The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-25
Secretary of the Trcasury's Explann-
tion of the Petroleum Question
Alleged to BE Inadequate.
GAGE SAID TO BE MISTAKEN
IN HIS INTERPRETATION OF THE
UNITED STATES TARIFF LAWS.
Intimation that American Agricul-
turaI Machinery May Suffer Next
"A ROyalist on Trial.

LONDON, June PA dispatch TO a news
agency from st. Petersburg. dated to-day,
purports to quote NJ De White. the Rus
sian finance minister, as saying that the
statement issued by Secretary Gage. in ex-
PLANTATION of the United States treasurys S.
act in imposing countervailing duties or
certain Russian products, shows the ques-
ton is not fully understood by Mr.. Gage
NJ De White says that he cannot imagine
that Mr. Gage would Intentionally mislead
the people of the United States and there
for can only conclude that Mr.. Gage is not
possessed of all the facts in the case.
ST. PETERSBURG, June 24.-On compe-
tent authority the correspondent of the AS
ISOLATED Press is able TO say that the Rus
sian minister of finance regards Secretary
Cages explanation of the petroleum ques-
ton to be aside the point. Russia has
adopted reprsals in the form of increased
duties on American goods for the second
time, not because certain shipment of pc
:roieum was taxed at an unduly high rate,
because It not accompanied with a
certificate as to its origin, but because Rus
STA does not admit the correctness of Sec
rotary Cages Interpretation of the tariff
laws of the United States. Section G26 OF
these laws places naphtha and the products
Of nabhtha on the free list, unless the
country whence they are exported charges
duty on similar articles from the United
States. Russia does not admit that these
laws authorized the collection of a tariff
on paraffine made in Great Britain from
Russian naphtha, as Gecreed by Secretary
Gage in his circular of March. Accord
ing to the Russian press this circular is
generally regarded the answer of the
United States in the matter of the Russian
reprisals, and this opinion has never been
corrected.
The impression has been conveyed to the
correspondent of the Associated Press that
the hope of Secretary Gage that Secretary
of State Hay will succeed in explaining
these matters to the satisfaction of NJ De
Witte will be in vain. If further action
against Russian trade is taken by the
United States, Russia's answer will follow
in due season. Speaking of these matters,
the informant of the correspondent of the
Associated Press said: 1.-The entire trade
of the United States with Russia can be
lost while awaiting the decision of the court
and unless the matter is FASTENED. 1 un-
derstand the case comes before the lower
court next November. The Americans are
apparently not in a hurry to resume d
business which is now falling into the
hands of the Germans"
When asked if there was danger of Rus
STA imposing further reprisals on American
goods as a hint to the government Of the
United States to hasten the settlement of
the matter, the informant of the CORE
spondent Of the Associated Press said: up
to the present time your agricultural ma
chinery has not been affected" He ex-
pressed his opinion that action in the mat
ter needed and that a revival of the
subject would cost American commerce
far more than the discriminating duties,
price of light hardware, fine grade ma
chinery and tools. The majority of the
consumers of such articles have but re-
Gently heard of these discriminating duties.
Americans in st. Petersburg are of opinion
that the affair will never be terminated to
the satisfaction of American exporters.
through Russian initiative concession.