The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-06-21
LEVIED BY RUSSIA AGAINST CERTAIN
AMERICAN PRODUCTS.
TARIFF ON RUSSIAN PETROLEUM
Put In Force Under DinRley Tariff Be-
Causes Russia's Action-No DIscre-
tfonary Power in secretary Gage.
Exporters OF Articles Effected Much
Concerned-A Contervafling Duty to
be Imposed on Sugar from Italy.

Washington, June 1S.-The Russian
ambassador, Count Cassini, has commu-
nicated to the state department that in
consequence of the action of the Amer
lean government through a treasury
order of March 9th, 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 7th instant,
imposing the high tariff rate of the
Russian schedule on certain American
products.
The text of the Russian ambassadors
letter, as delivered to the treasury de-
partment, is as follows:
washington, May 26, 1901.
Secretary of State:
"The federal government having by
circular dated March 9, 1901, applied
article 626 of the American tariff to
Russian petroleum, the imperial gov
ernment 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 product entered
into Russia:
Il. White resin or colophon, galipot,
brewers pitch-article 80.
"2. Bicycles-article 173, paragraph 8.
This measure will go into effect two
weeks from the date of it's promulga-
tion.''
The present duty on articles under
the first head of the rOSin family
is 30.S cents per pOod of 36112 pounds.
Bicycles are now taxable at the rate
of 1926 each.
The imposition of the maximum rate
will advance these figures by just 80
per cent; preSuming that the effect of
the Russian decree is an application of
article 62S of the Russian custom house
regulations which was the paragraph
applied by the Russian government to
American agricultural machinery and
hardware in return for the requisition
for the differential sugar duties upon
Russian sugar.
At the treasury department it is stat
ed that the imposition of duty on pc
troleum was not a matter within the
discretion of the secretary of the treas
ury but was made mandatory by the
Dingley tariff act, which directs the
secretary, in case any foreign country
imposes duty on petroleum imported
from the United States, to levy a like
duty on petroleum imported from that
country. AS Russia collects duty on
petroleum imported from the United
States, our government, in compliance
with law, imposes a duty on Russian
petroleum. In no sense, it is stated,
can this duty be regarded as an unjust
discrimination against Russian petro-
leum, as that country took the initia-
tive against the American article. Had
Russia not taken this step her petro-
leum would have been admitted to this
country free of duty under the terms or
the tariff act.
In his reply to Count Cassinis note,
which was transmitted to the treasury
department, Secretary Gage protests
against the implied contention that the
governments action was a discrimina-
ton against Russia and adds:
81 beg leave to submit for your con-
sideration 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
navigation with Russia"
According to the Russia view, the
duty laid against Russian petroleum is
inexplicable. from the fact that no
Russian petroleum comes to this coun-
try. The only article of the kind receiv-
ed here is said to be that mixed with
Belgian paraffin. 1t is said that the
American trade in bicycles and resins
SpSCluco are 4uItC idi &c iiA 1NdSSAd So
that the increased duties will bear
heavily upon these branches of the
American trade. AS a result represen-
tations 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 secretary Of the treasury has is
sued the customs officers the following
regular imposing coutervailing duty on
! beet sugar from Italy:
In view of the information thus far
received as to the operations Of the
law Of Italy, now in force, concerning
the excise on sugar, it appears highly
| probable that sugars produced in that
country receive indirect export boun-
ties.
Pending further investigation of the
matter the liquidation Of all sugars i'm
ported from or produced in Italy shall
be suspended. and the duties shall be
estimated in amounts sufficient to COW
er additional duties equal to the speci-
fed bounties''
1t is stated at the treasury depart
ment that until recently Italy has pro-
duced only sufficient sugar for home
consumption, but that latterly there
has been a surplus and that this ex-
cess is now bounty-fed as stated. Up
to this time there have been practically
no sugar exports to the United States.
Attempt at Criminal Assault
Especial to The Nessenger)