The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-08-17
AN UNREASONABLE REGULATION.

The regulations published by the Of
fetal organ of the Canadian govern
ment, relating to the taxation of the
fKlOndike output, are unreasonable and
impracticable. 1t was suggested some
time ago that Canada would attempt
to dip a finger in the rich pie that is
now being divided in the Alaskan gold
fields. and this all the more zealously
because almost all of the miners Who
q have taken UP claims and made for
tunes, as we'll as the great body OF
those who are now rushing in. are
American and not British subjects.
When 1t was stated, however, that as
heavy a tax as 10 per cent of the total
product was contemplated, protests
poured in so rapidly that those close
ITO the government stated semi-offi-
cially that the project had been aban-
doned. 1t now appears that it has not,
and that the Canadian authorities have
determined to attempt to collect for
the public treasury a royalty of 10 per
cent on the product of ell mines on the
Yukon, except where the amount taken
from a single claim exceeds $500 a
week; and then the royalty is raised
to 20 per cent.
We can scarcely understand how the
dominion government can be so unwise
as to precipitate itself into the diff
culties that any endeavor to enforce
these rules must create. They are. as
we have said, both unreasonable and
impracttcable. They are unreasonable
because such tremendous royalty AS
this, amounting to 10 per cent OF the
results Of mans labor for undergo
ing great expense, hardship and pri-
walton, is taxation excessive beyond
precedent. Possibly a man who is
making $500 a week would not miss $40
of it; and, if he made $1,000, he cou1d
spare 5000, were this a stated and ner-
manent salry. But where he has put
his very life in the balance, and the
claim which one day promises to WELD
him fortune may run out the next
the rate prescribed is cut of ell rea-
son.
The general policy Of the government
is wise enough. Canada is wiser than
we are ir compelling those who have
appropriated the vast treasures that
nature has secreted beneath the sir
race OF the earth to pay a part of the
PUBIC expense. It would have been
far better for US had we reserved and
exercised the right to tax all mineral
product in this country. The rates
proposed to be levied by the srova,n-
ment Of Canada, however. arc
so excessive that they cannot
be defended upon any ground
The Dominion of Canada has under
taken big contract; and, If If at
tempts to enforce it's rules in the Klon
dixie region, there is certain to he q
general evasion OF the law and a. prob
able clash between miners and +ba
dominion officers. The people who
have gone to the Klondike are not tho
miidest hammered of men, and are ac-
customed to maintain their rights with
the strong hand Of power. The miner
who, after It couple OF years Of wander
ing i'll the Alaskan wilderness. has at
last found pay streak, will not make
arg such return as is required of him
unless there is dominion officer cor
sta1tlyT at his elbow taking account of
the contents Of his pan. If any such
system of surveillance is established.
and The dominion police proceed to
wHest by force from the gold seekers
SO large aportion OF their prize, then
there VIII be riot and blocdshed.
1t argues an imperfect knowledge of
human nature as it is exhibited in
mining camps on the frontier TO put
forth such an edict as this. with the
penalty attached that if default in paw
me:!t Of the royalty is made. or in case
of any attempt TO withhold any part
OF the revenue thus provided for. the
occupants title TO his claim NAV be
Cancelled. We do not know whether the
Canadian government is deliberately
planning FOR big roy on the Klondike
and possible collision between Itself