The Savannah morning news., 1901-02-15
COMMERCIAL WAR WITH RUSSIA.

y
The question which has arisen between
/ this country and Russia, as 20 whether
+ "a government bounty is paid on sugar OK
ported from that country. promises to
greatly disturb the very pleasant trade
relations which exist between the two
countries. Our tariff laws require that
on all sugar coming from a country which
pays an export bounty on sugar coun-
tervaiIlng duty snail be collected-that
is, a duty equal to the bounty, together
with the regular duty.
Consldera BE sugar comes to this coun-
Try from Russia, and it comes into COM
petition with sugar Imported by the sugar
trust. The trust has been Insisting that
the government shall collect a counter
vailIng duty on this sugar on the ground
that Russia pays a bounty on all sugar
that is exported from within her limits.
Russia insists that she does not poy a
bounty on exported sugar. 1t would seem
as If she ought to know, but our gov
eminent does not accept her statement.
The Secretary of the Treasury has order
ed the countervailing duty collected. He
did this only after the most careful con-
sideratlon, and after submitting the mat
ter TO the Attorney General.
1t seems that Russia has some sort of
d system for taxing sugar made for do
nestle use that makes 1t cost more than
that which is exported. Whether the sys-
TEN amounts to paying bounty or not
seems to be a disputed question. The
Attorney General and our tariff experts
hold that it does, and the amount of the
bounty is very near cent a pound. II
this order of the Secretary of the Treas
ury stands Russian sugar viii be shut
out Of our market. because it will be I'M
dersold by sugar coming from other
countries.
It is stated that the order of the Sec
rotary of the Treasury is not intended to
be final, but is for the purpose of getting
the question at issue before the courts.
so that there can be decision on it, The
opinion is expressed by some of those
who have looked into the matter that
the question is In so much doubt that
the counts are just as likely to decide in
favor of Russia as this country.
In the meantime, however. Russia 10
showing good deal of feeling about the
matter About 100000 worth of sugar a
year comes to this country from Russia,
while the value of the factory products
which we send to Russia annual
~ is nearly $4,000, 600. Russia has
practically said that IL we inn
pose a countervailing duty on her sugar
she will raise the duties on American
goods so high that our commerce with her
will virtually be ruined. Our total exports
to Russia have a value of about $50, 900
year, and our trade with her is in
creasing at a rapid rate.
1t will be seen from this that the Secre-
tary OF the Treasury is taking the risk
OF causing this country to lose an I'M
mense trade by imposing a countervailing
duty on Russian sugar. Our people Will
be the losers, not the Russians. Still,
there is the law. If there are those who
insist that il shall be inforced it is inn
possible to see how the Secretary is to
avoid inforcing it. II he should be lax in
| the enforcement of the law in one instance
! ne might be lax in enforcing it in other
| Instances. Safety lies in enforcing the
laws. If the laws are bad then they
should be repealed.
As matter of fact there is pending
! in the Senate reciprocity treaty between
this country and Russia. Its ratification
would remove the tariff difficulties be-
tween the two countries. Why the Sen
ate has neglected this treaty so long is
one of the questions that even Senator
could not answer readily.
Great interests in this country, particu-
| larly the steel interests. are anxious
| to have this matter settled at once. They
have large and growing trade with Rus
STA. If Russia carries out her threat
however, American manufacturers will be
heavy losers. 1t can be readily seen there
fore why it is that the Secretary of the
Treasury is being literally overwhelmed
with dispatches, begging him to do moth
ing calculated to endanger our trade with
Russia.