370 



Russian Duty on Machinery. 



Although only agricultural subjects have been so far 

 noticed here, the Institute had before it various proposals 

 for a synchronous census of the different States of the world 

 in 1900, and much interest was felt in the account given by M. 

 Troi'nitsky, of the carrying out of the general Russian census 

 of January, 1897, which showed the population of the empire 

 to have risen to 129,000,000, with however a remarkable 

 variation in density from i person per square mile in Siberia 

 to 192 per square mile in Poland. 



Various papers were read on the possibility of statistical 

 comparison between the criminal and judicial records ot 

 different States, Mr. Bateman laid a useful series ot 

 tables before the Institute showing, in a convenient form, the 

 different methods of classifying and recording import and 

 export statistics in various countries ; the varying practice of 

 many States in indicating in their trade accounts the 

 country of actual origin or merely the country of immediate 

 shipment ; the diverse method^; of quoting the values ot 

 the external trade ; and the differently grouped categories 

 or classes into which the official records of that trade were 

 divided. He pointed out that these differences are too often 

 overlooked when attempts are made on the basis of the 

 published statistics to exhibit the growth or decline of pro- 

 duction, exportation, or manufacture in different parts ot 

 the world. 



Russian Customs Tariff on Agricultural 

 Machinery. 



In the Report on the Trade and Agriculture of St. 

 Petersburg for 1896, Mr. Consul-General Michell states that 

 a committee was appointed in June last by the Minister of 

 Finance to examine the question of the duties with which 

 all agricultural machinery and implements are charged on 

 importation into Russia, the reduction or total abolition 

 of which is so much desired by the majority of landed pro- 

 prietors. This committee held several sittings, and examined 

 many witnesses on the subject. As was to be expected, the 

 greatest opposition to any modification or complete removal 

 of the existing duties Avas displayed by native manufacturers. 



