The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-28
SOON PAUL. AND DYNAMITE.
Thing That Makes the TransvaaI
Presidency Attractive.
New York Tribune.


IT was the dynamite question" said Gen.
Joubert long ago, which first gave rise TO
so much dissatisfaction throughout the land,
and which made so many heads hot and
hearts cold" In so saying the Vice Presi-
dent did not overstate the case, as present
developments show. The full truth concern
ton a is not yet at hand. But t the full fact
that he was reported to have resigned be-
cause of disagreement with the Volks-
raad on the dynamite question-and the re-
port was generally credited-indicates how
much store the venerable DOpper sets upon
the maintenance Of his profitable monopoly.
cessity in the mining industry. That fact
was recognized by Mr.. Kruger away back
gan to give promise of great wealth. He
promptly took steps 10 make profit from
such necessity by granting to a friend-who
dent OF the Transvaal-an absolute monop-
oily OF importation or manufacture OF dyna-
mite. This was not the imposition OF a
heavy tariff. Ii was utter prohibition OF tho
importation or manufacture of the stun by
any one save this one favored friend II
olist should within a certain time erect fac
tories and manufacture the dynamite with
in the Transvaal And the friend of the
as 80 shillings case for the dynamite The
man failed TO keep the agreement about
the factory, contenting himself with putting
up little shop I'm which he pretended 20
make a small proportion of what was
wanted, though. as a matter of fact. he did
not make pound there. but merely worked
over some that had been imported. To this
infraction of the contract Mr. Kruger paid
no material attention, but let rs friend keep
on In his own way. The dynamite supplied
was always of bad quality and GENERALLY
was insufficient in quantity to meet the de-
mand. As for the price. IL was outrageous
| ly extoruonate. AT first IL was 80 shillingss
After time IL was reduced TO 10 shllings.
AT that time the great firm of Nobel Bros.
| was. ready 10 furnish a far better quality.
carriage free, for 37s. Sd. a case. The Trans
vaal government would not let them do IL,
but continued TO forbid the Importation of
any by any one except the Holland friend
of the President But the price was then re-
| duced 10 Is shllings a case at which IL now
stands That Is 10 say, one of the most i'm
| Of the Transvaal is made TO cost just twice
what II should cost, and. that not
to encourage domestic production. for
that is practically prohibited, but solely TO
enrich a foreigner who Is a friend Of the
president, and incidentally, perhaps, some
of that foreigners friends.
The value OF this monopoly TO the owner
of it-and his friends-is seen in the fact
that about 10000 cases OF dynamite are
less than si.ss75 800. II free importation were
permitted IL would cost probably less than
| half that sum. We may reckon. therefore.
that half Of that sum, say, <2.s43.750, is clear
profit to the hol1ing the concession
over and above the legitimate profits which
any other business man would make in
slider that the excess charge does not benefit
| the state, but serves to enrich individuals.
the injustice OF sucn n TAX on the stable
| industry becomes more apparent and de-
mands immediate removal" That quota
| ton Is from a report by a commission OF
| the Transvaal government appointed by
| Mr.. Kruger himself. 1t expresses fact and
sense. But Mr.. Kruger not only ignored IL.
| but has calmly proceeded with arrange
ments for extending the monopoly for fif-
teen years more. The fact that General
| Joubert and the majority Of the Volksraad
| are opposed TO such or any continuation OF
| the monopoly, and that they thus equarely
1 disagree with the President on the subject,
| Is doubtless easily TO be explained. They
| are not friends of the man who has the
| monopoly. From the circumstances OF the
| monopoly, too, We may derive some expa-
| nation of the fact that the President is
| able to spend vast sums every year in sub
| sidizilg newspapers and maintaining an
| elaborate system of secret-service agents
| I'm the Transvaal and throughout Europe.
| II the dynamite monopoly were abolished
| the presidency would probably lose its most
/ attractive features.