The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-23
CONGRESS IGNORES
THREAT Of DUMA
|Countr'' Has No Need to Fear
iaIf War, Champ
Clark Declares
WOULD GIVE RUSSIA
TIME TO COOL OFF
St. Petersburg May Recon-
slider Restrictive Duty
on All American
Goods

WASHINGTON. Dec. 22.-Oficial
Washington. at least so far as the
Democracy is concerned. was not
alarmed over the reports today that
the Duma proposed to tax American
commerce out Of existence In Russia,
and obviously because of the abroga-
ton by Congress of the anti-Jewish
discriminative Russian treaty of 1882.
That the propositions of the Duma
are wholly political in motive IL
proved by the fact that the Ameri-
can exports to Russia are about for
ty millions in value and those Of
Russia to the United States about
ten millions In value.
Speaker Champ Clark took the
measure OF the Russian politics on
this subject in a statement this at
ternoon. in which he said:
Every nation has a right to pass
any law or establish any regulation
it chooses as to imports from for
eign countries. even to prohibit them
altogether. but the chances are that
as soon as their anger cools Off our
Russian neighbors will go slow In
precipitating commercial war with
us. That Is performance which
might prove to be q boomerang to
them. One thing certain. and that
Is that the resolutions introduced into
the Duma will not influence our de-
termination to have all our citizens
treated fairly in foreign countries"
DO Not Look for Extremes.
Little apprehension is felt by MEM
bers OF Congress who have remained
in Washington for the Christmas hol-
iaays that Russia Will proceed to ex-
fv ta1 ~ q
retaliation for the abrogation OF the
treaty. Is
Democratic House Leader Under
wood, chairman OF the Ways and
Means Committee, would not discuss
the Russian threat to apply q maxi
mum duty of 100 per cent. against
American imports, with other dis
eliminating duties. until he has had
time to see the effect Of such action.
America is heavy shipper Of
agricultural implements and certain
classes OF agricultural products to
Russia The action Of Russia, IL tho
Duma should pass the pending bill.
would not affect seriously the rev.
enues OF this country because the
imports from Russia are small COM
paratively.
At the present time Chairman Tn
derwood has no Idea that Congress
or the administration will make any
move to check Russia. 1t IL the
opinion OF members Of Congress that.
while the bill before the Russian
Duma is said to have the support Of
the majority In that body, II has not
passed and discussion Of what might
be done by this country in the event
OF its passage would be premature.
Sulzer on for Home.
Chairman Sulzer. OF the House
Committee on Foreign Affairs. and
father of the resolution for the abb
rogation OF the Russian treaty. be-
cause of discrimination against
American Jews by the Russian gov
eminent. left for New York this az
ternoon on the Congressional Linn
tied. In his absence Democratic
members Of the committee now hero
will not discuss the proposed action
OF the Russian legislators.
Members OF Congress are unani-
nous. however, that no action that
might be taken by Russia will cause
a change IN the determination OF this
country that the treaty q 1892 must
end and that q more liberal reaty. II
there Is to be any treaty at all with
Russia, must he drafted that win
grant equal rights to all American
citizens under passports to be issued
by this government