The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-06-28
SMITH PLANNING
SLAP At CANADA
Georgia Senator VIII Propose
Measure for General Coun-
tervailing Duties.
POWER TO PRESIDENT
O'Gorman Also Has Amendment that
Would Empower Executive to
Demand Fair Treatment.

tenn of general countervailing duties was
not pressed yesterday before the. Demo-
cratic caucus of Senators that is con-
sidering the tariff bill Senator Smith
intends to offer an amendment to the
administrative section of the bill. which
will authorize the President to impose
countervailing duties against the prod
ucts of any foreign country which dis
eliminates against the United States in
regard to the like products when ex-
ported to that country from the United
States. This legislation is aimed pri-
marily at Canada.
Senator Smith advocates it on the broad
general policy that there ought to be a
power lodged with the President to en-
force equal and reciprocal treatment
from foreign countries on the products
of the United States. Senator Smiths
plan is not favored by all the members
of the Finance Committee. Chairman
Simmons has expressed himself in op-
position to It. He believes in counter
vailing duties for certain articles. but
is not in favor of making the application
of II general Senator Smith yesterday
expressed confidence that his plan would
be adopted when 1t comes up in the Sem
ate caucus in connection with the con-
sideration of the administrative features
next week.
Senator O'Gorman offered an amend
ment in the caucus yesterday morning
authorizing the President, in his dis
cretion," to impose countervailing or re-
taliatory duties to compel fair treatment
from foreign countries for products ex-
ported from the United States. There
was considerable discussion of this pro-
posal. during which ii was opposed on
the ground that it amounted to delega-
ton of the legislative power to the Presi-
H. L.. ka 60 hts lie
erection. Senator O'Gorman finally with
drew his motion temporarily.
The caucus yesterday morning ap-
proved the agricultural schedule, includ-
ing the countervailing duty on wheat
and -four. Senator O'Gorman's motion to
strike out this countervailing duty re-
ceived but eight votes, as follows:
O'Gorman, Fletcher. Lea, MARITIME, Reed.
Salisbury. Sheppard, and Vardaman.
Retaliation Made Possible.
AS adopted, the clause which was
recommended by the Senate Finance
Committee authorizes the imposition of
a duty OF 10 cents a busneI on wheat
and Is cents a barrel on flour whenever
discrimination is shown by any foreign
country against these products when ex-
ported from the United States to that
country.
Senator Newlands offered an amend
ment providing for retaining duties on
citrous fruits and a reduction of them
by sliding scale OF 10 per cent a year,
but this amendment was voted down.
The caucus approved the schedule on
wines, except the Recommendation by the
committee for restoration or a tax or
Sl.1D on brandy used in the rortIncauon'
of sweet wine. The protests from the
State of California against this proposal
were echoed in the caucus, and as a re-
suit this matter was referred back TO
the subcommittee, with a recommended
ton that they investigate and report to
the caucus whether. in their judgment,
the clause should be amended.
There was no session OF the Senate
caucus in the afternoon, due to the fact
that the Senate was continuously in ses-
sion until nearly 8 o'clock. A night ses-
sion of the caucus began at O'Clock.
Senator Ransdell OF Louisiana presided.
The caucus completed the consideration
of the cotton schedule. There was no
controversy Of importance and only a
few changes. The most important change
from the schedule, as. 1t was reported
from the majority of the Finance Com
was the placing on the free list
of spool thread of cotton, covered by
26. In the bill, as it was
reported from the committee. this car
ried a duty OF Is per cent.
Action May Re Reversed.
The action of the Senate caucus was
brought about by one vote and there is
a probability that it will be reversed to-
day. 1t appeared that Senator Hughes
NJ New Jersey submitted a proposal to
increase the duties over the 10 per cent
proposed by the majority of the Finance
fndt frrT
is an important one in New Jersey.
There was only a small attendance of
Senators at the caucus, and the low tar
if men seemed to be in the majority.
They seemed to be resentful OF Senator
Hughes effort to increase the duty, and
In the course of the debate, some Senator
suggested that cotton thread was
household necessity which every house
wife used and motion to free list it
was made and carried
The caucus also rejected the commit
tees amendment reported as a substitute
FOR the House provision, included in par
agraph 257. This relates to cotton cloth,
AID made a slight increase in duties
over the House paragraph. The action
taken on this paragraph is likely to be
reversed IL. the caucus body, according
10 Senators who believe that the COM
nittee ought to be sustained.
A Plan for administering the income
AK provision of the tariff bill was
agleed on by the Finance Committee,
the recommendation of the
of Internal Revenue. 1t
that sl,2o0oo0 annually will be
to carry on the work of col |
Getting this excise tax. A large number |
IL special employees will be needed, in |
Guiding eighty-six deputy collectors. The |
committee will recommend that these be |
appointed by the Commissioner of In
ernal Revenue, with the approval of |
he Secretary of the Treasury. regardless |
If civil service rules.