The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-12
NO STATE INFANT. PLEASE.

legislature &c SubsidiZe the production
of beet sugar in this state by a bounty
TO the manufacturers. trusting them to
it had probably escaped his memory
that the preceding legislature had pro-
vided such bounty. 1t forms chapter
205 Of the laws of 1885, and gives to
whoever shall produce beet sugar
bounty of one cent a pound, provided
the product tests 80 per cent crystal
lized sugar and that an inspector APP
pointed by the secretary of state and
the product, its quantity and its quail
ity. Upon such proofs beipg made, the
secretary is to certify the amount to
the auditor. who will draw his war
rant upon the treasurer, who will pay
the same cut OF the revenue fund. The
preparations for the birth of this in
FAINT of paternalism are thus all made,
but, happily. so far the infant has not
put in an appearance.
This may be due to the fact that the
compensation or fostering is not suffi-
cient to induce the infant to come
forth and be built up. When he con-
templates the much more generous
provisions made for him and consid-
GRAFTON accorded him in France and
Germany, one can understand that the
little cherub would turn up his chub-
by nose in disdain at the paltry $50
a ton proffered him by the great state
of Minnesota But before the legisla-
ture considers the feasibility of enlarg-
ing the inducement it will be well to
consider the working of the bounty
system wherever it has been tried,
whether it was by direct payments out
Of the treasury or indirectly by duties
imposed upon imports. AS bearing on
the former, we ask their attention to
a communication printed elsewhere in
this issue on THE Beet Sugar Indus
Times upon the effect of the bounty
giving of Germany and France To
those statements might be added the
fact that the appetite for bounties has
fed, and the agrarians of Germany
have been clamorous for increase of
the bounty, while the alarmed finan-
ciers have been negotiating with
of bounties
But there are matters nearer home
that are worth rejecting upon before
the governors suggestion is acted on.
1t is clearly demonstrable that the
business is a profitable one without
bounties,- ard that the difficulty lies
not in the reluctance of capital to en-
bark but in the unwillingness of farm
ers to engage to plant, cultivate and
supply the beets for a series of years
Several attempts have been. made in
Wisconsin in past years to esta blish
beet sugar making that failed for that
sole reason. Any one who has grown
beets in his garden can estimate the
task involved when the patch is en-
ing labor of planting, replanting, thin
ming. wedding and harvesting. Our
farmers have been too long accustomed
to labor saving machinery and the
take kindly to the back-breaking cul-
tivation of acres of sugar beets But
in Wisconsin, at Menominee Falls. we
may behold the spectacle of cap
ital enlfsting in this business with
only an expectation Of the owners that
the state or congress may add to their
profits with a bounty or protection.
Mr.. Gates, president Of the company,
writes the Northwestern Agriculturist
that two years ago an expert in beet
sugar began the agitation among the
neighboring farmers for beet culture
and sugar production, and secured con-
tracts by which the farmers obligated
themselves to grow from one to fifteen
acres of beetS for ten consecutive wears
This first obstacle overcome. capital
was readily found and a factory with
all the latest facilities has been erected
and will soon grind beets, 1,20O acres
of which were grown last year The ad-
here over Germany are our
cheap land against theirs, worth $500
TO $500 an acre. ana renting for from
$40 to $15 an acre annually; cur labor
saving machinery, distasteful to the
German farmer. all offset only by the
lower rate of interest there. Nothing
Is said by him about the Cheap pau
per labor" of Germany, evidently view
ing differences in labor cost compen-
stated by improved machinery. He
says that he expects congress to give
them bounty, and he will ask the
state to give something also. But cap
italists do not usually invest $1G5. 900
on so insecure 81 thing as state
bounty Of doubtful constitutfonality or
q congress-gtven bounty liable to revo-
cation. These men have satisfied them
selves that the business will be profit
able without bounties, but, of course.
if they can he bad for the asking, they
should not be thrown over the shout
der.
IN THE DARK AGES.