The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-12-23
'DUMA BLOW AT US. COMMERCE
BILL TO DOUBLE RUSSIAN DU-
TIES on AMERICAN GOODS.
Gross Weight and Tonnage Taxes May
Also he Doubled in Retaliation for
Ending OF Treaty OF 1897 -Octobrlsts
and Nationaiists Back Hostile Move.

Special Gable Dispatches 10 The SUN.
ST. PETERSBURG. Dec. 22.--With the
suspected object of retaliating upon
the United States for it's action in the
abrogation of the treaty of 1882. Alexander
Gutchkoff and other leaders of the Octo-
brist and Nationalist bloc, forming a
! majority of the Duma. have given notice
that they will introduce bill dealing with
the commerce of countries not enjoying
| the most favored nation clause. The
bill would impose 100 per cent. additional
tarif on Gutiable imports from the United
States and 100 per cent. ad valorem tax
upon goods that hitherto have enjoyed
free entry. The bill would become oper-
ative on December ls. 1912.
In addition the proposed bill would
double the gross weight tax established
| 10y the law of June Il, 1901. on merchan-
disc brought into Russia at seaports and
would impose double tonnage tax.
The members of the Duma who backed
! the bill give as their reason that the reg
/ ular American duties on Russian imports
would be practically prohibitive with the
abrogat ion of the treaty Of 1882 and Its
commerce and navigation provisions.
The hackers of the bill have also pre-
| pared declaration which reviews the
situation from the Russian point OF view
| II IL addressed to the President OF the
/ Duma. II shows that the proposed tariff
/ bill is aimed especially at the United
states. If passed it will practically pro-
hihit American imports
The declaration contends that Ameri-
can Legislation in regard to foreigners
] ia tptitttnlNy anl M hSit rCi
than the Russian restrictions against
foreign Jews, and quotes tn" America II
law of 1907 which excludes from the
United States not only Mohammedans
but whole categories of others including
. ven the sick and the feeble
The proposed bill in addition to the
features cited above doubles the harbor
duties and other shipping charges and
prescribes retaliatory measures II says
The abrogation of the treaty between
Russia and America has a direct connec
tion with the anti-Russan agitation which
has been energetically conducted ir
America for the readmission Of American
citizens Of the Jewish faith. Article ]
of the treaty establishes the mutual right.
of entry. but contains IA stipulation foi
"Deeming, in spite uf this stipulation
that tho enforcement Of the genera
Russian laws in regard TO foreigners d
the Jewish religion in the case Of American
Jewish citizens constitutes an infringe
mcnt of the treaty, the House Of Repre-
sentatives voted a resolution for its abro
cation.
There cannot ba anv doubt that thi
view is unfounded. The Russian Govern
ment and its representatives abroad can
not but fulfil the requirements Of the Rus
sian law contained in paragraphs 2l3 I,
?3j Of tho passport statut" and paragraph
so and the following ones Of the Law oi
social rights a. long a. these remain il
force
"On the other hand tho question Of tn,
admission or nonadmsSion into Russi
Of Categories Of foreigners belongs Il
tho province of informal legislation upol
tho general principles Of international Ia,
a. well a. on the strength IF Article | -
the treaty Of 1892
Thus the United States has enacted
very strict regulation seriously limiting
the right VI entry ~ foreign and there
is no doubt that the Federal Government
would ward on any attempt To dispute
the Legality Of those regulations from AT
international point of view.
IF We take into consideration also tina
the American law imposes "A head tax or
the whole line Of foreigners seeking Amer
lean shores. it becomes clear how stern ar
the restrictions TO which Russians arr.v
ing in America are subjected. We do no
question the right of the Federal Govern
ment to apply any immigration law
which are dictated by reasons Of state
but we must note for that very reaso
that the motive for the abrogation Of III
treaty Of 1882 adduced in the resolution
of tho House Of Representatives is un
founded"
ST PErERSBCRG. Dec % Several Rus
sian papers in attacking President Taf
for the abrogation of the treaty of 1s3
insist that his action was due To election
/. eering They insinuate that the abroga
ton of the treaty was due to pressur
brought 10y such firms as Kuhn, Loeb
Co and the Guggenheims