Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-14

His name Is Sergius Witte, he Is the right
hand OF the car, and the business man
ager OF the great Russian empire. He
handles all told In the neighborhood Of a
billion dollars a year, taking 1t in from a
thousand sources and distributing it with
an even hand to the necessities of Russia
In Europe and Asia.
lie is one Of the worlds greatest bankers,
being at the head of the treasury of Rus
sia and of the vast government banking
system whose capital runs into the hum
dreds of millions. He is one of the worlds
great railroad men, having an enormous
network of state lines in Russia, in CEN
trail Asia and in Siberia the longest line
Of the world. From the cars crown es-
tates he collects about $40. 900, 900 a year,
and from the debts owing him gets a rev.
enue of SIG, 900, 600. He handles the mines
belonging to the crown and drags forth
gold and silver, iron and coal in the tens OF
millions from the bowels Of the earth. lie
is I'm charge of the tax system and the
customs duties and he is n mighty manu-
f%acturer. Stranger than all he is the
greatest saloonist of the world. He does
an alcohol business which dwarfs that OF
the American Whisky trust, making and
selling, as a government proposition, every
ounce Of alcohol consumed by more than
100. 600, 600 people.
All this Wittc does ably, honestly and for
his master, the car. lie has acquired his
prominence by his own work, and is what
would be called In America a self-made
man. He came from the southern part Of
the empire, born of parents comparatively
poor. He had a fair education and began
life as a clerk in a railroad office. This
was at Odessa on the Black sea. He did
his work well and rose to be manager.
Then he was advanced to another road
which ran from Odessa to Moscow and
managed that. His ability here was such
that he was again and again
10 the government, and finally became a
government director of railroads. He re-
vised the railroad tariff. reorganized the
routes, rebuilt many of the lines and
showed himself to be the ablest railway
man of the empire. He was then put IN
charge OF the board of public works and
railways, the position now held by Prince
Hilkoff, and a little later on was made
minister Of finances or by far the most inn
portant officer In the cabinet OF the car.
This was eleven years ago. and since
then Wltte has almost revoIutionized the
financial condition of Russia. He has
pushed Its trade into all parts of Asia, and
mas reorganiZed the business at home. He
has completed the Transsiberlan road. has
extended the roads In TurkIstan. has nut
Russia on a gold standard and has filled
the treasury, without depressing the peo-
pie. He is today full of new ideas for the
Improvement OF the empire. and he Is
slowly but surely lettering the country in
and industry along the lines Of
modern development.
1t was through the American Ambassador
TO st. Petersburg that got access to Mr.
Witte. He received me in the finance de-
DaFtmpnt "a praat hroup h,fI1;n- .. r.
from the Nevski on Moika street. He is a
busy man, and 4 o'clock had been fixed for
the appointment.
At five minutes before that hour 7
stepped from my droschky and was ad-
mitted to the department by two stern
looking Russians, long-haired and long
bearded. wearing top boots, and liveried
coats which fell almost to the instep. Ono
OF them helped me Off with my overcoat-
the other took my hat and umbrella, and
both directed no to the top floor. There
was no elevator, and / walked, hearing an
electric bell ringing, announcing, as sup
posed my approach. On the third floor 1
found more hunkies, In livery, and also n
bright young official in uniform, who spoke
English huently, although he was a Rus
sian. He told me that the minister was
expecting me, and a moment later opened
the door OF his eXcellency's office and asked
me to enter. I did so, and was in the
presence Of the Russian secretary OF the
treasury.
Mr.. Wltte rose, came toward me and
held out his hand. He made me welcome
and gave me a seat near his desk and then
sat down himself and talked with me
through an interpreter in response to my
questions. I had a good chance to study
him during the interview. He is very i'm
pressive, but simple and unostentatlous.
He talks quietly. does not get excited and
apparently has himself well in check. He
Ii a big man. He stands 6 feet l in his
stockings. and his frame Is strong-limbed
and muscular. His forehead is very high
and full. with brown hair rising from II
and eombed straight back without a part.
He has a rich brown beard and brown eyes
rather thoughtful than otherwise. He was
dressed In a morning suit at the time but