New-York tribune., 1901-06-19
RETALIATION BY RUSSIA.
NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE TARIFF
WAR OVER SUGAR.
HIGH TARIFF RATE IMPOSED ON AMERICAN
RESIN AND BIcYcLEs-A PROTEST
FROM SECRETARY GAGE

kEslN AND BIcYCLES-A PROTEST
FROM SECRETARY GAGE
washington, June ls.--A new retaliatory move
on uhe part or Russia has emphasized the As
sue raised recently by Secretary Cages action
in imposing countervailing dutv ON Russian
sugar The danger in the situation lies I'm the
probable growth OF ill-feeling between CONNER
cial interests in Russia and the United States
which In the end may affect political relations
unfavorably
Inc Russian Ambassador. Count Cassini has
informed the State Department that i'm conse-
ouenoe Of the action OF the American Govern
ment. through Treasury order of March !,
last applying tariff restrictions against Russian
petroleum imported into this country. the Rus
sian Minister of Finance NJ. De yy,tte has
issued an order dated June 7. imposing the
high tariff rate OF the Russian schedule on
American white resin. under Article 50 of the
Russian tariff law. and increasing the rate on
American bicycles unde- Article II3 of the
Russian law. The order goes into effect next
Friday.
POLICY NOT TO BE CHANGED
Owing 20 the tariff war growing o,,t of ,ho
sugar decision. some rress,lre.has bae, brou,h,
n hear on the government through commercial
and industrial channels 10 secure an adiust
ment with Russia In some cases special in
terests, manufacturers Of machinery i'm particu-
Lar. have addressed themselves 10 the admin
istration, by petitions and letters and through
influential Senators and Representatives i'm Con-
gress with a view to some action which will
give the Russian Government a basis for a re-
moval of the restriction on American imports
and return to the former state OF affairs The
situation, however. is such that the government
does not feel able TO move in the direction de-
sired. at any rate AZ present.
The Board OF Appraisers has affirmed the cor
rectness Of the sugar decision. and only one
possible channel OF relief remains open for the
persons who desire TO admit the Russian sugar
on its old terms namely, action by the judicial
branch Of the government The Executive
branch, looking 10 the disposition Of test case
before the Supreme Court at the next term
for. in view of its international importance such
a will be made special-does not see its
way clear TO take any steps now that might
prejudice the in advance Even the ele-
ment OF danger in the situation is said 10 be
insufficient 10 warrant the administration in de-
parting from the negative policy above outlined.
THE TREAsURY's ATTITUDE.
1t is said at the Treasury Department that the
imposition OF a duty petroleum was not a
matter within the discretion Of the Secretary
of the Treasury but was made mandatory by
tary in any foreign country imposes a
duty on petroleum imported from the United
States, 10 levy like duty petroleum i'm
ported 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 il is said this duty be regarded
as an unjust discrimination against Russian
petroleum that country took the initiative
against the American article. Had Russia not
taken this step. her petroleum would have been
admitted ~ this country free Of duty under the
terms OF the tariff act
In his reply TO Count Cassinfs note, which
was transmitted to the Treasury Department.
Secretary Gage protests against the implied con-
tention that this governments action was a
discrimination against Russia, and adds:
beg leave 10 submit for your consideration
the question whether the measure now adopted
with the rights OF the United States under the
existing treaty OF commerce and navigation
with Russia.
According TO the Russian view. the duty laid
against Russian petroleum is inexplicable from
tbe fact that no Russian petroleum comes 10
This country The only article Of the kind re-
ceived here is said 10 be that mixed with BEL
gian paraffine II is said that the American
trade in bicycles and the resins specified is quite
large in Russia so that the increased duties VIII
bear heavily on these branches of American m
6 result representations are Delns
made in behalf Of manufacturers OF these arti-
cles 70 induce the State Department 70 inter
oede with Russia for abatement or the high
rates.
COUNT CASSINPS LETTER
The text OF the Russian Ambassadors letter.
as delivered TO the Treasury Department, is as
follows: no son,
Secretary OF State:
The Federal government having py circular
dated March o. 1901 applied Article o2o or the
American tariff TO Russian petroleum, the I'M
perial government has just Informed me That the
Minister OF Finance OF Russia has taken the
requisite steps for the application OF the ad-
vanced rates OF duty TO the following American
PRODUCTS entered into Russia:
% White resin or colophon, galipot. brewers
pitch. Article 50. and CD bicycles, Article ll3.
paragraph ,.
This measure will go into effect two weeks
from the date OF its PRONUNCIATION.
The present duty on articles under the first
head. OF the resin family. is 30.s cents a pood.
or 361l2 pounds. Bicycles are now taxable at
the rate OF 50 26 each. The imposition OF the
maximum rate will advance these figures 80
Der cent presuming that the effect OF the Rus
sian decree Is an application OF Article S2s of
the Russian custom house regulations. which
was the paragraph applied by the Russian Gov
ernment 10 American agricultural machinery
and hardware in return for the imposition or
direrenttal sugar duties on Russian sugar.
CErRETARY GAGE