New-York tribune., 1911-12-23
.DOUMA BILL PROPOSES
A TARIFF WAR ON ]. S.
Russian Legislative Body Con-
Siders Measure Of Retaliation
Imposing Higher Duties.
INCREASES OF 100 PER CENT
Signers Deny Enforcement OF
Laws Against Jews Violates
Treaty of 1882 and Point
TO U. S. Restrictions.

! St Petersburg Dec. 22.-The Douma voted
! to-day TO submit 20 the Financial Commit
| tee proposal introduced by cN-Presideht
Guchkof providing for tariff war schedules
applicable TO the United States at the eX-
pration of the Russo-American commerce
and navigation treaty Of 1882. The Dill
| bore ia signatures, including those OF Oc-
! tobrsts, Nationals;s, members Of the EX-
! treme Right and Mussulman Progressives
| The Douma Is controlled by the OctopilSt
and Nationalist parties.
The bill proposes to raise existing Rus
| sian duties by 100 per cent and TO impose
duty of 100 per cent on articles which are
now admitted free Besides these imposi-
tions it provides for the doubling of the
gross weight tax established by the law
Of June p, 1901, on merchandise arriving
| by sea. and for a double tonnage tax
Should the present American tonnage tax
be raised 10 the disadvantage Of Russian
vessels, then the Russian tonnage tax VIII
be correspondingly increased. 1t Is said
! the schedules are to be applicable TO all
countries which do not grant TO Russia the
most st-favored- nation treatment in commerce
and navigation.
! The necessity for the proposed legisla-
| tion is explained in an accompanying decla-
ration in which it is stated that the regu-
| lar American tariff schedules which VIII
be applicable to Russian goods at the ex-
piration Of the treaty Of commerce and
navigation Of 1892 vii be so high as 70
have a prohibitive character and that they
greatly exceed the Russian normal tariff
and navigation taxes which would be natu-
] H.. 81. .f.vis
absence of the treaty.
The province Of foreign affairs lies out
SIDE the competence OF the Douma. Treaties
are not subject to its approval nor is the
Minister for Foreign Affairs answerable 70
/ thc Douma on the state of foreign rela-
tions Nevertheless the Douma exercises
through the budget an influence on torelsn
affairs and relations.
! In the long declaration accompanying the
{ bill the signers deal fully with the Russo
American situation and recount the formal
steps taken by th2 President Of the United
States, saying:
The abrogaton OF the treaty between
! Russia and America has direct connection
with the anti-kuSsian agitation Whlcn nds
| been energetiCally conducted III America loI
the readmisslcn Of American cltlZens OF tHe
Jewish faith. Article / Of the treaty estap-
fishes the mutual right Of entry, Dut con-
tains a stipulation TOR the ooseIFdnce % %
| internal laws. Deemlng, In spite OF tlIs
| stipulation, that the enforcement OF tue
general Russian laws in regard TO torelshSs
! crs of the Jewish religion in the case oI
| IAmerican-JeWi citizens constitutes dH M
! frlngemcnt of the treaty, the House %
| Representatives voted a resolution ior l'S
| abrogatiOn. .,.tu ,.,o,y
is unfounded. The Russian government anu
it's representatives abroad cannot put iuI-
| III the requirements OF the huSsidh ID" %
contained In paragraph 2lS TO 20 OF INC INC
! pa ssDort statute and paragraph S!9 anu lle
! following ones of the law on social IlSHtS'
| as long as these remain in force. On the
other hand, the question or tne duHlssIoII
! or non-admission into Russia or cateSor!tS
| NJ foreieners belongs to the province OF IN
! ternal legislation upon the general priIl
ciples o. international law as wen az U s5e 'i'o
strength of Article Oh the srea,g ctsd 0a Very
| strict regulations seriously limiting tue
! right of entry of foreigners and there IS
no doubt that the federal government woutu '
| ity OF those regulations from an interna-
! tional point of view.
! The declaration then quotes teXtualiy
Article II of the federal immigration law
OF February y, 1907, and continues:
If we take into consideration also that
| the American law imposes head tax on
! the whole line Of foreigners seeking Ameri-
| can shores IL becomes clear how stern are
! tho restrictions to which Russians arriving
| in America are subjected. We do not ques-
| tion the right of the federal government 10
| apply any immigration laws which are dlc-
! tated by reasons of state, but we must note
| for that very reason that the motive for
! the abrogation of the treaty Of 1882 adduced
| I'm the resolution of the House or Repre-
! sentatiyes is unfounded
The statement Of the views Of the ma
! iority of the Douma is marked by temper
ate and dignifed but firm language, which
! IS characteristic of the Russian attitude on
the subject of the abrosation Of the treaty.
| The Opposition members Of the Douma
/ ridicule NJ. GuchkOff's proposal, declaring
! il would strike hardest at the Russian ag
J riculturistS and cotton manufacturers.
| They do net expect the measure 10 advance
| beyond the committee stage. The Douma
| will adjourn tomorrow for month and
action on the proposal probably viii be
taken at the end Of February.