The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-19
state Department Notified by Count
Cassini that the New Duties GO
Into Effect on Friday.
QUEER NOTION OF ITALIANS
FLOWS WITH ONE WHEEL CLASsI-
FLED AS INSTRUMENTS OF ART,
Higher Tariff, Therefore. VIII BE As
sessed-Countervaili Duty ON
Beet Sugar from Italy.

WASHINGTON. June 1s.-The Russian
ambassador, Count Cassini, has communi-
Gated the State Department that. in con-
sequence of the action of the American
government through a treasury order OF
March last, applying tariff restrictions
against Russian petroleum imported into
this country. the Russian minister OF
finance, NJ. De Witte, has issued an order,
dated June Z, imposing the high tariff
rate Of the Russian schedule on American
white resin, under Article 81 OF the Russian
tariff law, and increasing the rate on
American bicycles under Article 173 OF the
Russian laws. This action is entirely apart
from that taken in connection with Rus
sian sugar. and is a new development i'm
the discriminatory duties imposed by this
government and the retaliatory duties i'm
posed by Russia. The order of the Russian
minister Is TO take effect next Friday, or
two weeks from the date of its issuance.
At the Treasury Department il is stated
that the imposition of a duty petroleum
was not a matter within the discretion or
the secretary of the treasury, but was made
mandatory by the Dingley tariff act, which
directs the secretary, in case any foreign
country imposes a duty petroleum i'm
ported from the United States, to levy like
duty on petroleum imported from that
country. AS Russia collects duty on
petroleum imported from the United States
this government in compliance with the law
imposes a duty on Russian petroleum. In
no sense IL IT, stated, can this duty be re-
garded as an unjust discrimination against
Russian petroleum, that country took
the initiative against tne Amerloan @ an article ,S
leum would have been admitted TO this
country free OF duty under the terms OF the
tariff act.
In his reply to Count Cassinis note,
which was transmitted TO the Treasury De-
partment, Secretary Gage protests against
the implied contention that this govern
ment's action was a discrimination against
Russia and adds: Il beg leave TO submit
for your consideration the question whether
the measure now adopted by the Imperial
government Is not Incompatible with the
rights of the United States under the exist
ing, treaty of commerce and navigation
According to the Russian view. the duty
laid against Russian petroleum Is mex
plicable from the fact that no Russian
petroleum comes 10 this country. The only
article of the kind received here is said &c
be that mixed with Belgian parafiine.
,c, IL Is sad nd tha' ina resns rns speced are quite
largt in Russia, so that the increased du-
ties will bear heavily upon these branches
reservations are being made in behalf OF
these manufacturers TO induce the State
Department to intercede with Russia for
an abatement OF the high rates.
The text OF the Russian ambassadors
letter, as delivered TO the Treasury Depart
ment. under date OF May 20; follows:
THE federal government having. by cir
cular dated March 8. 1901, applied Article
GO of the American tariff To Russian
petroleum, the imperial government has
Just informed me that the minister OF
finance of Russia has taken the requisite
steps for the application of the advanced
rates of duty to the following American
rosin or colophcn, Galipot, brewers pitch.
Article 81: and, second. bicycles. Article
173, Paragraph 3. This measure will go into
effect two weeks from the date OF its pro-
The present duty on articles under the
first head Of the rosin family Is 0.S cents
per pood or 36.ll2 pounds. Bicycles are now
taxable at the rate of S9.26 each. The impo-
sition of the maximum rate VIII advance
these figures by just 30 per cent, presum-
ing that the effect OF the Russian decree
is an application of Article CPS OF the Rus
sian custom house regulations, which was
the paragraph applied by the Russian gov
ernment TO American agricultural machin-
cry and hardware in return for the requi-
sition for the differential sugar duties upon
This latest retaliation on the part OF
Russia emphasized the issue which had
arisen previously over Russian sugar. Ow-
ing 10 the tariff growing out of the
sugar decisions, pressure has been brought
TO bear upon the government through COM
mercial and Industrial channels 10 secure
an adjustment with Russia. In some cases
special interests. machinery in particular.
have addressed themselves 10 the admins
tration by petition and letters. and through
influential senators and representatives IN
Congress, with a view TO some action on
the part OF the government which VIII al
ford the Russian government a basis Tor
removal Of the restriction upon American
imports and a recurrence OF the old state
of affairs The situation. however, Is such
that the government does not feel itself
able 10 move in the direction desired, az
any rate. at this moment
The board OF appraisers has affrmed the
correctness OF the sugar decision OF the
collector OF customs. and only one possible
channel OF relief remains open Tor the per-
sons who desire 10 admit the Russian sugar
on its old terms. namely, action by the Ju-
dicial branch Of the government. The ex-
ecutive branch. looking 10 the disposition
OF a test case before the Supreme Court.
at the next term-for. in view OF its In
ternational Importance such case VIII be
made special-does not see its way clear
10 take any steps now that might prejudice
the case in advance. The danger In this
situation Is TO be found in the probable
growth of I'll feeling between commercial
Interests I'm Russia and the United States.
which In the end. may afect political re-
lations unfavorably. Yet even this consid-
the administration in departing from the
negative policy above outlined
Xxx
Official information has reached this gov.
ernment that. under a recent classification.
plows with one wheel imported into Italy
are TO be regarded as instruments for art
and trade, instead OF agricultural machines,
and that the change Involves a higher rate
of duty This government iS likely 70
make protest against this action.
XXX
The secretary OF the treasury has issued
10 customs officers the following circular,
imposing a countervailing duty on beet
sugar imported from or the product OF
Italy: In view OF the information thus
far received as 10 the operations OF the
law of Italy now In force concerning the