The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-03
GAGE MAKES REPLY
CERNING BOARD OF TRADE
PETITION.
STANDS BY HIS POSITION.
BOARD OF GENERAL APPRAISERS
HAS JURISDICTION.

Cargo of Russian Sugar Expected in
a Few Days - II Importer Will
Make Protest and Appeal Case
eraI Appraisers, and Secretary
Gage will Try TO Get an EARLY
Hearing-Capt. Purse to Go North
soon in the Interest of Corn and
Cane Mills.
Capt. ID. G. Purse returned yesterday
from a short trip through Florida He
has received a number of communica-
tons relative to the petition of the Sa-
vannah Board OF Trade to Secretary
Gage asking that ne reconsider his ac-
ton in placing heavy ad valorem duties
upon the importation Of beet sugar from
Russia.
The communications in regard to the
subject of the petition were sent by Sec
rotary Gage to Hon. Rufus E. Lester,
and through him to Savannah parties
that are interested.
In letter from Col. Lester, he says:
In reply to my letter to the Secretary
of the Treasury inclosing the resolutions
of the Savannah Board of Trade, the
Secretary has sent me a statement for
the information of the members of the
Board of Trade, giving the history law
and status of the question of tariff taxa
ton of Russian sugar.
II herewith send you the Secretarys
letter and the statement He evidently
does not intend to recede from his posi-
ton unless the Board of Appraisers in
New York decide against his contention"
Secretary Cages letter is as follows: "I
am in receipt Of your letter of the 18th
instant, inclosing copy of the resolutions
of the Savannah Board of Trade upon
the subject of the imposition of counter
vailing duties on sugar imported from
Russia.
Il note that the Board of Trade bases
its request for the suspension of the
Treasury's Departments decision upon
the fact that possibly the Secretary may
have misinterpreted the law, but even so,
section five of the act of July a. 1897,
leaves the Secretary of the Treasury no
discretion but to impose the additional
duties contemplated by it whenever it is
found that any country bestows or pays
a bounty, either directly or indirectly,
upon commodities exported from it.
'Tt has been determined that the Board
of General Appraisers has jurisdiction
over just such points as are represented
in the Russian sugar bounty case. The
Board is a judicial body, with power to
take evidence and to hear and determine
the various sides of a controversy
growing out of the administration of GUS
toms laws. 1t has nine members, skilled
and versed in the matters which it has
jurisdiction to consider.
1 doubt not the Boards decision would
be accepted by all the interests affected
with more contentment than that OF the
Secretary of the Treasury. Happily l
am able to say that ii is expected a cargo
of Russian sugar will arrive in a few
days, when the importer may pay the ad-
ditional duties dena nded, and by protest
and appeal, carry his case to the Board
of General Appraisers. ] shall do all
[ can to facilitate an early hearing before
that body
II inclose for transmission to the
Board of Trade of Savannah, a copy of
statement containing a translation of
the Russian law, regulations as made in
furtherance of it, reports from American
consuls, and TRANSACTIONS from a Russian
paper, in order that the members of that
board may study the case for themselves
if they wish
The statement of the law referring to
the Importance of Russian sugar, inclos-
ed in Secretary Cages letter is at the
office of Capt. Purse where it can be seen
by anyone interested in the matter.
Capt Purse while in Florida discussed
his plans for making sugar from corn,
and his views We're received with a most
flattering attention by the press as we'll
as the people generally.
The latter part of this week Capt. Purse
will go North, there to arrange with the
manufacturers of machinery suita BILE for
the cow version of both corn and cane into
sugar. He hopes to decide on locations
and complete such other arrangements as
are necessary, in time to have two OF
these mills up and ready to handle the
next crop of corn and cane.
A most fiattering letter relative to his
recent work on sugar has been received
by Capt. Purse from Mr.. w. w. Cum
mer Of Jacksonville. The writer says,
in part, 81 find history, politics. and sta
tistics of a valuable character in your
work, and a man who has any interest
al all i'm the culture OF sugar cane should
read your work, for nothing could help
him more.
II have sent the one hundred volumes
to parties whom think it will help You
have certainly done the South much good
by your untiring efforts in presenting her
advantages. Such men as you will make
her a power and before long, too"