Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-05-29
HAVE NO WISH TO
VIOLATE TREATIES
Democratic Leaders Favor Heed
ing the Protests of Eight
Nations.
MAY CHANGE TARIFF BILL
Sub Committee Getting Down
to Bedrock and Find 10
Days of Hard Work
Ahead.
MAY CHANGE TARIFF BILL

Washington, May 2S.-Congress in all
probability will yield to the protests of
foreign nations against the provision in
the Underwood tariff bill granting a five
per cent tariff discount on imports in
American owned or controlled vessels.
That the provision can be eliminated
from the bill without harm and that Con-
gress has no desire to insist upon lcgis-
lation that will he embarrassing to for
eign nations or interfere with treaty OBJ
legations was admitted to-day by admin
istration leaders in charge of the bill
President Wilson is said to have intimat-
ed that he would not object to having
the clause eliminated.
This action, It was reported would be
recommended by the Senate finance sub
committee which is considering the ad-
minlstrative features of the bill The
subcommittee also will seek to modify
another clause which compels foreign
merchants to submit their books to an
American agent in cases of disputed val
uations, and provides as a penalty for
refusal that the goods be excluded from
entry.
Germany France and England have
made strong protests against this clause
ana assurances were given to-day that
an effort will he made to eliminate the
Objectionable features
Two important conferences were held
to-day on foreign protests one was
between Senator Simmons. chairman of
the finance committee, and Secretary
Bryan and John Bassett Moore, coun.
sellor of the state department. The othel
conforees were Senators Williams and
Shlvely Of the finance committee. anc
Representative Peters of Massachusetts
who had charge Of the administrative
section of the tariff bill for the House
ways and means committee.
1t was reported that the state depart
ment held IT to be unquestonable that
the five per cent debenture clause
violated foreign treaties, During the con
ference protests against the clause from
EIGHT nations were read.
1t was generally expected tonight that
the House would yield to Senate
amendment striking out the clause.
As the Senate sub-committees got down
to bedrock to-day and began considera-
tion of proposed changes In the bill, they
found n long Job ahead of them. AL
though they aimed to hold day and night
executive sessions, some of them feared
they would not be ready to report TO the
fun committee before 10 days.
Several democratic leaders were en-
phatic in declaring that whatever wa:
done by the committees there would b'
no changes in raw wool sugar. A.
far as the committee Is concerned thi:
seems to be determined Senator Sim
mons denied that rates on woollen man
ufactures would be increased.
Representative Huh of Tennessee, au
thor Of the income tax section of the bill
conferred with Senators Williams ant
Shively for several hours to-day, goinl
over the protests that have been filed
Mr. Hull pointed out later that the tive
chief features of the section Whlch nav
been under fire were the clauses fxin'
the graduated tax, the surtax upon in
comes over $50 600, and the provision 10
taxation of dividends of insurance com
panies
Both of these provisions are beyon'
criticism In my opinion Mr. Hun said
"The graduated tax has been approve
by the federal judiciary In the New Jer
sew district court and the court OF ap
meals sustained the validity or sue
graduated tax payments
The Senate committee, it is reported
u,iu study the insurance feature of tn
bill very thoroughly and some member
ore reported not to be satisfied with 1t
provisions as affecting mutual companies