The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-06-22
THEY SUPPORT Mr.. GAGE
The Secretary of the Treasury Makes
Statement
THE CASE AS PRESENTED A STRONG ONE
The Cabinet Feels That Russia VIII be Made to
See That Her Action is Not Such as
TO CaIfOrh Friendly
Feeling Here.
(By the Associated Press.)

Washington, June 21.-The most impor-
tant subject discussed at today's Cabinet
meeting was that involving the assess
ment of custom duties on petroleum or it's
products. imported from Russia. Secre-
tary Gage who has direct charge of the
enforcement of the tariff laws explained
to the President and the members of the
Cabinet in detail the Departments con-
nection with the matter and the history
of legislation affecting it. At the conclu-
sion of the Secretary's statement all of
the members, it is understood, expressed
themselves as in entire accord with Sec
retary Gage in the position he has taken,
and requested that he make a statement
covering the entire ground.
Secretary Hay will soon make represen-
tations to the Russian Government fully
explaining the attitude of this country
and pointing out that Russia has acted
hastily and under misapprehension Of
the facts in her position of retaliation.
The statement of the Secretary of the
Treasury is substantially as follows:
Secretary Gage called attention to the
tariff act of July oath, 1897, known as the
Dingley Act, which, among other things
provides that it there be imported into
the United Statesicrude petroleum, or the
products Of crude petroleum produced in
any country which imposes a duty on pc
troleum or its products, exported from
the United States there shall in such
cases be levied, paid and collected duty
upon said crude petroleum or its products
so imported equal to the duty imposed by
such country
"This provision was embodied in a cir
cuar issued to the officers of the GUS
toms, dated April 21st, 1898, to which was
appended a schedule of 109 countries i'm
posing a duty on petroleum and its pro-
ducts. These countries included France,
Germany, Austria Hungary, Russia, Spain
and practically all of the leading coun-
tries of the world. A circular was issued
for the purpose of carrying into effect
the petroleum provision of the Dingley
tariff law. So far as known in the Treas
ury Department no importations of petro
leum had been received into the United
States until June 18th, 1900, when an i'm
voice of refined petroleum was received
at Rochester, N. Y, manufactured from
crude petroleum produced in Russia. The
collector of customs at Rochester held
that the refined article was subject to
duty as a production of Russia and as
sessed duty accordingly. While the i'm
portation came from England it was
shown that the crude oil was produced
in Russia. An appeal was taken from
the action of the collector to the board
of general appraisers at New York. This
board on January 29th 1901, sustained the
collector.
mo protest or objection so far as the
Department knows, was received from any
country against this decision.
Upon this statement of facts the of
ficials are at a great loss to under
stand how Russia can feel aggrieved at
the Governments action and inaugurate
system of discriminating duties against
products of the United States in conse
quence. 1T is hoped that Secretary Hay
will be able to present the facts so that
Russia will rescind her action and will
show that she is not seeking to be un
just to this country in tariff matters.
The Cabinet feels that the Administration
has a strong case, and believes that if
Russia is entirely friendly she will be
made to see her action in this case has
not been such as to call forth the most
friendly feeling in this country"