The sun., 1901-06-19
RUSSIA AGAIN RETALIATES:
PCTs HIGH TARIFF ON AMkRICAN
BICYCLES AND RESIN.
In CmssQusncs Of Our Placing . Duty ON
Russian Petroleum Hitherto Imported
Free Secretary Gage Protsst = Natter
to Remain a. Is Il TIL Congress Meets.

In CWssQusnos Of Our Placing . Duty on
Russian Pssroleum Hitherto Imported
Free Secretary Gage Protss6 = Matter
to Remain a. It Is TIL Congress Meets.
1 WASHINGTON, juno IS The Russian Govern
ment. through Count Cassini It's Ambassador
here. has informed tho State Department
| that In consequence OF the action Of the
| Treasury Department on March 0. In Inn
| posing a duty on Russian petroleum. hitherto
| imported free into the United States. the
Russian Minister OF Finance has issued an
order imposing the maximum rates OF the
\ Russian tariff on white resin or oolophony
! galipot. brewers pitch and bicycles. The
order will become effective on Juno 81.
On March 0 the Treasury Department
directed that a duty should be levied on
, Russian petroleum equal to the duty levied
] by the Russian Government on foreign pc
| troleum imported into that country. This
was done In accordance with the provisions
OF article e2s OF the Tariff Laws of 1897.
The Treasury Department officials hold
that they were obliged to make the order,
a. the law explicitly says that articles on the
FREQ list Of the United States Tariff shall be
| required to pay duty when imported from
| countries which collect duty on similar arti-
that tho retaliatory action OF the Russian Gov
ernment Is unnecessary. as no Russian Pc
| troleum comes to this country.
The course OF tho Russian Minister OF
Finance has no bearing on the trouble be-
| tween tho two countrios over tho beet-sugar
bounty Secretary Gage recently held that
the Russian method of refunding its tax on
beet sugar amounted TO the payment of a
tlat tt.a and hn fora
increased the duty on Russian beet sugar i'm
ported into the [ nited States to an amount
| equal to the bounty In retaliation for this,
| Russia imposed the maximum duties on
American machinery and other articles
| The Russian Ambassadors note was re-
| ferred to the Secretary of the Treasury. IL
was held by Secretary Gage that the Treasury
| Department had no discretion In tho matter
OF imposing duty on petroleum. as Y was
| made mandatory by the Dingey Tariff act
n was also pointed out that the Russian Gov
| ernment took the initiative against American
| petroleum. Secretary Gage has written a
reply t. the Russian note embodying the fol-
| owing remarks.
| Il beg leave TO submit for your considera- :
| tlon the question whether the measure adopted
| by tho Imperial Government Is not incom-
| patibls with the rights OF the United States
| navigation with Russia
The Russian tarir law imposes upon col
| ophony white rosin and brewers pitch a
duty of 90 roubles or so 30ss American gold
per pood and on bicycles ~ roubles or s920,
| American gold.
| on the direct trade Of Russia and the United
| states In 1900 da led April 20, 1901. shows that
| II 900 900 pounds OF white rOsin, valued al
| s272. $50 were imported into Russia from this
| country. None Of the other articles against
| which the additional tax is levied Is mem
toned in the report
No recent reports about the importation
| Of American bicycles into Russia have been
received The latest figures mentioning BIZ
| cycles are those for 1887. when only two OF
| them were imported direct from the lnited
tina, lOe eoa bicycles were imported into Russia,
| mostly from Germany and England, and a
great many American bicycles entered Russia
through Germany. since then the exports
| of American bicycles 20 Russia lave increased
largely The total Russian imports direct
from the United states in 1900 we're valued at
S2l,66l5l5
will take any action 10 precipltate tarih
war. the matter being allowed to remain as
IL /, until Congress meets.
Al the ornces of the American Bicycle
| COMPANY 3 IN this city. Mr.. G.. y. Brown
assistant manager OF thu Export Department.
yesterday said that he had received word
from the Russian agents to III" effect that
| a 90 per cent dutX had been levied on Amer
.put increase over the present duty or 81
per cent gross ! don't know. he said u
! have cablAd our Russian agents Tor this in
| formation to-day Tho present duty - sl'
cent increase on the present duty would
not 20 fec' ne 80 mitch. while the same increase
gross would cau-" us to worry, What woulc
| lr done % this WAS tie c.sc ! Caubot say
~ II would br matter for higher authoritie-
than | to decide
We have a largo sal. over there and ON
wheels are much IN favor md u may bs thsl
an incrra'e in the price would not pre'"n