The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-17


Owners and Not the State-The
Bill as Amended.
H. F. 10, providing for a bounty of
90 cents per ton on pig iron manufac-
tured in the state, was recommended
for passage by the house yesterday.
This action was taken in the committee
of the whole, but the Ve,e showed
plainly that missionary work is needed
between now and when it comes up on
the calendar for passage.
The bill, as amended and finally rec
commended for passage, provides for
the bounty to pig iron manufacturers
in the following terms:
Section l. There shall be paid out of any
money in the state treasury, not otherwise ap-
proprlated, TO any person, firm corporation
hereafter engaged in the manufacture CT pig
hol in this state the sum OF fifty cents for
each gross ton OF pig iron so manufactured
by any such person, firm or corporation such
sum to be paid for the period of five years
from the date CT the first production of pig
iron ussder the provisions of this act; that
thereafter and for the period OF five years
after the expiration Of the FIVE years a.ore-
said the sum so paid fer pig iron so manufac-
tured within this state shall not exceed the
sum OF twenty-five cents per ten, except that
when sad pig iron shall have been trans
ferred and manufactured into a merchant
able product within this state the sum so
paid shall De seventy-fve cents per ton upon
the pig iron used. Provided that in the
case of all ores mined on state lands, tee
amount Of royalty or bounty shall be one
half that provided above.
Sec. . Any person, firm or corporation
entitled to compensation as provided in the
hrst section of this act shalf present claim
therefor to the state auditor duly verified
in such form and under such rules to de-
tails ard requirements as shall be prescribed
e of s. S'"'e auu'oF anu approved 0s the gov
Sac 8. Whenever a claim is presented to
the state auditor. as in this act provided. he
shall examine the same, and if found cor
rect, he shall thereupon issue his warrant
Upon the state treasurer for the amount due
thereon as provided by law, payable to the
person, firm or corporation to whom such
Is due. Provided that no person, firm or
corporation shall be entitled to CT receive
any payment under this act for pig iron man
ufactured while such person, firm or corpo
ration is a member Of any trust or combina-
ton organized or existing for the purpose of
affecting the price of pig iron; provided that
the aggregate expenditure under this act
shall not exceed the sum of hundred
thousand dollars $500 OG0} in any year;
ard provided. further that in case the amount
earned shall exceed the sum provided for in
this act. and. more than one furnace shall
have been in actual operation, then and in
such case the said bounty shall te divided
pre- rats among such furnaces according 10
their output.
Sec L. This act shall take effect and be in
YEAR LIMIT SUGGESTED.
When the bill was reached on gen
eral orders, with Mr.. Roberts (Rep)
in the chair Mr.. Mallory Rep.), of st.
Louis, offered an amendment that the
amount of bounty to be paid in any
one year should not exceed 100000.
Mr.. Staples (RepD, of Dakota, be-
Geved in legislation of this kind, but
he could support neither the amend
nnent nor the bill without more in
would follow the passage of the meas
ure. 1t was possible, under the bill, for
Eastern manufacturers to ship in coke,
without which, it had been stated a
smelling furnace could not be operat-
ed, and then in the same cars ship out
the pig iron. after securing the bounty.
If, as had been stated, only thirty-fve
men were employed in a smelling fur
mace turning out 200 tons daily, then
the bounty Of 80 cents ton would pay
all the labor and a part of the cost Of
production. The iron mines were con-
trolled by a few men, and it was very
probable in a short time they would
be controlled by one man. If the trust
controlled the mines, it would not be
long before it would control the smelt-
ers. He suggested that the bill be
amended so as to provide that all the
coke used be manufactured In the
state
Mr.. Mallory said smelling could not
be a financial success without coke.
The bill was simply an inducement
for capital to come into the state and
get the plant or plants in operation,
and, while coke would have to be Sc
cured in superior for a time, the result
would be that coke ovens would be
built and operated in the state
Mr.. Jacobson Rep), of Lac qui Parle,
could not see how iron ore could be
secured from the mines to compete
with Eastern manufacturers, as the
ore was practically controlled by three
large companies. He had been inform
ed by independent mine owners that,
even if the bounty was made 81 per ton.
it would be impossible for any one or
any firm to do business except with
the consent of those who owned the
mines and controlled the transporter
ton facilities. 1t was estimated that
there was 400,000000 tons of iron ore
in the state, and of this the state owned
100,000,O00 tons, but had leased the
lands, and it was impossible for the
state to sell any. Unless the freight
rate on ore could be reduced from so
cents per ton, the bill would do but
little good. The man or men who own
ed the mines owned the railroads, and
ent owners to use the ore.
Mr.. Hennessy Dem.), of Ramsey,
informed the members that the Com
mercial club Of West Superior had, as
soon as the bill had been introduced
in the house, sent for a copy. and a
measure along the same line was now
being urged for passage in the Wis
consin legislature.
ONE AMENDMENT CARRIES.
Mr.. Fosnes Union) Of Chippewa. Of
fered and secured the adoption of an
amendment striking out the provision
that the bounty should be paid for ten
years
Mr.. Dwinnell offered an amendment
relating to the payment of the bounty
for five years at fifty cents, and after
that only twenty-five cents, unless the
iron was made into merchanta BILE prod.
ucts, in which case the bounty should
De seventy-five cents per ton.
Mr.. Mallory withdrew his amend
ment and the Dwinnell one was ADOPT
ed.
Mr.. Staples withdrew his, relating to
coke manufactured in the state
Mr.. Fosnes had an amendment which
made the bounty payable only to resi-
dents of the state or corporations Or
gained in the state. This, after some
discussion. was voted down.
Mr.. Staples secured the passage of
an amendment that made the bounty
on ore mined on state lands twenty
five cents per ton.
MIR. Dononue Oem), of Stearns.
wanted the act submitted to the people