The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-04-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Information has reached the State De-
partment which seems to indicate that
Russia contemplates an effort to restore
the cordial commercial relations which
for considerable period existed between
this country and the Muscovite empire.
Nothing definite on this subject is yet
known but certain limitations have been
made to Ambassador Meyer which afford
ground for the belief that Russia will, in
the near future attempt to enlist the
sympathy of the United States through
what is sometimes called "the pocket
nerve" It will be remembered that early
in the administration of President Nc
Kinley Russia attempted to offset the
tariff on her beet sugar, for which the
Dingley law provided, by the payment
of bounty to her sugar producers. No
sooner did it become evident that this
was being done, however, than Secretary
of the Treasury Gage brought the matter
to the attention of the President and with
his approval increased the duty on sugar
imported from Russia sufficiently to offset
the Russian bounty. Full authority for
this course was found in the Dingley law.
~
No sooner had Secretary Gage ordered
that an increased duty be collected on
Russian sugar, however, than Russia ex-
pressed her disapproval Of his course in
somewhat undiplomatic terms and De-
White, then Russian Minister of Finance,
retaliated by ordering that the maximum
tariff be collected on all imports from
this country. Russia it must be under
stood, has adopted the maximum and
minimum tariff system whereby the au.
thorities can assess large or small tariff
as it deems best. While this course on
the part of the Russian authorities some
what curtailed the trade of the United
States with that Empire the loss was not
sufficient materially to concern the United
States and as the spirit in which Russia
acted was unquestionable captious. the
Mckinley administration ignored it, as
the Roosevelt administration has since
done.
~
Now, however, Russia finds herself in
the midst of disastrous war and almost
without friend in the European concert
France, the professed ally of the Musco-
vite Empire, has manifested extreme
WEAKNESS of the unnatural compact she
made some years ago. Great Britain has,
of course, treaty of alliance with Japan
and only Germany seems at all friendly
to Russia. Under these circumstances
and with the probable necessity of nego-
tiating treaty of peace in the near future
Russia doubtless hopes to enlist the
sympathy of the United States and is
seeking to acquire that.en by offers of
consideration for American trade rela-
tions. What the outcome may be is hard
to fortell. 1t is probable that this
country will refuse no just offer of pre-
ferment in Russia market. On the other
hand there is little reason to believe that
SUCH Will nave tuS ChSGt VI
inspiring this country to any particular
interest in the arrangements which will
follow the close of the war beyond con-
sistent insistence that, whatever else they
do, theyshall maintain the open door in
China and preserve the administrative
entity. of the Chinese Empire.
~
Apropose of Russia, there are some in
dications that Count Cassini, the present
Russian Ambassador to the United States.
will not long retain his present post.
There are runners to the effect that the
willy Russian has made faux pas in his
diplomatic relations with acting Secretary
of State Taft and that it is of such a
character as to terminate his usefulness to
his country in the capacity of the personal
representative of Emperor Nicholas, al
Washington. This information comes
from inside sources although it Is moi
precisely official, but your correspondent
regards it as safe prediction that there
will be a new Russian Ambassador, in
Washington before the opening Of
another social season.
~
Reference to a maximum and minimum
tariff recalls the fact that this system is
attracting the attention of some of the
wisest statesmen now in Congress. Brief
ly the system consists of the enactment
by the legislative body of double tariff,
two rates on each article on which q duty
is imposed. Under ordinary circum.
stances the customs officials collect the
higher rate, but where any nation makes
special concessions in favor of imports
from this country the Secretary of the
Treasury would be authorized. with the
approval of the President. to order that