The Saint Paul globe., 1901-06-19
GZAR HITS BACE AGAIN
ONE MORE ILLUSTRATION OF THE
WORKINGS OF THE DINGLEY
TARIFF LAW
RETALIAToRY DUTY IMPOSED
INCREASE LEVIED ON AMERICAN
RosN PRODUCTS AND ON
OUR BICYCLES
DE WHITES FORMAL NOTICE

WASHINGTON, June 1S.-The Russian
ambassador, Count Cassini, has COM
municated to the state department that,
tu consequence of the action Of the
American government, through a treas
ury order of March 9 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 sched-
ule on American whole resin or califin.
galapot and white resin, under article 50
Of the Russian tariff law, and increasing
the rate on American bicycles under ar
ticle 173 Of the Russian law.
This action is entirely apart from that
taken in connection with Russian sugar
and is a new development in the dis
criminatOry duties imposed by this gov
erument and the retaliatory duties i'm
posed by Russia. The order of the Rus
san minister is to take effect next Fri
cay, or two weeks from the date Of it's
issuance
At the treasury department 1t is stated
tnat the imposition of a duty on petro-
IeuTn was not a matter within the discre-
tion of the secretary of the treasury,
but was made mandatory by the Dlngley
tariff act, which directs the secretary, in
case any foreign country imposes a duty
on petroleum imported from the United
States. to levy like duty on petroIeum
imported from that country. AS Russia
collects a duty on petroleum imported
from the United States, this government,
IN compliance with law, imposes a duty
on Russian petroleum. In no sense, it
IS stated, can this duty be regarlei as
an unjust discrimination against Russian
petroleum. as that country took the
initiative against the American article.
Had Russia not taken this step her pc
trOleum would have been admitted to
this country free Of duty, under the
terms Of the tariff act.
In his reply to Count CaSsinis pote,
which was transmitted to the treasury
department, Secretary Gage protests
against the implied contention that this
governments S action was discrimination
against Russia, and adds:
Il beg leave to submit for your con-
slderation the question whether the
measure now adopted by the Imperial
government is not incompatible with the
rights of the United States under the
existing treaty Of commerce and naviga-
ton with Russia
According to the Russian View, the
futy laid against Russian petroleum is
lneXplicable from the fact that no Rus
sian petroleum comes to this country.
The only article of the kind received here
Is said to be that mixed with Belgian
paraffin.
HURTS AMERICAN TRADE.
It Is said that the American trade in
bicycles and the resins specified is quite
large in Russia so that the INCREASED du-
ties win bear heavily upon these branches
of the American trade. AS a result the
representations are being made in behalf
Of these manufacturers to induce the
state department to intercede with Rus
sia for abatement of the high rates.
The text of the Russian ambassador $
letter, as delivered to the treasury de-
partment is as follows:
Washington, May 26, Secretary
of State: The federal government hav-
ing by circular dated March 9, 1901 ap-
Piled article GIG of the American tariff to
Russian petroleum, the imperial govern
ment has just informed me that the min
lister Of finance Of Russia has taken the
requisite steps for the application of the
advanced rates Of duty to the following
American products entered into Russia:
'O) Whole rOsin or colophon, galipol,
brewers pitch, article 50, and % bicyc. .es,
article 49, paragraph 8.
This measure will go into effect two
weeks from the date of it's promulga
tiOn.
under the first head, Of the rosin family,
is 30S cents per pOod or 36112 pounds
Bicycles are now taxable at the rate of
1925 each. The imposition of the maxi
mum rate will advance these figures by
just 30 per cent, presuming that the eff
feet Of the Russian decree is an apDli-
cation Of article 62S of the Russian Gus
tcm house regulations, which was the
paragraph applied by the Russian gov
ernment to American agricultural ma
chinery and hardware. in return for tn,
Tequisition for the differential sugar du-
ties upon Russian sugar"
BEAUTIES OF THE DINGLEY LAW.
This latest retaliation on the part .
Russia emphasized the issue which hat
arisen previously over Russian sugar
Owing to the tariff war growing out O
the sugar decisions, pressure has bee
brought to bear upon the governmer
through commercial and Industrial chan
pels to secure an adjustment with Rus
sia.
In some cases special interests, ma
chinery in particular, have been address
ing themselves to the administration b
petition and letters and through influen
tial senators and representatives in con
gress with a view to some action on th
part of the government which will at
ford the Russian government a basis 70
& removal Of the restriction on America
imports and a recurrence of the old stat
OF affairs.
The situation, however, is such that tn
government does not feel itself able t
move in the direction desired. at an
rate at this moment.
The board Of appraisers has aflrme
the correctness Of the sugar decision @
the collector Of customs, and onIy on
possible channel or relief remains one
for the persons who desire TO admit tn
Russian sugar on its old terms. namely
action by the judicial branch of the gov
ernment. The executive branch, lookin
to the disposition of a test case befo,
the supreme court at the next term, for
view Of its international Importance sue
case viii be made special-does not Sc
Its way clear TO take any steps now tha
might prejudice the case in advance
The danger in this situation is 70 Z
found in the probable growth of ill-fee
ing between commercial interests in Ru.
sia and the United States, which, In IL
end, may affect political relations III
favorably Yet even this considerable
IS said to be insufficient to warrant II
administration in departing from the nel
alive policy above outlined.
ACTION AGAINST ITALY.
The secretary of the treasury has f.
sued to customs officers the following eli
cuIar, interposing q countervailing dut
on beet sugar imported from or the proc
Uct Of Italy:
In view Of the information thus fl
received as to the operations Of the Ia
Of italy now in force concerning the e,
Continued On FoprtA Page.