Omaha daily bee., 1911-12-23
WOULD WIPE OUT FREE LIST
These Are to Bear Duty of One
Hundred Per Cent.
DUMAS INFLUENCE INDIRECT
It Controls Foreign Policy Through
the Budget Only,
STATEMENT ACCOMPANIES Bill
IL RecOunts situation and Holds
that American view of Pro-
visions of Treaty II Not
Correct,


latlve proposal to provide for tariff war
schedules applicable to the United States
at the expiration of the Russo-Amerioan
treaty of commerce and navigation OF
1882 has been introduced into the Duma
by ex-President Guchkoft and other
signers representing the octobrist and
nationalist parties, which control the ma
jority of the Duma.
The bill proposes 20 raise existing Rus
sian duties by 100 per cent and also to
impose a duty of 100 per cent on articles
which are admitted free under the pres
ent Russian tariff. Besides these imposi-
tions the bill proposes also to levy double
the gross weight tax established by the
law Of June q. 1901. on merchandise ar
rving by sea, and to levy a double tom
mage tax. Should the present American
tonnage tax be raised to the disfavor Of
Russian vessels, then the Russian tom
mage tax will be correspondingly in
creased.
1t is said the schedules are to be ap-
plicable to all countries which do not
grant Russia the most favored nation
treatment in commerce and navigation.
The proposal will be submitted to a
financial commission.
The necessity for the proposed legis-
lation is explained in an accompanying
declaration, in which it is stated that the
regular American tariff schedules which
will be applicable to Russian goods at the
expiration Of the treaty of commerce and
navigation OF 1882 will be so high as 20
have a prohibitive character and that
they greatly exceed the Russian normal
tariff and navigation taxes which would
be naturally applicable to American
goods in the absence of the treaty.
Dumas Influence Indirect.
ST. PETERSBURG, Dec 22.-The prov
lnce of foreign affairs lies outside the
competency OF the Duma, and treaties are
not subject to its, approval. nor Is the
minister of foreign affairs answerable
to the Duma on the state OF foreign rela.
tons. Nevertheless, the Duma exercises
through the budget an influence on for,
eign affairs.
In the long report accompanying the
bill, signers deal fully with the Russo
American situation and recount the for.
NAL steps taken by the president OF the
United States.
"The abrogation of the treaty between
Russia and America has a direct connec-
ton with the annual Russian agitation
which has been energetically conducted
in America for the re-admission of Amer
ican citizens of Jewish faith. Article
of the treaty establishes the mutua
rights of entry, but contains a stipula.
ton for the observance of internal laws
"Deeming, in spite of this stipulation
that the enforcement of the general Rus
I r. IL.
Jewish religion in the case of American
Jewish citizens constitutes an infringe
ment of the treaty, the house voted &
resolution for its abrogation.
Claims Right to Enforce Laws.
There cannot be any doubt that thiI
view is unfounded. The Russian govern
ment and its representatives abroad can
not but fulfill the requirements of tn,
Russian law contained in paragraphs 2l
to 2S5 of the passport statute and par
agraphs $40 and the following ones of tn,
law on special rights, as long as thes
remain in force.
ION the other hand, the question OF thu
admission or non n-admission into Russil
of categories of foreigners belong to tn,
province of internal legislation on tn,
general principles of international law a.
well as on the strength of article of tn,
treaty Of 1882.
THUS the United States has enacted
very strict regulations, seriously limiting
the right Of entry OF Foreigners, and ther
is no doubt that the federal governmen
would ward off any attempt to disput
the legality Of those regulations from al
international point of View"
United states Laws Quoted.
The declaration that quotes texualit.
article ii of the federal immigration Law
of February 20, 1907. and continues:
IF we take into consideration, also
that the American law imposes a heat
tax on the whole line of foreigners seek
ing American shores, it becomes clea
how stern are the restrictions to whicl
Russians arriving in America are sub
lected. We do not question the right o
the federal government to apply any i'm
migration laws which are dictated b!
reasons Of state, but We must not 10
that very reason think that the motiv
for the abrogation of the treaty OF 1888
adduced in the resolution of the house o
representatives is unfounded."
M. Guchkoffs proposal. bearing ia sig
natures, was laid on the table of tn
Duma today. The house at once voted L
submit the bin TO the financial COMMITTEES
The signatories include Octoberists. ma
tionalists, members of the extreme righ