Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-09-07
Conferees Argue Danger to
American Interests in For
eign Countries.
ABANDON FISH ISSUE
Expected Adjournment OF
Congress Not Likely Be
fore Saturday Night.

Washington, Sept. 7-COnferees
on the revenue bill today struck
out the Phelan amendment to EN-
power the president to retaliate
against citizens of belligerent ma
lions which interfere with United
States mails. The argument which
prevailed In the conference was
that it might work great hardships
to Americans in foreign countries
by counter retaliation.
The conference also abandoned the
Chamberlain amendment to prohibit
admission of Pacific ocean salmon or
halibut through foreign country ex-
cept in bond from an American port.
This, it was decided, might develop a
commercial war with Canada and
bring about retaliation against Amer
lean Atlantic coast fisheries.
Conferees on the revenue bill were
at work early today after a prolonged
night session, but no assurance ex-
| listed that their report could be sub
mitted before tomorrow, or that con-
gress would adjourn before Saturday.
Tentatively the conferees had agreed
to eliminate senate proposals for
stamp taxes on various kinds of COM
mercial papers and steamship and
Pullman tickets, to abandon the house
provision for tax on copper refiners,
and to increase from lotto 1914 per
cent the net profit tax on munitions
manufactured in order to raise $5,000,-
900 additional which the stamp taxes
would have supplied. The continuing
appropriation for the tariff commission
also was reported to have been strick-
en- out.
Agree on Other Amendments.
Other senate amendments clothing
the president with retaliatory power
against interferences with American
commerce and embargoes on Ameri-
can goods to foreign nations was
agreed to.
The conference then approached the
wine taxes and dyestuff tariff which
became the principal stumbling
blocks.
Majority Leader Kitchin moved to
strike out the senate amendments in
creasing the duties on coal tar, medic
inaI derivatives and f1avoring extracts.
There was no fight, however, on in
Creases in the rates on intermediate
and finished dyestuffs.
The conference eliminated the $780,,
900 continuing an appropriation for the
tariff commission.
The house managers yielded the de-
mand for restoration of the tax on cop
per when the senate COnIeIeeS lHIe
out the stamp taxes.
The income, inheritance and corpo-
ration stock taxes as fixed in the senate
bill were approved.
Revision of the wine tax schedule and
the Phelan amendment authorizing re-
taliatory action by withholding mail
and communication privileges from
citizens of foreign governments which
Disseminated against American trade
was being considered.
Among the provisions whose reten-
ton it was thought would be recon-
mended are the license tax on corpor-
alton stock, increased duty on dye
stuffs, higher income and inheritance
taxes, tariff commission and the re-
taliatory steps against foreign ships.
owen Pushing His Bill.
Senator Owen was intent today on
continuing his fight for the corrupt
practices bill.
There was a possibility that another
senate executive session might be held
today to consider the treaty for pur-
chase of the Danish West Indies.
Pending the revenue bill report, the
conferees on the general deficiencies
bill were holding up their recommen-
dations.
The conference committee had not
reached final agreement when the
house met, but they were reaching
the stage of mutual concession, in hope
of getting an agreement some time to-
day.
The delay threatens TO postpone
adjournment until Saturday.
Agreement on the wine tax and dye
stuffs tariff in the revenue bill was
reached by the conferees shortly be-
fore O'Clock and the committee rush
ed their report toward completion for
submission to the house tonight, and
possibly to the senate, should the
house act in time.