The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-23
Opposition Members Of
Duma Ridicule Pro-
posed Legislation.
ACTION AGAINST
UNITED STATES
Provision Raises Existing Duties
by 100 Per Cent. at Expiration
of Treaty of 1S32-Opponents
Declare 1t Strikes Hardest
at Sussian Agriculturists
and Manufacturers.

st. Petersburg December Cop
position members OF the Duma ridiculc
eN-President Guchkon's legislation
proposal to provide for tariff war
schedules applicable to the United
States at the expiration OF the Russo
American treaty of commerce and
navigation which he and other signcrs
representing the Octobrists and Ma.
| tionaltst parties in the Duma have In.
troduccd into that body. The opposi-
| ton declares that the proposal would
strike hardest at the Russian agricui.
turists and cotton manufacturers. They
| do not expect the measure to advance
| beyond tho committee stage. The
| Duma Will adjourn tomorrow for a
month. and vacation proposal prob
ably will be taken a. the end of Feb
ruary.
\ provision proposes 10 raise exist
| ing Russian duties by 100 per cent,
! and also to impose 4 duty of 100 per
cent on articles which are admitted
! free under the present Russian tariff.
Besides these impositions the bill pro-
| poses also TO levy double the gross
weight tax established by the law of
June 2l. 1901. on merchandise arriv-
| ing by and TO levy a double ton
mage tax. Should the present Ameri
can tonnage tax be raised to the dis
| favor of Russian vessels, then the Rus
\ sian tonnage tax will be corrcspond-
| ingly Increased
| II Is said that the schedules are to
be applicable TO all countries which do
not grant to Russia the most favored
nation treatment in commerce and
| navigation.
| The proposal will be submitted to a
| financial commission.
Necessity for LeEisIntion
| The necessity for the proposed leg
| islation Is explained in an accompany
| ing declaration in which 1t is stated
| that the regular American tariff SEIZED
ules which will be applicable 10 Rus
sian goods at the expiration of the
treaty OF commerce and navigation OF
1882 will be SO high as to have a pro-
| hlbitive character. and that they great
! ~ exceed the Russian normal tariff
I and navigation taxes which would he
naturally applicable to American
| goods in the absence of the treaty.
| The province of foreign affairs lies
| outside the competence Of the Duma
and treaties arc not subject to its
| approval. nor is the Minister for For
| eiGn Affairs answerable TO the Duma
| on the state OF foreign relations
Nevertheless, the Duma exercises
through the budget an influence en-
| foreign affairs and relations
In the long declaration accompany
Ing the bill the signcrs deal fully with
the Russo-American situation. and re-
| count the formal steps taken by the
President of the United States.
| The abrosation OF the treaty be-
tween Russia and America has n d.
| W
| agitation which has been encrgettcally
| conducted in America for the re.
! admission OF American citizens of the
Jewish faith. Article I. OF the treaty
establishes the mutual rights OF
! entry. but contains stipulation for
the observance of internal laws. Deem
ing. IN spite OF this stipulation. that
thc enforcement of the general Rus
| sian laws In regard to foreigners OF
the Jewish religion In the case of
American Jewish citizens constitutes
an infringement of the treaty, the
House of Representatives voted n
| resolution for its abrogation
| View Is Unfoundcd.
| There cannot be any doubt that
this view is unfounded. The Russian
| government and it's representatives
abroad cannot but fulfil the require.
ments of the Russian law contained in
| paragraphs 2l3 to 235 of the passport
| statute. and paragraph $40 and the
following ones OF the law on social
rights, as long as these remain in
| force.
On the other hand. the question of
| the admission or nonadmission into
| Russia of categories of foreigners be-
| longs to the province OF internal leg
islation upon the general principles OF
| international law as well as on the
| strength OF article J. of the treaty. OF
1892.
Thus the United States has enacted
very strict regulations seriously lin
iting the right OF entry of foreign
ers. and there is no doubt that the
Federal government would ward off
any attempt to dispute the legality of
| these regulations from an interna
tional point of view"
The declaration then quotes textu-
| ally article IT. of the Federal immi
grafton law OF February 20. 1907, and
| continues:
IF we take into consideration also
| that the American law imposes head
| tax on the whole line of foreigners
| seeking American shores. it becomes
| clcar how stern are the restrictions
to which Russians arriving in Ameri.
| ca are subjected. We do not aues-
tion the right OF the Federal govern.
ment to apply any Immigration laws
| which are dictated by reasons of
state. but we must note for that very
| reason that the motive for tho abroS
cation OF the treaty OF 1899 adduced
in the resolution OF the House OF Rep
| resentatives is uneounded."
The statement OF the views OF the
majority of the Duma ia marked by
temperate and dignified. bit firm lam
guago, which Is characteristic of the
/ Russian attitude on the subject of the
abrogation OF the treaty of commerce
Il 90 toat ~ q