The Washington times., 1915-02-20
Unrestricted Manufacture, Pro.
posed in Bills, Expected to
Stop High Prices.
PROMPT ACTION EXPECTED
Senate Finance Committee In.
cIined to Favor Withdrawal
Of Levy Of 1898.

Following on the introduction in the
Senate by Senator Cummins of a bill to
repeal the tax on mixed -four and to
permit its manufacture. 1t developed to-
day that the Finance Committee mem.
bers have been sounded on the sub
jsot and are inclined to be favorable
to t.
The Ways and Means Committee will
meet Monday to consider the resolution
to repeal the nominal tax on mixed
hour. and the House probably will take
prompt action on tho resolution when
presented.
A member Of the committee said to-
day that the tax has never been con-
sidered . revenue producer. and was en-
acted before the days OF the pure food
law 80 that flour manufacturers would
bs required to acquaint the public with
the nature Of the four dispensed.
It 10 urged that II the unrestricted
manufacture OF mixed flour Is allowed
the cost Of living will be reduced. or, at
far as -four and bread are concerned.
1t is pointed out that to an extent
1t viii meet tho demands of those who
are urging an embargo on wheat.
House Must Act First.
Being q revenue measure. the Ways
and Means Committee and the House
will have to act on the matter first. The
Senate cannot act until the House acts.
In view Of the short time left between
now and March 4, 1t is uncertain wheth-
cr the bill can be passed. but its sup
porters are working hard for it.
Congressman Vollmer has introduced
the bill in the House and Senator Lum-
minis has presented the same measure
in the Senate. Congressman Connolly
Of Iowa Is also interested In the bill
and likewise Congressman Rainey Of
The passage Of the bill would permit
the manufacture and sale Of -four com
posed OF 80 per cent Of the milled pro-
duct Of wheat and 20 per cent OF the
wheat nour and corn flour to be mixed
and sold without being taxed.
1t would, Of course, have to be la beled
properly under the pure food law.
Urged BY Makers.
Tho bill is being urged by owners Of
plants interested in the manufacture of
nixed -four. The present tax was put
on in Spanish war days. Treasury Of
tictals are understood to favor the bill.
Iowa has several establishments for
the manufacture of mixed flour. and
besides is a great corn State. The bill
would operate to the advantage of pro-
bers are pressing it.
Fifty million bushels of corn a year
are being ground by American manufac.
turers. according to statements given
the House. II mixed flour Is permitted
1t Is said the available supply of bread
stuffs will be increased 20 per cent at
least.
It is also said the cost Of -four will
be reduced at least a dollar a barrel
The mixed -four is perfectly wholesome
and thus far no good reason has been
advaced for not permitting its unre-
stricted manufacture.
War Tax Still Effective.
Congressman Vollmer, author OF the
repeal resolution, today said:
That the Spanish war tax on flour
mlled from the products Of corn and
wheat Is still in effect will be news
TO the general public. The law re-
quires every manufacturer who mills
barley. or oats to subject himself to
the same rigid internal revenue regula-
tions that govern the manufacture OF
alcoholic liquors.
The stamp tax is cents barrel
ana Is not so burdensome as are the
regulations which require manufa ctur-
ers to comply with all of the details
OF keeping special records. making ex-
tensive reports to the Treasury De-
partment, cancelins OF stamps and the
destruction OF containers when empty
These exacting requirements IN con
nection with the small tax have vir-
tualiy prohibited the manufacture of
wholesome mixed flour when the world
Is threatened with wheat famine.
when the law went into offect a
wholesome flour consisting of about 80
per cent wheat product and 70 per, cent
corn product was extensively use:.
some OF the experts went so far as
to say that 1t was more wholesors,
than a!l-wheat flour. and the question
OF It's healthfulness was never raised.
Before the passage of the Federal
and state pure food laws the act was
ct value to prevent the mishranding
OF mixed -four. But there is no longer
any reason on this account. and it only
acts as prohibition against keeping
down the price Of wholesome bread"