The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1901-04-12
ITWASE EXAGGERATED
PRACTICAL EFFECTS OF RUS
SIA'S INCREASED TARIFF.
Instead Of s3o,OOO,oo0, rs Alleged, the
Additional Rates OF Duty Applies TO
Only About o2.5OO.OO of Our Exports
Agricultural Machinery Not Affected

The tendency to eXaggerate the eff
| fects of Russian tariff retaliation for
Secretary Cages action in reference to
countervailing duties on Russian beet
sugar was strikingly illustrated on the
occasion of the recent visit to Wash
ington of a delegation from the Hi
nois Manufacturers association. First
the delegation called upon the presi-
dent and placed before him arguments
to show that the discrimination against
Russian sugars might seriously injure
the export trade to Russia il retalia-
tory measures were insisted upon. and
that a general trade war against the
United States might arise. The presl-
dent expressed the hope that no such
war should be precipitated, but ex-
planned that the law was plain. He
suggested that the only solution of the
question would be test case such as
was contemplated by Secretary Gage
when he issued the order imposing the
countervailing duties.
The delegation then called on the
| secretary of the treasury and sub
mitted formal protest against his
action in directing that countervailing
duties be laid upon imports Of Russian
beet sugar pending a judicial deter
mination of the disputed question
whether the Russian exporters do or
do not receive an indirect bounty upon
sugar shipped to the United States.
The protest concludes as follows:
at is our belief that the decision
recently rendered by this department
against the Russian government Will
seriously affect all the great agricul-
tural and manufacturing interests of
the United States. In view Of this be-
| lief we feel that we are not only JUS
tilted in requesting reversal of the
decision rendered, but that we would
be false to the interests of the country
If we did not demand its immediate
repeal"
This protest in general terms was
made more specific by the representa-
tive of one of the large harvesting ma
chine companies, who, in supplement
tary statement to Secretary Gage said:
For your information l desire to
point out that on one single item in our
shipments to Russia this season the
proposed extra duty will amount to
$4,000. This item represents but a
quarter Of our total shipments to Rus
STA this year. But very small pN-
| ~ oh
ed that country; the mass is still
afioat and cannot be landed until after
the proposed advance on the part of
Russia has gone into effect"
When asked by Secretary Gage to
specify the items of shipment on which
the exporters would be compelled to
pay $4,000 in additional duties by
reason of Russia's action, the harvest
ing machine representative stated that
the articles in question were moving
machines. Thereupon Secretary Gage
replied: Il am inclined to the opinion
that they are not touched at all.
Mowers are not included in the order.
In fact, there are a very large number
Of articles in the United States not in
Guided in the orders of advance. Ag-
ricultural implements Of all kinds are
specially excepted from the operations
of the Russian order"
The secretary also explained at some
length that it was perfectly useless tor
any association of manufacturers or
any one else to demand of the treasury
department the repeal of the counter
vailing duty order. The duty in ques-
ton, he said, was imposed In obedience
/ to the law of congress, and was mat
ter over which the treasury depart
ment had no control except to carry
out the law.
Thus the Russian tariff imbrogio
dwindles from mountain to a mole
hill. In the first instance 1t was as
serted that export trade to the amount
Of $30,0OO,OO0 year would be cut off.
The fact, however, is that our total ex-
ports to Russia during 1900 amounted
to rather less than s10,000,000. Later
investigation proves that only about
50, 500, 900 of our yearly sales to Russia
come under the increased tariff rate,
and that agricultural implements are
not affected at all. Upon so slender a
basis as this rests the proposition of
free traders and half-breed protection
lists to rip up our entire scheme Of pro-
lection to American labor and indus
try. The facts in the case have ten
dency to make some people look ex-