The times., 1901-06-27
Circulation Statement
secretary Gage Is weary.

CuSSlOn UI Tic AdA IA NA-A1A N-AN~S
Russia through the newspapers, but
that if he could sit down and have an
hours talk with NJ de Witte, he feels
sure that they could reach an amicable
agreement.
Ii is not in the least surprising that
the Secretary should be weary of the
newspaper discussion, in view Of the
fact that almost the entire American
press has taken the Russian side of the
controversy. He finds himself at issue
with the Russian Government, and he
is receiving very cold comfort at home.
He has carried out the high protection
idea 50 perfectly and consistently that
even his own party organs have lashed
him unmercifuIly-nOt because they
think he is wrong in principle, but for
the reason that in this particular case
they see that close adherence to the
extreme protective policy means COM
mercial injury to the country in general
and TO, certain important interests es-
pecially If Secretary Gage had taken
similar action in a case wherein the
conditions were reversed, and Russia
was bearing the burden Of injury, every
high protection journal in the country
would be applauding his action. But
when their own OK is gored, they pitch
their song in a different key. An iliogi-
cal and unjust policy cannot be logically
and justly defended.
This, however, does not change the
fact ti1at Mr. Gage fully merits all the
harsh things that have been said about
him. and in the excessive weariness
that he now feels he Will get very little
sympathy from the country at large.
Before being appointed to his present
position his politics were of a very un-
certain character. The Democrats didn't
claim him and the Republicans wouldn't
own him. There was much grumbling
in Republican circles over President
McKinley's action in going outside of
the party fer 3 Secretary Of the Treas
ury. In fact, he had picked up non
descript-a man who had nothing TO
commend him except that he wor-
shipped the gold standard (Which the
Republican party had repeatedly con-
deinned) and was president Of a big ma
tional bank in Chicago. His utterances
upon the coinage question indicate that
he has about the same degree of famil-
iarity with il that the average citizen
has with the geography OF Jupiter.
The silver question has been settled,
and settled Mr.. Cages way, through the
chance discoveries Of great gold de-
posts that have relieved the monetary
stringency and given q fresh impulse
% in, oil ea-
tries. But the tariff problem still re-
mains, and here is an ample field for
the display OF the knowledge that Mr..
Gage does not possess.
II would seem that any man who
knows enough 10 sweep the Office of
bank president would know better than
TO eonstrue doubtful provision of the
law in such way as to provoke tariff
war in which we have everything 10
lose and nothing to gain-this regard
less Of the fact that in doing so he was
giving a serious affront TO a nation that
had been our traditional friend, both
politically and commercially. 3Ir. Gage
admitted that whether Russia paid a
sugar bounty was a close question.
Rnssia in the most positive manner de-
MED the payment Of any such bounty.
either directly or indirectly. It is an
acknowledged fact in the case that the
Russian experts of sugar have not been
increased and that they are infinItesi-
m5l in amount compared with the value
Of the goods which we sell to Russia.
and yet in the face Of all this SIr
Gage officially rules that Russia does
pay a sJgar bounty In effect, this is
equivalent tc saying that he does not
accept II. de Witte's statement as a
true one. Hence, it follows that Mr..
Gage believes officially (whatever he
may think personally that NJ. de Witte
is either Intentionally untruthful. or so
profoundly stupid as not 10 know
whether Russia pays q bounty or not.
Still, he thinks that if he could sit down
and talk with n. de Witte for an hour
or so they could settle the matter am
icably It does not seem to occur to Mr.
Gage that n. de Witte might have scme
delieacy about sitting down and talking
with a man by whom he has thus been
stigmatized as either liar or a fool.
Nor does BIr. Gage give the discrimi-
mating public any better opinion of
either his intelligence or his candor
wheE he essays 10 prove that Russia
pays a bounty by invoking the circum-
stance that sugar tax certificates have a
commercial value. OF course they
have. When sugar upon which the in
ternal revenue tax has been paid is ex-
ported, the exporter receives a certif-
cate showing the fact. This certificate
is accepted by the Government in pay
ment Of taxes on sugar subsequently
produced. II is the same thing as re-
funding money that has been improper
ly taken by the tax gatherer except that
the holder cannot at once convert IL
into money without suffering a discount
so that even the exported sugar is
taxed 10 the amount Of the discount
The point on the commercial value Of
these >"-'t9 mere quibble un-
ancial officer OF the
ar Mt.
- 5 question IL Is not
nat some foreign
Ha ---Lg to encourage its
export trade. Nearly all nations do that
in some manner. and there are thou
sand incidental ways by which a coun
try's exports may be stimulated with
out the payment OF bounty. Suppose
the Russian Government, upon the as
sumption that sugar is an unwhoiesome
food product. should prohibit its use,