Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-05

81 ton, The law was passed for the promo
/ tion OF the industry, there having been no
expansion up to the time OF its passage since
the construction OF the two factories we now
have. Considering the fact that In California,
| Utah, New Mexico and Europe farmers are
| paid about 81 ton for beets. and assuming
| 1t to be true that the flve-eighths OF a cent
/ bounty paid in 1895 did not quite cover the
I NTH dollar for beets, It appears clear that
| the bounty in this state paid in 1895 actually
was paid to the farmers of the state. II new
! factories had been constructed that could
| have enjoyed the full bounty OF / cent
suppose they would have enjoyed a divide
with the farmers in year like the present,
when the beets are OF good quality.
OBJECT TO BE GAINED.
! think every one understands that the
| important object to be gained by the fac
| tories by the passage of the last bounty
law was the increase of beet planting and
| consequently the volume of their own busi-
ness, which cannot be conducted economic
| ally without sufficient supply for the cap
| acity of the factories. Several adverse sea-
| sons had made the progress of beet growing
| slower than it would have been, and it was
| to overcome this and to promote the grow
| ing OF beets that the law was passed. The
! price of sugar at the time did not warrant
the payment Of So a ton for beets without
the bounty, the national bounty having been
repealed and as So ton had been paid to
farmers for several years IL was probable
lnat u drop 10 81 would nave checked the
course of beet growing. 1t was expected
also that the knowledge of the payment of
bounty by the state, even IL it were nearly
or quite absorbed by the price of beets,
would tend to induce new capital to come
into the state. In the last two years beet
culture certainly has made great progress,
and the object to be gained by the law has
been largely accomplished. Beet growing is
now in a fourishing condition and If not
interrupted by untoward circumstances OF
any kind will naturally continue to grow. The
time Is present when the supply of beets
grown is so nearly up to the capacity of the
two factories that it is plainly seen that
more are needed, and l feel quite certain
that several well located factories could find
full supply of beets for 81 If they could
be constructed. 1t is most desirable that
smooth and uniform advance may be made
in the industry in this state in order that
we may fully avail ourselves of our oppor-
tunity to become really important sugar
district. l think the delegates to this con-
vention should pass resolutions showing
what is the feeling of majority of the
members on this point.
If 1t were a question Of the retention or
repeal OF law without limitation as to
time of remaining in force. it would appear
more reasonable to take steps to repeal
measure which might finally involve the
state in the payment of an annual sum
much larger than has ever been fOreseen.
i VI llSldICe, uUueT tUe lluueDCe OF 4 DuOy-
ant condition of business a number of new
factories might become started, and pos
sibly the bounty to be paid rise to Si00 600
or 100000 a year. Such a thing might hap
pen, perhaps, unexpectedly if the action OF
the law were not limited in time, but, hay
ing only one more year to run after this,
and it being unlikely that the bounty to
be paid will be an excessive sum for 1897,
1t is perhaps injudiCious to repeal the law
and stop the payment of one single bounty,
which will go very largely into the hands
of farmers in any event Now, 1t is not for
the benefit of any persons in the state who
are engaged either in growing beets or
manufacturing sugar that | suggest that 1t
would be better not to repeal this law, but
for the benefit of all the inhabitants of the
state from one end of it to the other. l do
not wish to eXaggerate the Importance of the
repeal which | do expect to kill the sugar
business of Nebraska If it is passed. l do
not know. nor does any one know, how much
effect this repeal will have on its growth.
1t has been suggested that the industry win
expand fast enough IL the factories pay
farmers a high enough price for beets, but
it is a very easy matter for any one who
knows nothing about manufacturing or sell
ing sugar to say that factories can pay any
price you like and continue to exist, no mat
ter what the price of sugar may be.
LOW PRICE FOR SUGAR.
New York quotations on sugar today are
close, to- the lowest point | have ever seen, and
it is certain that the price of beets will
not be highe, than 81 after the repeal of the
law. | have shown that only 81 is paid
in other states where they have no bounty
and there is no reasonable excuse for be
lievng that factories can pay more for
beets in this state than in any other. As
far as / know other conditions appertain-
ing to the manufacture of sugar are tug
much alike in the different states to admit
of any good reason for supposlng sugar
=
bCets, and still continue in the business. l
have shown very well what 1t costs to raise
beets In Nebraska and there appears to be
no reason why beet growing should not go
on at 81 a ton. Many farmers in the state
today are only getting "a a ton, the RESI-
being absorbed by railway freight. l should
be perfectly willing to stand tax for the
payment of this bounty as long as the yotere
OF the state might choose to keep 1t on the
statute books, and ! would very gladly sec
the farmers of Nebraska getting s. for beets
for a long time yet, because | know that |
means more rapid growth for the Industry; |
but since the law has only one more year |
to stand perhaps the extra dollar to the |
farmers for this one year is not a sufficiently |
good reason for not repeating the law.
The other reason which l consider to be |
amply sufficient for retaining it is that its
repeal may and probably will have some |
effect in preventing more capital coming |
into the state for this purpose. l do not
know that any prophecies on this point are
valuable, but no person who expects to make |
an effort in this direction can help feeling |
that this proposed repeal is likely to prove
a stumbling block in his own case. 1t Is |
time to get more capital into the business. |
1t is fortuI ate for the state that those who |
have already located here have had ample |
means and courage to continue their |
operations through unsuccessful years. |
where the failure of weaker con-
Germs would have worked irreparabe |
damage to what promises to be our mos;
important industry. 1t is a constant setback |
to the growth of the industry in this state |
that our policy is continually being changed |
by the passage and repeal of this law, and |
II would be much better If we had never had |
any law at all. The mere expiration of this |
law by its natural limitation is one thing, |
but it's repeal under the circumstances will |
be a mistake and will involve an unnecessary
shock to our progress. The law was hon
estly passed by the efforts of its promoters, |
absolutely without the use of improper
means, and it is interesting to inquire in
whose interest the repeal is demanded. Ii
is certainly not for that of the farmer.
HARMONIOUS ACTION NEEDED.
In his remarks last spring our governor
appealed to the people to join in har-
monious effort to build up and strengthen
sugar production, and this Is exactly what
We need-harmonious effort All people OF
the state should be friendly and helpful to
tt., -, a1,n