The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-25
NO SECRET BOUNTY PAID
RUSSIAN PAPERS PROTEST ABSENCE
OF EXPORT PREMIUMS.
Western Europen Powers Blamed for
IL Feeling Manifested.

ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 24.-The semi
official Financial Messenger, in the course
of an article denying that sugar exports
enjoy an open or secret premium from
the Russian treasury, points out that the
charter of the sugar regime of Russia.
which fixes the selling price for the home
market at a regularly reduced rate from
year/to year, is intended to protect the
Russian consumer against the encourage
ment of expectation at his expense. and
that II secret export premiums exist at
all. they are due to the growing power of
trusts and syndicates in getting various
branches of production into their power.
with no other aim than to maintain high
prices abroad at the expense of the home
market.
The Journal De St. Petersburg says:
''Will not a dangerous precedent be created
by the desire to prove at any price that
alleged secret premiums are concealed by
the Russian sugar regime. If Russia en-
ployed the same logic. she would, with
even greater justification, he driven to i'm
pose countervailing duties upon cast iron,
steel, copper and other American products
TO which the principle now being estab-
llshed could be applied with equal justice.
Russia would also be perfectly justi-
fled in applying this new procedure not only
against the United States, but also against
western Europe, inasmuch this singu-
lar idea of the concealment of secret premi-
ums originated in no way with the United
States. 1t was first proclaimed by Europe
at the Brussels conference in 1898; and IL
is only such an idea, tor which Europe Is
responsible, that Russia has to thank for
an Ubiquitous act on the part of the friend
ly United States.
1T must above all not be forgotten this
Is slippery path and that, IL 1T is pur-
sued further, we. too, shall inevitably pro-
coed, without even awaiting the expiration
OF commercial treaties, to similar measures,
not only with regard TO America, but also
with regard to Europe in the case OF sucn
products as are controlled by syndicates
or other organizations and sold cheaper
abroad than at home.
ITO such incredible consequences one
comes, even at first glance, when one
starts upon the solution of international
Questions from unsound principles, ques-
tons which require above all the most alb
solute justice and consideration of mutual
interests If understanding between par
ties is to be maintained
these articles which appear in the Of
fetal organs of the Ministry of Finance. I'M
dcubIedly represent the views of the Rus
sian government in the application or the
theory of concealed export premiums To
truSt-made products. Both papers Signlh-
cantly hold western Europe responsible for
the theory, thus tacitly admitting that the
United States acted under pressure. They
threaten trust-made European and Amer
lean products which sold cheaper
abroad than at home with compensatory
duties. They ignore as irrevelant the dis
tinction between legislative and voluntary
regula tons of industries
The announcement of this doctrine opens
ur wide field of speculation and appar-
emily presages transformation of the dis
eliminating duties against America into q
general commerce and are the objects or
the keenest competition. Russian indus
tries would certainly welcome any excuse
tc increase the present high protection.
puring the existing stagnation they have
bitterly complained whenever foreign
concern has secured government order,
and they continually demanding favors
of every kind, railway rates and the like,
against foreigners.
Possibly, however. the inspired organs
merely desire to illustrate in drastic way
the dangers from the attempts of one state
to interfere indirectly with the internal
affairs of another.