The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-20
Ajax Gage and the lightning.

We have sometimes felt compelled to
criticise Mr.. Gage, but it would be a tough
heart that did not pity him. in the trouble
in which he has plunged himself with
green recklessness to oblige the Sugar
Trust. For the sake Of saving that com
bination a few thousand dollars annually
he has practically broken off trade reia-
lions with Russia, and, should his actioN
be allowed to stand, 1t will involve the loss
of millions TO American manufacturers.
who are combining against him all over
the country.
The probabilities are that a way will be
found to undo the mischief he has wrought
without exposing him to immediate official
disgrace. When the next cargo Of Rus
STA sugar shall arrive. which should be
within few days. the counteryailing duty
will be levied and the importer will then
have right to appeal to the Board of
Appraisers in New York. From the de-
cision Of this tribunal either the i'm
porter or the Government could appeal
again to the United States courts. When
Mr.. Gage imposed the prohibitory tariff it
was the idea Of the Sugar Trust that Rus
until a final judicial decision should be
reached in this country. as to whether
bounty Is or is not. directly or Indirect
ly. paid to the Russian sugar growers In
those circumstances the question could
have been dragged along slowly from the
appraisers, 10 and through the Federal,
District. Circuit, and Supreme Courts. and
nobody would have suffered, except Rus
sia, FOR two or three years. The prompt
answer Of N. de Witte. the Russian Min
lister Of Finance. to the challenge Of Mr..
Gage overset all these calculations. and
will force the Administration, under Sc
we're and angry pressure from the manu-
featuring interests. to alter the pro-
gTamme.
II Will only take a couple of weeks after
an appeal is filed by the first Importer TO
be yictimized. for the Board of Apprais-
ers to decide that there is no evidence of
bounty paying on the part of Russia. Then
it Will be possible for the Administration
to drop tine case and for Mr.. Gage to lift
the countervailing duty and to explain his
position in one of those entertaining
apologetics for which he is famous. No
doubt he viii say that the decision re-
moves a great sorrow from his mind;
that he is glad he is no longer bound by
a stern sense of duty to suspend COM
mercial relations with great sister ma
tion. and that he is as glad as Mr.. Nor
gan or Mr.. H. n. Hanna could be that the
appraisers have made 1t possible for him
to do what he always wished to. which
was to accommodate the Steel Trust and
its allies-being the stronger interest
at the expense of the Sugar Trust which
has not more than one-fortieth of the
formers wealth and influence.
If the anger of the whole manufactur-
ing class Of the Union can be sufficiently
appeased, this is likely to be the course
of events. and Mr.. Gage will be permitted
to save his face, and to remain in the
Cabinet until after the Fourth of March.
when II viii be recognized. and probably
without including the hero of the custom
house and Standard Oil bank deal, and the
tariff war on Russia. Before the Fifty
seventh Congress can be assembled IN ex-
traordinary session, great many people
are predicting that the Hon. Lyman ].
Gage win retire to private life, his deeds
numbered and his songs sung as long IS
anybody remembers the painful but pyro-
technic spectacle OF his administration of
the United States Treasury His cid
neighbors in Chicago and the State of Illi-
nois. whose trade with Russia he has an
initiated for the time being at one fell
blow. await his homecoming with out