Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-12-23
MAY
STRIKE BACK
WITH TARIFF ! |
Increase Of 100 Per Cent in
Duty on American Goods
Proposed in Duma; Treaty
Situation Reviewed. y

Situation Reviewed.
st. Petersburg, Dec. pa legisla
tive proposal to provide for tariff wa1
schedules applicable to the United
States at the expiration of the Russo
American treaty of commerce and
navigation of 1882 has been introduc'
ed into the duma by Ex-President
Guchkof, and other signers represent
ing the Octoberist and Nationalist
parties, which control the majority OF
the duma.
The bill proposes to raise existing
Russian duties by 100 per cent and al
SO to impose duty of 100 per cent
on articles which are admitted free
under the present Russian tariff. Be.
sides these impositions the bill pro-
poses also to levy dutible the gross
great tax established by the law OF
June q, 1901, on merchandise arriving
by sea and to levy a double tonnage
tax. Should the present American
tonnage tax be raised to the disfavor
of Russian vessels then the Russian
tonnage tax would be corresponding
ly increased.
It is expected the schedules are ap
plicable to all countries which do not
grant to Russia the most favored ma.
tion treatment in commerce and navi.
cation.
The proposal will be submitted to q
financial commission. The necessity
for the proposed legislation is ex.
planned in an accompanying declara'
ton In which it Is stated 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 to have 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.
nuss ians VIEWS Dsciarsd.
The province OF foreign affairs lies
outside the competency OF the duma
and treaties are not subject to its ap-
proval, nor is, the minister Of foreign
affairs answerable to the duma on the
state Of foreign relations. Nevertheless
the duma exercises through the budget
an influence on foreign affairs.
In the long declaration accompany
inr the bill, the signers deal fully with
the Russo American situation and re-
count the formal steps taken by the
president Of the United States.
The abrogation of the treaty between
Russia and America has a direct con-
nection with the annual Russian agi-
tation which has been energetically
conducted in America for the read
mission Of American citizens Of Jew
ish faith. Article of the treaty estab-
contains stipuation for the observ-
ance Of international laws.
"Deeming, in spite Of this stipula-
ton. that the enforcement of the gen
eral Russian laws in regard to for
eigners Of the Jewish religion in the
case Of American Jewish citizens con-
stitutes an infringement of the treatry,
the house of representatives voted a
resolution for its abrogation.
There cannot be any doubt that
this view Is unfounded. The Russian
abroad cannot but fulfill the require
ments Of the Russian law contained in
paragraph 91S and the following ones
of the law on special representatives,
as long as these remain in force.
Says U. s. Excludes Foreigners.
"On the other hand. the question of
the admission or nOn-admisSiOn into
Russia Of categories Of foreigners be-
long to the province of International
legislation of the general principles Of
international law as well as on the
strength of article one Of the treaty OF
1882. .-.....,...,..,
'"Thus the United States has enacted
very strict regulations seriously limit
ing the right of entry of foreigners and
there is no doubt that the federal gov
ernment would ward off any such at
tempt to dispute the legality Of those
of view" .. .gG
The declaration then quotes article
II. of@the federal immigration laws Of
Feb. 20, 1907, and continues: r"
"If we take into consideration also
that the American law imposes head
tax on the whole line Of foreigners
seeking American shores, it shows
clearly how stern are restrictions to
which Russians arriving in America
right Of the federal government to ap-
ply any immigration laws which are
dictated bya reasons Of state but we
must note for that very reason that the
motive for the abrogation of the treaty
Of 1882 adduced in the resolution of the
house Of representatives is unfound-
ed" sgEs.
Mr.. Guchkoffs proposal, bearing III
signatures, was laid on the table Of
the duma today. The house at once
voted to submit the bill to the financial
committee. The signatories include
Octoberites, Nationalites, members of
exereme right and also the Musselmen
.progressives &
WRIGHT LORIMER,
ACTOR, SUICIDES
New York. Dec. 22.--Wright Lori