The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-22
HAY Will PROTEST
RUSSIA'S RETALIATORY DUTIES
BASED ON MISREPRESENTATION.
Matter Considered by the Cabinet, and
ed to Make Representations.
STATEMENT FROM MR.. GAGE
LEvYING OF DUTY on PRODUCTS OF
RUSSIAN PETROLEUM,
The Secretary Says, Was Simply in
Accordance with Provisions of
the DinGley Tariff Law.
WAS NO DISCRIMINATION
ALL THE LEADING COUNTRIES AF-
FECTED AS WELL AS RUSSIA.
No Protest from Any Nationalist
of Commissions Signed-General
News of the National Capital.
The Secretary Says, Was Simply in
Accordance with Provisions of
the Dingley Tariff Law.
WAS NO DISCRIMINATION
ALL THE LEADING COUNTRIES AF-
FECTED AS WELL AS RUSSIA.
No Protest from Any NatiOn-List
of Commissions Signed-General
News of the National Capital.

WASHINGTON, June 21-The most i'm
portant subject discussed at to-day's Cabi-
net meeting was that involving the as
sessment of customs duties petroleum
or its products imported from Russia.
Secretary Gage, who has direct charge
of enforcement of the tariff laws. eN-
planned to the President and the MEM
bers of the Cabinet in detail the depart
ments connection with the matter and the
history of legislation affecting it, AT the
conclusion of the secretary's statement all
of the members, il is understood, expressed
themselves in entire accord with Sec
retary Gage in the position he has taken
and requested that he make a statement
covering the entire ground. Secretary Hay,
it is reported, instructed to
make representations to the Russian
government fully explaining the attitude
of this country, and pointing out that
Russia has acted hastily and under mis-
apprehension of the facts in her position
of retaliation. The statement of the secre-
tary of the treasury is substantially as
follows:
Secretary Gage called attention to the
tariff act Of July "a, 1897, known as the
Dingley act, which, among other things,
provides that If there be imported into the
United States crude petroleum, or the proc
ucts of crude petroleum, produced In any
country which imposes a duty on petroleum
or its products exported from the United
States, there shall in such cases be levied,
paid and collected duty on said crude
petroleum or its products so imported
equal 10 the duty imposed by such coun-
try; :. o,u
cular issued TO the offices of the customs,
dated April Il. 1885, TO which was appended
a schedule OF the countries imposing a
duty on petroleum and its products. These
countries included France, Germany.
Austria Hungary, Russia, Spain and prac-
tically all of the leading countries or the
world. This circular was issued for the
purpose of carrying into effect the pc
troleum provision of the Dingley tariff
law. On June Is, 1900. an invoice of re-
fined petroleum was received at Roches-
ter, n. Y. manufactured from crude pc
troleum produced in Russia The collector
of customs at Rochester held that the re-
fined article was subject TO duty as a pro-
duction of Russia and assessed duty ac-
cordingly. Appeal was taken from the ac-
ton of the collector TO the board of gen
eral appraisers at New York. The board,
on Jan. 2S, 1901, sustained the collector,
holding that petroleum produced in Russia
and imported into England there refined
and thence sent TO this country was
dutiable at rate. equal to that imposed
by Russia on petroleum imported into that
country from the United States.
mo protest or objection, so far as the
department knows, was received from any
ter was not again brought TO the attention
of the government until March 9. of this
year On that date the department held
that invoices OF products of crude pc
troleum must be accompanied by United
States consular certificate. showing the
country where the petroleum was pro-
duced. In the absence of this certificate
the liquidation was TO be suspended. and
pending further information the rate oi
| duties must be estimat ted al the highest
rate levied by any country on such pc
| troleum Further than this the department
| has never taken any action whatever or
| the subject of petroleum.
Upon this statement of facts The of.
| ficials are at a great loss to understand
| how Russia can feel aggrieved at the
| governments action and inaugurate a sys
| tenn of discriminating duties against prod
| ucts of the United States in consequence
| X is hoped that Secretary Hay will bt
| able to present the facts so that Russis
| will rescnd her action and will show thai
| she Is not seeking 10 be unjust to thi:
| country IN tariff matters"