The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-24
Our Tariff war with Russia.

to the tariff complca ton between the
United States and Russia over an impor-
tation of sugar. Its main object seems
to be, however, to show that was wrong
in the course recommended TO the Board
of Trade, in the meeting Thursday for
remedying the trouble that shippers OF
cotton and naval stores might be saved
from heavy losses by cancellation Of or
ders for Russian account. and 70 show
that Mr.. ]. p. williams indicated the only
true course to be pursued.
If you had given me an opportunity,
before trial and conviction in your edi-
torial, to have explained the reasons for
the particular form Of my resolution, l
could have shown you ample precedent In
of letters from the National Association
of Manufactures of the Tn ted States
enclosing copies OF correspondence show
ing that our line of action was in exact
accord with its approach to the S cretary
of the Treasury, and asking our cooper
alton In similar concert in approaching
Secretary Gage and the Senate Committee
on Finance, which seems to be the
author of al 1.-The trouble in forcing the
Secretary of the Treasury to q decision
when his non-action was assured that
time might be secured for adjus ing the
dispute in which II seems Almost certain
Russia will land on top in the end, and
the setback to a large and lucrative traf-
fic been avoided.
have before me the analysis of the
new treaty between this country and
Russia. affording far greater concessions
than those now enjoyed tied up in the
Senate Committee on Finance for some
occult reason, satisfactory only to its
majority members, that shows only in
stronger light the fearful blunder COM
mitted by the Secretary of the Treasury
in allowing himself forced suddenly from
the conservative stand his own high sense
of duty had previously determined him to
take
A test case is to be made on the ar
rival of the first cargo of Russian sugar
before the board of assessors at its port
of destination, New York 1t is feared
these appraisers, with perfectly honest
intentions will be dominated by the de-
cision at Washington regardless of the
string of facts that will be arrayed be-
fore them to show the decision to be In
error. The next appeal must be to the
Supreme Court of the United States on
both the facts and the lawn awhile our
trade ENHANCEMENT with Ru sia broadens
and all on account of a trade item of
only $780, 15 in 1899, and in 1900, after ex-
haustive search can be mlde to show
only 81. 993. for which the friendly rela-
tions between us and Russia must be
placed in jeopardy, and $40 029,79o in
American exports be, virtually, barred
out of Russia.
In a letter to the writer, from an in
fuential and wealthy machinery COM
pany seeking cooperation of the Board
of Trade, 1t is suggested that in the
event the board of appraisers at New
York, upon the appeal, decide as the Sec
rotary of the Treasury has done that
you (the writer advise your (hisl sena-
tors and representatives on whom you
(he) can count to endeavor to influence
the administration so that this decision
be to remove the countervailing duty
now causing our trade unr st
Able lawyers in New York assert that
the decision of Secretary Gage is in con-
tradiction of the facts and the law and
further, that Russia Is right in her con-
tenticn-
Vast interests North. East and West
tremble at the dangers encompassing our
present unfortunate attitude toward Rus
STA.
The bill introduced yesterday in Con
gress to repeel all countervailing duties
could not possibly bec-me a law in this
or the succeeding, but its Introduction
shows the temper of the peorIe behind
it against the sugar trust which is open
irgly charged with responsibility for all
the trouble through the agency of the
Senate Committee on Finance.
II is true the first decree of Russia was
against manufactures. but it has been
strongly limited from high Russian sources
that the decree will cover everything II
the United States persists in its present
course Hence the effect upon naval
stores in the cancellation of 10000 barrels
rosin for Russian account reported by
Mr.. ]. F. Williams in meeting of Board
of Trail" on Thursday last.
Your tditC rial is in error regarding the
press Df r. ssia being favorable. at heart,
to the Tinted States. On the contrary,
they and the people are very FESTIVE I'M
der existing conditions, as I am prepared
TO show cnnclusively. 1t has not been SIX
months since an imperial ukase stopped
negotiations with Carnegie Steel Com
many for aIn.or-plate and compelled let
ting Of contract to a Russian steel COM
many OIL private terms. though the Car
nes:ie company were entitled 20 the con-
tract as the lowest bidder and it would
have beer awarded them, save for the
royal ukase foTbidding it. This is most
significant circumstance, as showing the
Jealousy against our trade agg es siveness
IT, Russia. D. G. Purse.
Savannah. Feb. %, 1901.
(Mr Fursc is wrong in assuming that
our article was aimed at him and his
Euard Of Trade resolution. We simply
seized upon the position take1 by Mr..
williams to emphasize the position we
have taken all along, namely. that the
Secretary of the Treasury has no discre-
ton in the matter He must enforce the
tariff laws. especially when requested. If
he has not been doing SO. AS to whether
OF not the Russian press sustains llus-
sia's action we have only the Geographic
extracts from it's utterances to guide us.)