The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-10
NJ. De Witte Informed That the Sugar
Matter IL Now I'm the Courts
md out of Cages Control.
100000 ASKED BY CHINA
INDEMNITY DEMANDED FOR OUT
RACES At BUTTE, MONT.
CeIestinIs Alleged to Have Been
Promotions and Appointments.

WASHINGTON July 9-Another impor-
tant exchange has occurred between the
Russian government and the United States
relative 10 the tariff The Russian minis
ter OF finance, NJ. De Witte. has proposed
that Russia will vacate all of the addi-
tional duties levied on American goods since
the imposition of the sugar differential
IL the United States will vacate its action
on the sugar difrerential. To this Secre-
tary Gage has replied that the offer of the
Russian government cannot be accepted,
as the question OF the sugar differential
IS now in the hands OF the court, thus pre-
cluding action by the executive branch.
These exchanges. although made nomi-
naIly by the minister of finance and Sec
retary Gage. have gone through the me-
dunn OF the Russian Foreign Once and
the State Department.
The proposition of the Russian minister
of finance was the direct result of Secre-
tary Hays note of about two weeks ago.
In that note Mr. Hay pointed out that the
action taken as TO petroleum was not new,
nor was 1t meant to have any connection
with the previous action OF the government
on sugar. This appears TO have recon-
ciled the Russian officials in their view that
the petroleum order was only another step
IN the policy previously taken respecting
sugar. Accordingly NJ. De Witte's response
was communicated TO Washington, Count
LamsdOrf forwarding IL To NJ. DE VOL
liant, the Russian charge here. II is not
long, but Is quite to the point. 1t makes
no further issue as TO the petroleum order.
The chief attention is given TO sugar. and
the specific order is made TO vacate i'm
Inediately the increased duties which Rus
sia has levied, IL the United States viii
vacate It's action on sugar. This would
amount 10 re-cstablishing the status quo
which existed before the United States
took its initial action relative to Russia.
The Russian proposition was duly COM
municated to Secretary Gage, who has re-
sponded promptly that as the sugar ques-
tion II now before the courts, Ii is not pos
s!be for him TO avail himself Of the Rus
sian suggestions Thus the matter stands.
The reductions which would have resulted
under NJ. De Whites tender are those af-
fectng cast-irOn wares manufactures of
iron and steel, boiler work, tools for artists,
factories and workshops. gas and water
meters, motors and dynamoS, sewing ma
chimes, portable engines, not including
threshing machines. fire engines and other
machinery of iron and steel. also white
rosin. galipOt. brewers pitch and bicycles.
The increased duties on iron and steel
goods followed after the imposition of the
sugar differential. while those on bicycle
and rosin followed the increase on pc
troleum. NJ. De Whites proposal was to
take of all OF the increased duties. In the
course OF his letter IL is stated that the Sec
ond retaliatOry move on bicycles and resin
was not due TO the American action on
petroleum. although it had so appeared in
the original Russian note, but that ii re-
lated back 10 the American action on sugar.
This Is thought 10 be the result of Sec
retary Cages reply TO Russia 20 the effect
that its action, in increa sing the duty on
American bicycles and resin, was q VIOLA
tion OF our treaty with that country.