciprocity agree
ments with other nations, and in
some respects resembles the maxi
mum and minimum clause of the
Payne-Aldrich tariff law eliminated i'm
tn House bill. In substance the
amendment would provide that when
any nation discriminates against the
products Of the United States or i'm
poses restrictions upon United States
exports, or does not, in the opinion
or the President, reciprocate in trade
relations, the President may by proc
lamatiOn suspend certain rates and
put in effect other rates.
Only specified articles, it is under
stood, are to be included under the
terms of this amendment, and the re-
taIlatory rates are specified also
Among the articles included in the list
upon which the President might sus-
pend rates are fish, wheat, wheat flour,
coffee, tea, earthenware, wines and
malt liquors, silk dress goods, leather
gloves, jewelry, sugars and molasses.
The duties prescribed vary as to the
different articles. Fish, it is reported,
would be dutiable at one cent pound,
wheat at ten cents a bushel -four az
45" cents a barrel, q few cents per
pound on coffee and tea. On other
items the penalty would be a double
rate, while on sugars, which ppobab-
~ never would be effected, the rate
would be only fraction Of q cent
per pound. The amendment, of
course, is subject to ratification of the
Democratic senatorial caucus. which
VIII begin work on the bill 'tomor-
row. ~
Besides adding this amendment
the majority members stripped the
administrative provisions of the I'm
derwood bill of many of it's new fea-
lures, including the inquistorial
clause which gave American agents
the right to examine foreigners books
In cases of disputed import valuations.
They also struck out the provision re-
quiring registration bureaus for com
missioners and agents in American
consulates, the provision TO give the
Secretary Of the Treasury the right to
determine the existence or non-exist-
ence Of foreign market; the anti
dumping clause which provided excess
duties on imports undersold in this
country, and the per cent tariff dis
count on imports in American YES
sells.
The committee. however, inserted
an amendment providing for the ap-
r,,io H..
composed of members OF the senate
finance, and the house ways and
means committee to make a thorough
study of the whole tariff administra-
tion question and report recommend
ations for its readjustment. The ac-
ton of the committee strikes from
the bill all the provisions which
aroused protests from foreign ma
tons
The committee declined to approve
the amendment suggested by Assist
ant Attorney General Denison ana
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
Curtis, which would give the secretary
values of imports irrespective OF for
eign markets. n scheme designed pri-
marily to protect the Government
against loss of revenue under an ad
valorem tarin through undervalua,
tions
This the committee thought not
practical 1t adopted, however, a
suggestion from the same source max
ing it unlawful to take up cases in
the Customs Court on contingent fee
basis.
After reopening consideration of
the print paper schedule today the
committee reConSidcred its former
action ana struck out its amendment.
adding the cOuntervailing provisions
of th. Canadian rarinrnptU Inv . A.