The age-herald., 1901-07-05
RUSSIAN TARIFF
 CR|PPLES TRADE Asserted That Sugar ReguIa- lions is But a Bounty. AMERICAN TAX APPROVED Letter Made Public in Russia Alleges the Imperial Family Is Interested in Sugar Business and Hence
 It's Protection.

St. Petersburg, July 4.-When Secre- tary Cages action in imposing counter vailing duties on Russian sugar exported to the United States was followed by so disproportionate reprisal as the imposi- ton of 30 per cent increased duties on the most important American importa- tions here. the importers of American tools and machinery seemed stunned They were disposed to support Russia on the legal aspects but some of them re- examined the matter and concluded that the Russian sugar regulations amount to practical compulsion to manufacture TOT export. They still doubt the expediency of Secretary Cages action, but latterly they have concluded that the policy was mistaken of which, after all, Washing ton. knowing the complete facts and fos- tering American interests throughout the world was the best judge, 1t does not fol- low that back down is now eXpedient. They claim that such precedent would weaken American commercial and po- litical prestige It Is, of course, lncon- venient for importers whose incomes de- pended on Russian trade, but 1t IS real ized that the Russian market compares unfavorably to others and that it always will.
 The actual effects of the discriminating duties have not been as disastrous as expected. The decrease in Asiatic inn ports is chiefly due to the abolition Of the open port at Vladivostock
 Attention is directed to the increasing disinclination of the Russiai authorizes to permit the importation Of any goous winch the Russians can produce no mat ter what they cost This policy, more than the tariff obstructs foreign traoe' It Is recalled that the government recent ly narrowly restricted the use Of foreign goods in the Russian army and navy lac- tories. and that the same policy IS pur- sned wherever the government influence o,+ords Inasnuch as this influence IS limited merely by will, a somewhat pes simistic view of the future or lorele" trade is held here.
 Lawyers representing the largest nnah- cial interests in America who were re gently here offered $iO,0oo0Oo 10 puiiu tne Viatka railroad, provided a certain pro .an.tor o9 American materials was used.
 
 The categorical reply from the nnahce ministry was that not one pound or such material could be used. The syndicate then refused to accept the concessioh' as 1t did not want bond Investments put was chiefly desirous of securing another outlet for American goods.
 The correspondent of the Assoclateu Press was authoritatively informed In tills connection that under the present CIT
 of material is impossible. The same syndl- cate declined extensive fishing privileges in Eastern Siberia because Russian en- gineers were required and the 'Russlahs retained full control of the enterprise.
 A resident representative of an Ameri- oan house where business has been almost annihilated by the prohibitions recently signed letter to a newspaper neclarihs that Russia was wrong on the sugar ouestion. The correspondent of the As- sociated Press today talked with the rep resentative of an American house whose tremendous business is suffering to an un- usual degree from the discriminating du- ties and also from the prohibitions. He said:
 Undoubtedly the Russian sugar regula- ton contain a cunningly devised bounty. The cardinal point is that a coUpany capable of producing over 6O0oO poods an- nally must sell part of the excess wheth- CT ten or million poods, abroad. since the share of each company, in the domes- tic market, excepting the 60,O0O poods, al- lowed each concern, is pro rated accord ing to the total of the previous years pro- duction and regulated domestic sales. "M De Wittee, the Finance Minister. shrewdly pitted steel against sugar. He is quoted as repeating the charge that Secretary Gage is taking an interest in | .6 oil fr1tg Is somewhat unguarded on his part, con sidering the close relations between the Russion sugar and steel interests and the government. He, apparently, dis played more feeling than the intrinsic value of the sugar trade with the United States necessitated. Perhaps this Is due partly to the fact that the imperial fam ily and other influential people are large ly interested in the sugar industry. Whether MT. Gage acted advsedly in the first instance Is one question. Whether trucking Is now a polite expedient Is another question. The United States met Russia half way. But if Russia desires a. commercial war, we should fight. Russia does not intend to allow the United States, Germany or anybody to have per manently a profitable trade here. Russia wants foreign money, not foreign goods. Whether Russia Is trying to bluff or bully the Americans who support M. De Witte against Mir Gage are playing her game. It is declared here that Russia will never allow Washington to construe her sugar laws. But. neither can the United States recognize the Russian Interpretation of our tariff.
 "It is known here that the United States ambassador, c. Tower, who hastened back to St. Petersburg from his leave of ab- sence, has been during the past few days in personal communication with the Min ister of Foreign Affairs, Count Lamsdorff, and M. De Witte upon the subject of the present tariff disagreement, and it can be said upon the best authorities that nego- ttations are being carried .on in the most friendly manner and that the Russian au- thorities hope for and expect speedy and amicable adjustment of the questions in dispute"
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