New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-02
RUSSIA'S RAILROAD BUDGET.

Wo bovo hitherto remarked upon Russia's In
rooso of war nreparations on the eve OF the uni
yersal peace or disarmament conference con-
voked by the Car Such Increase Is real ana
GREAT. But it would be most unjust to intimate
that 1t Is the chief feature OF RUSSIAN admins
trativc action or that militarism dominates the
Russian bndget Such is not the case. On the
contrary. peaceful enterprises prevail. Inc
budget has not been dictated by the Ministers
of War and Marine. but by the Minister OF
Ways of Communication-in brief the Hailroad
Minister 1t is a rarOad-building budget.
True. railroads may be among the most impor-
tant and most efficient OF military agencies.
But they are certainly also among the most
poworful and permanent agencies for promoting
the industries and interests OF peace.
The grand total Of this years proposed expen-
diturcs, reckoning the ruble at 90 cents, IS
$751;. S6G 1913. ali increase over last years OF
S4s. 10000 OF that sum SlS0,0Oo,0OO will go to
the Minister Of War. an increase of Sl'OOO,OOO
over what he got last year. There Is also a
large appropriation. with large increase for
the Minister Of Marine. But for the Minister OF
WAYS Of Communication the appropriation Is no
less than Sl0s, 800, 900. That Is more than any
other Minister gets, and S1S50000O more than
the appropriation for the Minister of War which
is the next largest. or this sum more than
S5OOO0000 is for new railroad construction,
while on new naval construction only SlhooO,ooo
will be expended. a budget Of n great military
empire which gives more for railroads than for
ANYTHING else, and which gives for railroads
more than one-fourth Of It's entire apprOprla-
tons. is unique In the national finances Of the
world.
And how does the Russian Treasury stand the
strain? Well, there will apparently be deficit.
That Is TO say, the estimated revenue Will not
meet the expenditures by s4556773 But there
is n reserve fund Of free cash" In the Treasury
of S5T 800, 900 which can be drawn upon 10 cover
the deficit Therefore, says the Finance Minis
Ter there will be no need of n loan. True the
free cash." which is the accumulated sur
pluses OF former years, Will be nearly exhausted.
But then there is Il possibility. and indeed n
strong probability, that II viii be reinforced by
unexpected gains Of revenue. The revenue may
prove sufficient TO cover all expenditures with
out drawing upon the free cash." and may act
uallv show a surplus to add to the latter nus
sian revenues have OF late shown n tendency 10
exceed the estimates. They did last year by no
less than $lOG,OOO,O0O.
1t Is evident. then, that Russia is not giving
herself mp wholly or chiefly to blind mlltarsm.
nor rushing into bankruptcy through extrava-
gance In ornaments On the contrary, she Is
devoting her best energies TO peaceful and in
dUstrlal Development and is in a financially
sound and prosperous condition. We hear n
srcat deal about her generals and admIrals, and
their aggresslons and conQuests and menaces.
But it Is not they, after all, who are most max
ing Russian history. 1t is NJ. De Witte, the
wigc Minister OF Finance, and Prince Hllkoff,
the Minister Of Ways Of Communication who
was once n journeyman blacksmith in the
United States. These two are the great figures
In Russian statecraft to-day, and are writing the
important chapters OF contemporary Russian
history.