Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1912-01-08
RUssIA'S RETALIATION.

Russia S proposed Christmas box to the United
States is not very likely TO be forwarded It'll
will be recalled that two weeks ago somewhat
feverish anxiety was expressed in various quarters
at the announcement that in retaliation upon the
United States or our notice Of abrogation Of the
treaty Of 1892 Russia proposed TO raise existing
duties on American imports 100 per cent, and
also to impose duty OF 100 per cent articles
which are admitted free under the present Rus
sian tariff
But, after ALL it was moi the Russian govern
ment which proposed this drastic reply to the
United States implied remonsrance at the Cars
treatment OF American citizens 1t was only al
bill proposed in the Russian Duma, which hap
pens 10 be very different condition. Students
of the Russian government need not be informed
that the powers Of the Duma, still very youth
fiji institution, are by no means comparable with
those OF our own congress.
As 4 matter Of fact the province Of foreign
aflairsslies entirely outside the competence Of the
Duma, nor are even treaties subject to its APP
prova The minister Of foreign affairs is the
Nzar's servant only, and in no way answerable
to the national assembly On the state Of foreign
relations. 'Fe oni7.-infuence that the Duma can
exercise is an indirect one, through its respon-
sihility IN preparing the budget Of the nation s
finance.
Nor, as construed IN our own officials IN
Washington says the san Francisco Port, is there
amy more Significance Of hostile intent even in
the bill as introduced IN the Duma than in our
own enactment OF the maximum and minimum
provisions of the Payne Aldrich act, which, after
having been two years on the statute books have
not once been invoked The desire Of the
Duma, writes the Washington correspondent Of
the New York Times, TO prepare 4 measure in
case Of eventaailteS, is considered here perfect
IL natural Indeed the opinion here
seems to be that unless some incident at present
unforeseen, should arise differing materially from
ending there is no reason why trade war should
result. It happens that the points at issue be-
tween the two countries occur ia Il treaty Of com
merce, and that is perhaps unfortunate But es
sentally those disputed points are political moi
commercial, and the negotiations will win or fail
according 70 the political presenhnents made
The bulletin issued recently by the Bureau Of
Statistics at Washington gives the best Of reasons
against the probability Of Russia s ever inviting
such trade war with the United States as limited
q BY the Duma resolution. II shows exports from
the tnted States to Russia Approximately S25
U00000, imports from Russia Sl20000OO in the
hseal year 1911, aud indicates that trade between
the two countries has practically doubled in the
last decade That is to say the balance Of trade
between the United States and Russia il moro
than two to one IN our favor Russia largely de-
ponds on the United States for cotton aericul
tnral implements, binding twine, manufactures Of
iron and steel and manufactures af leather while
we imported from the Cars dominion during fbe
last fiscal year $540930l worth Of hides and
skins and S2o97363 worth Of unmanufaetured
wool The amount Of our imports from Russia
has been practically the same each wear for tha
last seven years, while in the hast decade our
exports to Russia have increased from under
Tlo0000o0 to S250o0000 year.
IN these circumstances. Russia is not likely d
cut off her nose q spite her faee-,tnleSs tho
pr9yoeation should be extreme, which is equally
unlikely