New-York tribune., 1901-06-22
-RUSSIA'S ACTION HASTY
THE CABINETS VIEW OF THE TARIFF
CONTROVERSY.
SECRETARY CAGES COURSE APPROVED
REPRESENTATIONS TO BE MADE TO
THE CZAR'S GOVERNMENT.

Washington, June 2l.-As a result OF the Cabi-
net meeting to-day Secretary Hay will soon
make representations TO the Russian Govern
ment fully explaining the attitude of this coun-
Try IN the tariff controversy and pointing out
that Russia has acted hastily and under mis-
apprehension of the facts in her position OF re-
taliation Most Of the time at the meeting was
spent in discussing the action OF the Treasury
Department in imposing countervailing duty
on certain Russian products. Secretary Gage
explained in detail the action the department
had taken, and the Cabinet unanimously ap-
proved what he had done. He was authorized
10 issue statement in order to clear UP the
MISUNDERSTANDING which exist and later in the
day did so at the Treasury Department. This
statement 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 products 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 be levied,
palq ana collected duty upon said crude petro-
leum or its products imported equal to the
duty imposed by such country
This provision embodied in a circular
issued the officers of the customs dated April
p, 1885. to which appended a schedule Of
1o9 countries imposing duty petroleum and
its products. These countries included France
Germany. Austria Hungary. Russia. Spain and
practically all Of the leading countries of the
Of carrying into effect the petroleum provision
Of the Dingley tariff bill. No protests were re-
CelNed from any country, nor could they be rea-
sOnably expected, in view of the fact that the
countries named had already in operation laws
fixing & tariff duty petroleum and its prod
ucts So far as known in the Treasury Depart
ment, no importations Of petroleum had been
received into the United States until June IS
1890. when an invoice of refined petroleum was
received al Rochester. y. Y. manufactured from
crude petroleum produced in Russia. The Col
hector of Customs at Rochester held that the re-
fined article subject 70 duty as production
Of Russia, and assessed duty accordingly. While
the importation came from England II was
shown that the crude oil produced in Rus
sia An appeal was taken from the action OF the
Collector TO the Board Of General Appraisers at
New York This board on January 2s, 1901
sustained the Collector holding that petroleum
produced in Russia and imported into England
ana there refined and thence sent TO this coun-
try was dUtiabe at a rate equal TO that i'm
posed by Russia on petroleum imported into
that country from the United States.
No protest or objection, far the depart
ment knows was received from any country
against this decision, and the matter was not
again brought TO the attention OF the govern
lnent until March y OF this year. On that date
the department. replying 10 inquiries from the
Collector Of Customs II New-York as to how
he should ascertain the country Of origin in the
liquidation Of duties on petroleum or its products
arriving in this country. held that invoices Of
products OF crude petroleum must be ao~orn
panied by United States consular certificate
showing the country where the petroleum
produced In the absence of this certificate the
nquldatlon was TO be suspended, and, pending
further information, the rate Of duties must be
estimated at the highest rate levied by any
country on such petroleum. Further than this
the department has never taken any action
whatever on the subject OF petroleum, and even
in these instances, il will be observed. the rules
laid down apply equally and without discrimina-
uon to 1913 countries Of the world.
Upon this statement OF facts. the officials are
az great loss to understand how Russia can
feel aggTleNed at the governments action and
inauGur2te q system Of discriminating duties
against products Of the United States in conse-
qu-nce. II is hoped that Secretary Hay WIFI be
aale 10 present the facts that Russia will
resclnd her action and Will show that she is not
seeking TO be unjust 10 this country in tariff
matters. The Cabinet feels that the adminis-
tratlon has strong case and believes that if
Russia is entirely friendly she viii be made TO
see that her action in this case has not been
such as 70 call forth the most friendly feeling
IN this country.
WANT RETALIATORY TARIFF TAKEN OFF.
:,