The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-02-02
RUSSIAN BUDGET.
Minister Whites Address to the Gear
Calls Attention to Americas
Remarkable Prosperity.

Correspondence Of Associated PressO
ST. PETERSBURG. Jan. l6.-Ameri-
cans or Englishmen, who generally leave
budgets. annual estimates and balances,
tax bills and appropriation bills to the
statesmen, politicians and lobbyists,
would be astonished at the intensity
OF interest in the Russian budget. II
is an engrosslng topic of conversation in
vide circles O month or more after
publication. The reasons for this are
not difficult 10 find.
The first is that the annual esti-
mates in Russia, owing to the direct
Intervention of the government In ev-
cry sphere OF business and of life. di-
rectly affect an infinitely greater num-
ber of people than in England, Ameri-
ca or indeed any other European coun-
Try. The second is the comparative
paucity of public utterances by this
government. The minister of finance
is the only minister who has stated
time for general remarks His report
on the annual estimates corresponds
to some extent with the presidents
and with those of other monarchs.
The statements which are published
here on January (old style) are worth
the interest which is taken in them.
A fully intelligent reader of the fig
ures would have a fair knowledge Of
what goes on in Russia Ii is safe
TO say there are few such readers out
side of the ranks of the government.
A just appreciation of the document
would require six months study Nev-
ertheless even the inexpert can learn
much from even a casual perusal.
Minister Whites address to the emper-
or. which was no doubt made at Yalta
before the budget was submitted TO the
council Of state. instead of afterwards
as is usually the case. contains many
very interesting passages which could
not be ttlegraphed on account Of the
length of the document.
In discussing the unfavorable state
of the country, economically considered,
Minister Witte in the budget gives sew
eral causes which. in addition TO
the wars in South Africa and in China
are disturbing factors. One Of these IS
the general economic progress of the
United States. 1t is gratifying to note
that Minister Witte couples his appre-
citation Of American growth and pros
perity with no re-echo of the Austrian
statesman Goluchowski's proposal Of
continental league against American
products. According to the authorized
translation, Minister Witte says:
There is another cause of specific
character which acts very strongly in
the same direction, however. OF late
years the position Of the United States
Of America in the worlds money mar
ket has undergone a serious change.
Notwithstanding the expenses entailed
by tie Spanish war. American capital
has taker a far smaller share than Eu-
rope in undertakings outside the coun-
try. A series of good harvests con-
duced greatly to raising the economic
condition of the country. Side by side
with the growth Of capital and the de-
velopment Of industry involved there
by, the export trade of the United
States made great progress, which in
sured favorable balance Of trade and
balance of payments.
Since 1897 the flow of gold into the |
United States has constantly been in |
excess of the outflow; the abundance !
of money in the American market has |
led 10 large investments in European
loans. Although part Of the debt due