The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-17
RETALIATION BY RUSSIA.
A Discriminating Duty Placed Upon
American Manufacturers.


ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 1s-It is Off
cially announced that the customs duties
will be raised 20 per cent and the duties
on iron castings 80 per cent.
special clause, which enacts a 30 per
cent increase that applies to all tools and
machinery imported from the United
States, will go into effect on February 2S.
1t is understood that this action was
taken on account of the action of the
United States in the matter of counter
yailing duty on sugar.
The Secretary of State was informed
from the RUSSIAN Ambassador Count Cas-
SIM, and in telegram from Reginald
Tower, United States Ambassador at St.
Petersburg. that the Russian Government
had imposed the discriminating duty.
amounting to about 80 per cent additional
on American manufactures of iron and
steel. While the Russian Embassy insists
that no tariff war is to be inaugurated
by its Government. the action of Russia
is unquestionably intended as a retaliation
for the order of the Secretary of the
Treasury imposing a discriminating duty
on Russian sugar imported into the United
States on the ground that bounty is Iaid
to exporters. The telegram from Ambas-
sador Tower follows:
Petersburg Feb II.
THE Secretary of State, Washington:
An order of Russian Finance Min
lister directs additional tariff of 30 per
cent net imposed upon articles includ
ed in paragraphs numbered $50, 15l,
1872, 1873. 161. and section dscrimi-
mating tariff upon American hardware,
iron and steel boilers, pipes, forgings,
castings, tools. gas and water meters,
dynamos. sewing machines. of para
graph 16T of the Russian tariff laws.
when such articles are of American
manufacture. This includes motors
and machinery of all kinds. to take
effect March /. TOWER
1t was said at the Treasury Department
yesterday that a ship with a cargo of
sugar from Russia would arrive in New
York in a few days. and that the i'm
porters would, of course, appeal from the
assessment in the cargo of the diserlmiuat-
ing duty. thus leaving the Board of Cen
eral Appraisers to determine whether the
Secretary of the Treasury was justified in
declaring that Russia paid an export
bounty and directing the imposition of
discriminating duty equal to the amount
of that bounty. The Circuit Court of APP
peas decided on February that the Board
Of General Appraisers had jurisdiction in
cases arising from the imposition of dis
eliminating duties, and thus the simplest
and most direct way of disposing OF the
disputed question is afforded.
Secretary Gage has given his personal
attention for the past six weeks to the
manner in which Russia treats sugar ex-
porters and he reached the conclusion
that the system of sugar taxation in that
country was such tina, a bounty was Sc
cured Indirectly by the exporters. The
American tariff law permits the Secre
tary of the Treasury to impose a dis
eliminating duty, even if the bounty IS
paid only indirectly. 1t was explained
at the Treasury Department that Mr..
Gage had taken up the matter wpen one
Of the special tariff agents of the United
States in Europe reported that Russia
did pay bounty indirectly on Exports Of
sugar and that there was plenty Of evil
dence to prove that assertion.
The Belgian Minister yesterday made a
communication to the State Department
on the action of the Treasury Department.
in applying the discriminating cuty 10
Belgian sugar. II Is believed that the
Minister protested against the decision
of the Treasury Department.