The Saint Paul globe., 1897-03-22
NO HOTHoUsE BEET SUGAR.

Some weeks ago the legislature ap-
pointed a joint committee to investi-
gate the subject of sugar beets and
beet sugar, and now and then we have
caught glimpses of them in the press
busily searching for facts and figures;
and, in due time, judging from the
composition of the committee, we will
have report setting forth in glowing
colors the avenues which the state can
open to its oppressed and poverty
laden farmers if it will only extend its
fostering hand, enclosing a sufficient
bonus, to any philanthropic gentleman
who will invest his means in the con-
struction of factories wherein the
farmers beets may be converted into
sugar. In fact we are assured in ad-
vance that Eastern capitalists are
already investigating the question with
view to establish factories and re-
f1neries in the state and, incidentally,
OF course, to get the cent a pound
bounty now offered or the larger
amount that may be given them.
We very much doubt the accuracy of
this bit of news and regard it more as
sort of lubricant put forth to faciIi-
tate the adoption of the recommenda-
ton Of the sugar beet and beet sugar
committee. We doubt whether Eastern
capitalists are at all anxious to invest
tnelr money in a business now con-
tfoIled by trust, whose powers
are to be increased by the proposed
tariff bill before it gets through the
senate. The Nebraska refiners felt
the heavy hand Of the trust barring
their access to the markets and had
to patch up some sort of a truce. An
other deterrent that will have it's eff
feet upon gentlemen with surplus CAP
ital looking for investment is the
result OF their consultations with their
legal advisers as to the probable re-
suit of a suit in Minnesota for the
purpose of preventing the state treas
ufer from paying the bounty. After
their counsel have fully considered the
scope of the decision of the supreme
court of this state in the state ele
Vator case, we apprehend their advice
to their clients will be that thev would
better make their investment without
taking the bounty into consideration as
source of profit. 1t might as well be
understood now as later that there are
democrats in this state who do not
believe that they should be taxed to
make profitable or additionally profit
able either the occupation of growing
beets or the investments of capital in
making sugar. They will surely give
the supreme court of the state oppor-
tunity to say whether the property Of
the citizen can be thus taken for a
private purpose
1t is worth noting that the Nebraska
legislature dominated by Populists a
party fully committed to state social
ism, has repealed the law giving a boun
ty on sugar. There, as here, the bounty
was given to the ref1ner under the pre-
tense that it would enable him to pay
the beet grower an adequate price for
his beets. 1t was found there, as it
would be found here, that the refiner
regarded the bounty as a reward for
his own enterprise and forgot to divide
it with the men who supplied the beets.
The price of beets was fixed quite in
! dependently of the bounty. Over at
Menominee Falls beet sugar factory
and refinery has been constructed with
out state bounty or any reasonable
expectation of any, and the proprietors
have made ten-year contracts with
farmers to furnish beets at the rate
of $4 ton for beets of u per cent
saccharine strength. At this there is
good profit for both farmer and re.
/ finer. 1t is only on such a basis that
the business should be engaged in. On
such the G o b will heartily welcome
/ it, but it is unalterably opposed to hot
| housing this or any other industry.
/ If it cannot stand the open air. fair
/ field and no favor treatment. then LET
! it r. i. p.