The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-25
SECRET PREMIUMS
THE QUESTION DISCUSSED BY RUS
SIAN NEWSPAPERS.
THREATEN TRUST PRODUCTS.
MIR. GsGE's STEP MAY HAVE FAH
REACHING EFFECT.

Denied That secret Premiums Arc
Paid by Russian sugar Regime on
ExpOrts-Contended That Export
Premiums Are Concealed In tho
Protection TO American Trusts,
Which Enable Them to Sell
Abroad Cheaper Than They DO at
Home.
st. Petersburg. Feb 4.--The semi-of1-
cial Financial Messenger says that tho
character of the sugar regime OF Russia,
which fixes the selling price for the homo
market at a regularly reduced rate from
year to year. is intended to protect tho
Russian consumer against the encourages
ment to expectation at his expense. and
that II secret export premiums exist at
all. they are due to the growing power OF
trusts and syndicates in getting various
branches of production into their power,
with no other aim than to maintain high
prices at the expense OF the home market.
The Journal de St. Petersburg says:
"Will not a dangerous precedent be
| created by the desire to prove at any price
that alleged secret premiums are conceal.
ed by the Russian sugar regime. II Russia
employed the same logo. she would, with
even greater justification. be driven 40
impose countervailng duties upon cast
iron, steel, copper and other American
products to which the principle now be-
Ing established could be applied with
equal Justice
Russia would also be perfectly justified
in applying this new procedure not only
against the United States. but also
against Western Europe inasmuch as this
singular idea of the coucealment OF secret
premiums originated in no way with the
United States. 1t was first proclaimed by
Europe at the Brussels conference in 1898,
and 1t is only such an idea, for which Eu-
rope Is responsible that Russia has TO
| thank for an inquit1us act on the part OF
the friendly United States.
Would Lead 10 Endless Trouble.
1T must, ab5ve all. n { be forgotten
| that this Is slipp- ry palh and that II
/ Il Is pursued tur4he We, t1o, shall iu-
| evitab4y proc ed. without even awaiting
| the expiration Of commerc al treaues, TO
! similar measu ss NOT only With regard 70
| America, but all with II gard TO Europs
| In case such products as are controIeJ
! by syndicates or other organ zat ons and
| sold cheaper abroad than at h ms.
To su. h incr. d.kle cen cau- -nces one
! comes even at first glance when one
starts upon the solution Of international
questions from unsound princi. s, ques-
ons whi require, above ell, the most
absolute justice and considerat on of mu-
tual interests If an understanding between
parties is to be maintained"
Against Trust-Made Products.
These articles, which appear in the
Official organ of the ministry of finance,
undoubtedly represent the views Of the
Russian government In the applicat ton Of
The theory of concealed export premiums
to trust-made products. Both papers sig
| nihcantly hold Western Europe respon-
sible for the theory. thus tacilly admit
ting that the United States acted under
pressure They threaten trust-made Eu-
ropean and American producis which are
sold cheaper abroad than at home with
compensatory duties. They ignore as ir-
relevant the distinction between legisla-
tive and voluntary regulation OF indus
tries. The announcement Of this doctrine
opens up a wide field OF specu alton, ap-
parently presaging a transformation Of
the discriminating duties against Ameri-
ca into genera increase OF duties on all
articles which enter largely into the
worlds commerce and are the objects OF
the keenest competition. Russian indus
tries would certainly welcome
any excuse to Increase the
present high protection. During the
existing stagnation they have bitterly
complained whenever foreign concern
has secured a government order; and they
lre continually demanding favors of every
kind, railway rates and the like, against
foreigners. Possibly, however, the in
spired organs merely desire to illustrate
in drastic way the dangers from the at
tempts of one state to interfere indi-
rectly with the internal affairs Of an
other