The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-02-01

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Feb. I--AccOrd-
ing to messages received by American
manufacturers from their agents in Rus
STA. the trade between the two countries
is seriously threatened by the efforts Of
the American beet sugar interests to have
the Treasury Department so interpret the
DingIey Tariff law as to discriminate
against Russian beet sugar. It is stated
that the Russian Government has init
mated that if the Objectionable duty is
insisted upon Russia viii place prohibitory
tariffs on all the American manufactured
products which are now being shipped to
that country in steadily increasing guam
titles.
So seriously is the situation regarded
by the exporters that E. a. sanborn, Of
the National Association of Manufacture
eEs, and ". r Tucker. of the board of
trade, have been instructed by their re-
speetiYe boards of directors to 60 -
Washington and request Secretary Gage
to fix date when he viii hear commit
tees Of the two organizations on the mat
ter.
The cause Of the disturbance is the de-
mand Of the beet sugar people that mas
much as beet sugar imported from RUSSIA
receives an export bounty from the Gov
eminent of that country t is, in conse-
quenCe, subject TO Inc p lyiSlon OF the
Dingley Tariff law, which Imposes adj
ditionaI import duties equal TO such bouE-
ties upon all articles thus favored by for
sign Governments
The immediate trouble is based or a
shipment OF beet sugar, which IS held up
at this port on complaint If an American
beet sugar manufacturer. The complain
ant demands that the Secretary of the
q rp he ri in
ent reciprocal arrangements with Russia,
wherein the said sugar is brought into this
country under the most favored nation
clause Il VIII be contended by the repre-
sentatiyes Of the commercial organizations
mentioned that no export bounty is paid
on beet sugar by the Russian Government.
The parties opposing the importation or
this product claim that the Russian Gov
eminent directly controls the beet sugar
industry Of that country. It is kept in
Government storehouses. and only enough
is released in the Russian Empire to keep
its price up 70 & certain standard N or
der to hold up this standard the
Government. IN cases Of over production.
reduces the revenue TAX On all beet sugar
exported. and this. the American beet su-
gar men claim. is TO all intents and pur-
poses a bounty.
Such men as Theodore c. Search. John
II. Converse and Charles H CramD have
the matter before Secretary Gage These
men claim that the amount involved is too
Insignificant N comparison with the great
sums paid By Russia to American manu-
factuEsrs to allow It 10 cause any breach
IN the friendly commercial relations now
existing between the two countries.
The figures have been computed. and It
is shown that during the past year the
total amount OF beet sugar imported from
Russia was valued, in round numbers at
$500. o00, and this was the largest years
business under the Diugley Tariff lax
The exports from America to Russia
during the same year amounted to about
Slo,0U0,gU0. II Is JnIs large balance IN
favor OF American trade that ID causing
such perturbation among the uanufactur-
ers Of this country The Russian market
1t is claimed. has been particularly i'm
Portant to American manufacturers OF
railway material. locomotives and cars,
iron and steel in ali forms. machinery and
tools. The Trans-Siberian Railroad and
other great projects IN course of construc-
ton IN both European and Asiatie Russia
have made demands for great quantities
Of American goods and the prospect OF
any Interference with this trade is con-
sidered as extremely unfortunate
The point at issue is purely question
OF facts as TO payment Of bounties upon
the exports Of Russian sugar, and the
present Tariff law is the statute by which
the action Of the Treasury Department
can be governed, as there is no question
of treaty right involved. The men having
taken up the cause Of American exporters
hope that the matter can be disposed of
without interference with our present
commercial relations with Russia