Evening star., 1901-06-21
Tax on Petroleum and Russia's Re.
taliatory Measures,
SEC'Y GLGE'S POSITION SUSTAINED
Mr.. Hay to Fully Explain the At
titude of This Country.
MANY APPOIN TMEN T S


| sia and retaliatory measures by Russia
Secretary Gage who has direct charge OF
| the enforcement of the tariff laws, explain.
ed to the President and the members of the
cabinet in detail the departments connec
tion with the matter and the history OF
| legislation affecting it. At the conclusion
of the Secretarys statement all of the
members, it is understood, expressed them.
selves as in entire accord with Secretary
Gage in the position he has taken, and re-
| quested that he make statement covering
the entire ground.
AS a result OF the consideration by the
cabinet Secretary Hay win soon make rep
reservations to the Russian government
fully explaining the attitude of this coun-
try and endeavoring to point out that Rus
sia has acted hastily and under a misap-
prehenslon In her position in the petroleum
matter.
The Law In the Case.
Secretary Gage called attention to the
tariff act of July "a, 1887, known as the
Dingley act. which, among other things
provides that 'if there be imported into the
United States crude petroleum, or the pro-
ducts of crude petroleum, produced in any
country which imposes duty on petroleum
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"
Ihis provision was embodied in a circu-
lar issued to the officers of the customs
dated April 21, 1898. to which was ap-
pended a schedule of countries impos-
ing duty on petroleum and its products
many, Austria a-Hungary. Russia, Spain
and practically all of the leading coun-
tries of the world. This circular was
issued for the purpose of CARRYING
into effect the petroleum provision Of
the Dingley tariff law No protests
We're received from any country. nor could
they be reasonably expected in view of
the fact that the countries named had al
ready in operation laws fixing a tariff
on petroleum and its products. So far as
known in the Treasury Department no
importations of petroleum had been re-
ceived into the United States until June
IL, 1900, when an invoice of refined pc
troleum was received at Rochester, N.
~ manufa ctured from petroleum produc-
ed in Russia. The collector of customs
at Rochester held that the article was
subject to duty as production of Russia,
and assessed duty accordingly. While the
importation 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 % 1901, sustained the
in Russia, imported into England and
there refined, and thence sent to this
country, was dutiable at a rate eoAal to
that imposed by Russia on petroleum
imported into that country from the Unit
ed States.
The Case This Yenr.
No protest or objection so far as the de-
partment knows, was received from any
country against this decision, and the mat
ter was not again brought to the attention
Of the government until March 8 of this
year. On that date the department, reply
ing to Inquiries from the collector Of Gus
toms at New York. as to how he should as
certain the country Of origin in the hquda-
tion Of duties on petroleum or it's products
arriving In this country, held that invoices
of products Of crude petroleum must be ac-
companied by a United States consular
certificate showing the country where the
petroleum was produced. In the absence
of this certificate the liquidation was to be
suspended, and pending further tnforma-
ton the rate Of duties must be estimated
at the highest rate levied by any country
on such petroleum. Further than this the
department has never taken any action
whatever on the subject of petroleum, and
even in these instances, it will be observed
the rules laid down apply equally and
without discrimination to 124 countries of
the world
Upon this statement of facts the officials
are at great loss to understand how Rus
sia can feel aggrieved at the governments
action and inaugurate a system of dis
u uutleS dSdlllSl pFOuuCCS OF
United States in consequence. 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 unjust to this country in tariff mat
ters. The cabinet feels that the admin
istratfon has strong case, and believes
that II Russia Is entirely friendly she will
be made to see that her action in this case
mas not been such as to call forth the most
friendly feeling in this country
OnQninR Of the Indian
Secretary Hitchcock reported to the cab
met that the decision of the Supreme Court
of the District of Columbia yesterday af-
ternoon dismissing the application of Lone
Wolf and other Indians for an Injunction
to restrain the Secretary of the Interior
from opening the Kiowa, Comanche and
Apache reservations to white settlement
under the act of June 6, 19OO removed the
last obstacle to the opening of the reserva-
tions Inc allotments to the Indians have
been made under the law, and the Presf-
dents proclamation will soon be issued.
The Secretary says that the great BODY of
the Indians are thoroughly satisfied and
handful Of Indians led by Lone Wolf at
the instigation Of cattlemen.
Big Batch of Appointments,
The following appointments were an
nounced at the White House today:
State
Francis B. Loomis Of Ohio, to be enyoy
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary
Of the United States to Portugal.
Herbert w. Bowen of New York to be
envoy extraordinary and minister plenipo-
tentiary Of the United States to Venezuela.
Lloyd c. Griscom of Pennsylvania. to be
envoy extraordinary and minister pleniuo-
tentiary of the United States to Persia.
Arthur Bailly Blanchard of Louisiana.
to be second secretary Of the embassy of
the United States at Paris, France
Charles p. Snyder of West Virginia. to
be consul Of the United States at Windsor
N. 8.
Spencer F. Eddy Of Illinois, to be secre-
tary Of the legation of the United States at
Constantinopie, Turkey.
Justice
BENJAMIN F: Keller Of West Virginia, to
be United States district Judge for the
southern district of West Virginia.
George Wesley Atkinson Of West vir
ginia, to be attorney Of the United States
for the southern district of West Virginia..
John K. Thompson of West Virginia. to
be marshal of the United States for the
southern district of West Virginia.
Reese Blizzard Of West Virginia. to bs