The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-02-19
The Gage War On Russia.

used to discuss international relations with
reporters chewing the stump of a Canton
perfecto under any convenient street lamp
Then there was AIger-no one needs to be
told what he was notorious for. Long is
celebrated for his aphorisms and for
Id desire to have Congress thank Samp-
son for what SchIey did. But none of them
ever waszas great as Gage-that is, in his
line: which is putting his foot in it.
The Secretary Of the Treasury il his
effort to please the Sugar Trust by de-
claring an economic war on Russia. has
pulled dow on his head a hornets nest in
full commission. The beasts at Ephesus
had no greater longing to bite Christians
than the people of his own city and State
have to eviscerate their Gree loved bill
discounter. When Mr.. Gage, acting under
the advice Of Mr.. Oxnard. shut Russian
sugars out of American markets. the man
ufacturers of his own city and State car
ried on a commerce with Russia, amount
ing to several millions annually. Their
excitement and indignation is quite com
prehensible. American tools, machinery.
agricultural implements, all classes OF
steel and many ether things are now de-
barred from the Russian market in order
TO save the Sugar Trust from small COM
petition which. according te = trade au-
thority. amounted to only shat the i'm
portation of Russian sugar in 400 valued
at less than twenty three thousand dol
lars. may represent. There vas a heavy
decline in the Imports from 1899. the Rus
sian sugar admitted to our ports in 1899
being valued at three hundred and forty
thousand eight hundred and fifteen dollars
Before the countervsiling iuty was an
posed by Nr. Gage, Russian sugars were
taxed about one hundred Fer cent. As
against this tariff the Russian Govern
ment admitted American goods free Of
duty at Siberian ports. and at minimum
rates elsewhere in the Empire. 1t is stat
ed that Russia spends from seyenty-fve
TO one hundred and ten million dollars
annually on railway material. For some
time American plants have been furnish
ing a large part Of such supplies The
probabilities are that unless the Admin
istration shall promptly correct the Gage
blunder the Gar may feel indisposed 10
authorize further contracts on this side
Our Finance Minister has simply offered
Germany the free gift OF fine commerce
which It has taken our manufacturers in
all lines years and a great deal Of money 10
build up These efforts were just begin
ming to produce profitable results Now.
unless relief is secured at once. all that
enterprise and outlay viii be lost Il is
no wonder that all the Industrial interests
OF the country are up in arms-the bene-
feiary Sugar Trust alone excepted
The attempt at explanation offered by
Mr.. Gage IL calculated to make an IN
pleasant impression upon the public. and
to excuse a suspicion that the sincerity
OF his course may be open to question.
He seeks TO avoid responsibility on the
plea that he had 20 act upon the law and
the facts in the case; and that he was
convinced that the Russian Government
was Indirectly paying a bounty TO sugar
producers. by releasing sugars entered for
export from certain internal revenue taxes
levied upon sugar destined for home con
sumption In honor and courtesy to a
friendly State Mr.. Gage was pound mo-
apply the law until b.. was sure of The
facts. VI. de Witte. Russian Minister Of
Finance, had solemnly declared that his
Government did not pay = cent OF bounty
on sugar either directly or Indirectly
Representative, of industries certain TO
be damaged by his threatened action in
behalf OF the Sugar Trust. it is said.
urged the Secretary that at least he
should refrain from aiming such a stag
gering blow Al American commerce until
a commission could be sent TO Russia to
charged that he caused It TO be under
stood that probably that course would be
pursued
In an open letter addressed to sIr Gage
by Dir. " l. Saunders of New York, the
latter fatty accuses the Secretary of bad
faith. in the premises Mr. Saunders as
serts that he had Mr. Cages promise to
a brief on the subject. presenting
the case Of the manufacturing Interests
and that NJ Gage said there was plenty
Of time" thereby distinctly implying that
he would not take precipitate action. Not
withstaadinS this assurance. says Mr.
he began the tariff war against
Russia within few days thereafter
Nj. Cages earlier mistakes have been
made while swimming II srriIy with the
and trust tide. This is his
first experience N attempting to bolster
one trust at the expense of the rest. and
he must be entirely convinced that it is
not a success. The fact that it has made
him persona non grata at home might be
ignored. If his latest performance left him
any place to which to emigrate- As mat
tiers stand his only apparent Patmos in
the desert, after retirement, which will
now become certainty, is New York and
the Sugar trust
We can confidently leave The subject Of
cur discourse to his neighbors and late
friends, who display most instructive
unanimity in their determination 10 take
care of him. They realize much more than
the ordinary public can the necessity OF
rewardlng his distinguished services by
afordIng him a chance to go out into the
bright world Of finance. and make for him
self a new and enduring fame as presi-
dent Of d Sugar National bank. or in some
other light and easy position of that sort.
Mrs Nation made one OF her every-fegy-
hourly breaks into Jail yesterday which
may prove more successful than usual
She is under two thousand dollars bail TO
keep the peace. and as no one-friend or
any idea that ha would t,,e,.,-z