The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-12

TIE lame and impotent defence of hi
conduct offered by Secretary Gage to Con
gress il response TO resolutions OF enquiry
has created almost as much amazemen
among his friends as it certainly has alarm
in the Republican camp generally. If Mr.
McKinleys finance minister has left any
thing undone. in the course he acknowl
edges. to justify the most severe criticisms
that have been offered in regard to it, Of
to make trouble for his chief, we woult
like to have the omission pointed out
| The case of the People against the Sec
rotary has been strengthened and not de-
molished by his explanation, and he should
count himself fortunate il he is allowed tc
resign and escape other consequences. His
| longer presence in the Cabinet would in
/ volve an appearance of completely on the
| part of the Administration which it could
! not well afford to permit, and we may
safely count upon the early retirement
| from office OF the strangest person who
| ever presided at the national receipt Of
customs.
1t is hardly worth while to attempt a
second dissection of the Gage defence.
Stripped of its evasions and efforts to in
sert a plea Of precedent and custom, I'M
supported by satisfactory evidence. ii
amounts to an admission, practically. OF
all the original charges. Although, only
last November. the Supreme Court decided
that moneys paid into national banks des-
ignated as United States depositaries. were
not thereby paid into the Treasury of the
United States, Mr.. Gage has the assur-
ance to claim that designated depositaries.
by the customary practice of the depart
ment under advice of its proper legal off,
GERS are and have been considered as iden-
teal with the Treasury: and that the SUI
preme Court has supported this view
which it distinctly has not
The custom house scandal does not look
tary's explanation. The history Of that
transaction has not been rendered any bet
ter reading for the American public by
what he has had 10 say in review of it.
There still remain the admitted facts that
no money passed. but that partial pay
ment" was made pro forna by means OF
a dummy piece of paper. not a penny OF
the cash consideration passing out of the
banks vaults We are still left to believe
that a small nominal amount was with
held in the ostensible payment" in or
der that title should not pass. and that,
therefore. the bank should escape New
York taxation and water rates. Yet. the
title remaining in the Government and
the purchase price in the custody of the
bank, the former at once proceeded TO hire
the premises from the Standard Oil in
stitution, agreeing to pay rent at about
the rate OF one hundred and thirty thou
sand dollars per year.
These and other developments associated
with the exposure tell their own tale so
plainly and effectually that analysis be-
comes unnecessary. The matter is not one
which can be allowed to stop at its present
stage of Congressional discussion, nor
would it be advisable for the Re
publican leaders in either house to
make any attempt at suppression.
We do not know what the end may
be as far as Mr.. Gage is concerned
except that he cannot remain in his pres
ent position as n fidueiary officer OF the
Government and a constitutional adviser
OF the President without exposing Mr..
Mckinley and the Administration TO grave
political! perils, which We are confident
no one in the connection or the Republi-
can organization would care to incur
Probably the best thing that could hap
pen for the party in power would be for
its leaders on Capitol Hill to take the in
itiative in denouncing the evils and abuses
which have become universally known to
the public, provide for their abolition and
in future. and leave MIR Gage
10 the comofrt of his reflections and the
further pleasure of Congress.