New-York tribune., 1912-02-29
.DOUMA SCHEME HITS U.S.
Ministry Presents Bill to Aid
Machinery Manufacture.
AFFECTS FARM IMPLEMENTS
Low Tariff on Parts, Easy Credit
for Makers and Reduced
Taxes Proposed.

st. Petersburg, Feb. 2S.-The bill prepared
by the Minister of Commerce embodying
measures to encourage in Russia the manu-
facture OF agricultural machinery. which is
a leading product of the United States, was
taken up III the Douma to-day. The draft
of this bill was submitted TO the Cabinet
In August, 1911 1t proposes 10 permit the
entry duty free OF certain machines and
machine parts, TO offer manufacturers
credit on easy terms and to reduce taxes
in their favor. In addition TO these pro-
visions the bill now proposes temporary
reduction I'm the tariff on the whole range
of farming machines after July II, 1912.
the date Of the expiration Of the present
tarif-to be prolonged indefinitely.
The Douma Financial Committee pro-
posed as an amendment that the reduc-
ton be prolonged only until the expira-
tion of the Russo-German Commercial
Treaty. 1t also proposes to ask the gov
ernment TO introduce in the immediate
future bill providing for a bounty on the
manufacture OF harvesters and binders.
The debate, i'm which the Minister of
Commerce participated disclosed the atti-
tude OF the various Russian parties In re-
spect to Russo American trade relations
NJ. Shigareff, Constitutional Democrat, de-
clared that the measures were auasi-prO-
tective. The International Harvester Com
pany, an American concern. had built i'm
mense works near Moscow The bill. he
said, favored this company at the expense
of the smaller Russian manufacturer.
Therefore the Constitutional Democrats
NFOllln hat nf ba o.
with the prolongation OF the reduction in
the tariff on agricultural machinery. but
would oppose Industrial bounties and a re-
duction of the Industrial taxes.
The Minister OF Commerce. VI. Timashoff.
said that cheap machinery from abroad
was not always available. as difficulties
arise in foreign trade relations. For ex-
ample, he continued. the present difficulty
between Russia and the United States
might lead To a temporary cessation OF
trade relations between the two countries
and create obstacles to the supply OF for
eign machines. The government refused TO
encourage home manufacture by taxing for
cGn machinery, but the system Of bountles
and reduction Of taxes would produce the
same result
NJ. Motoviloff. a member Of the DOuma
and a large land owner. who WAS one OF
the speakers at the meeting Of the Ma
tionalist party on February %, held in pro-
test against the attitude Of the United
States I'm denouncing the treaty Of 1892.
referred TO the injury done to Russia's
pride by this act OF the American govern
ment, and he insisted that some tangible
protest must be made.
During the subsequent debate the Min
lister OF Commerce defined the difference
between reduction In the tariff on whole
machines and on parts. saying that the
government must guard against encourag
ing the special Industry OF putting together
in Russia machines the parts OF which
were manufactured abroad.
In the vote on the different proposals OF
the financial and agricultural committees
the Douma adopted that OF the financial
committee, which roincdes with the wishes
Of the Minister Of Commerce. This proposal
provides for discrimination in the reduction
I'm the tariff on parts brought In with or
without the machines. The proposal OF
the agricultural committee was that the
reduction should he applied indiscrIminate-
~. The debate will he resumed tomorrow.