The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-30

pletely as he seemed to, but informed hia
sovereign that he could no longer bold
the post Of Minister OF Finance, since b
had been insulted by the brother Of The
Gar. In spite Of the urgency Of tho Gar
he refused to retain his post. The result
was an abject apology from The Grad
Duke.
Another reason for his success IN RAIL-
road affairs is his practical knowledge d
the workings Of railroad. He learned all
these details as q young man. Ono story
told about him two years ago s typical
Of his practical interest In railroad
affairs.
The Car found It necessary one day TO
speak to him on a matter OF business. 40
was not found at his Office nor in bis resi-
dence, nor could any trace OF him be Dis
covered in places to which be would b
likely to go.
Word finally came that he had st out
in the morning to ascertain the details a
a railroad accident OF q very serious char.
actor that had taken place that day n the
suburbs OF St. Petersburg. Ono Of the
Cars messengers finally found him seated
on the step Of an engine cab sharing the
lunch Of the engineer and discussing ndably
matters Of railroad administration.
His efforts to develop Russias material
resources have resulted In marvellous i.
growth. Five years ago he reported to
the Gear that the industries in his country
had trebled in value In twenty years.
It was he who insisted on the State owner.
ship OF railroads in Russia, and now only
three or four private lines operate IN the
country. Under his initiative great manu-
featuring enterprises have been developed
and over fifty towns and cities ha We recently
been BIT by electricity. 4
He put the currency Of the country on Q
gold basis and the equilibrium Of thsbudSsts
has been restored after many years q;
financial confusion. He has not hesitatod
to plunge when he has seen that Russls
could really afford to spend the uionsT,
and one of the best investments he evof
made for the country was the purchase Of
the railroads when the country was by no
means prosperous In every case his In.
vestments have been justified by suhse-
quent events.
He has bad to encounter the opposition Of
the military power in Russia, who hated to
seeso many millions spent for railroads, and
OF the reactionists, who have alws ys looked
upon him as little short Of revol utionary.
He makes no pretense to being a political
reformer and sticks to bis own work Of
finance and railway administration. But
every action has shown that he has been
In favor of more liberal Government.
He refused always to take any part b
measures against Je vs. and nihilists, and
even appointed committees to investigate
the acute industrial and agricultural de-
preston of Russia All OF these committees
we're made up Of men influenced by him.
and their reports might almost have been
written by nihilists, so drastic were they In
their recommendations. Military ssrvice.
the bureaucratic system Of government
and indirect taxation were bitterly COM
planned Of.
M. Witte sent these reports to tho
Gar with a strong expression Of approval.
and his enemies awaited in delight the dis-f
missal which they were certain would como.
But the Gar cannot get along without his
Minister of Finance and M. Witte Ia more
powerful than ever in his country.
Baron Roman Romanovitch Roscn, who
succeeded Count Cassini a. Washington as
Russian Ambassador is NJ. Whites coll
league as peace envoy He is we'll known In
| Washington, where ne acted Tor some years
as attache Of the Russian Embassy, Sine
he loft the United States, eleven years ago,
he has been stationed in Toxic.
He 10 accompanied by his wife and daugh.
ter. who were with him during his former
stay in Washington.
Privy Councillor Martens, who accom-
panies the Russian commission, is professor
Of international law at the University OF
st. Petersburg and attends tho deliberations
Of the commission as the legal adviser Of
| thu Ruasiau deleO atAa Ee Ia an s,lthnv7k<
| on international law.