The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-02
DIVISION OF sPoILs.

the Du1lQeTS, the nOfHeIildhluS c1io ooSA-
ness public, since the passage of the
Dingley tariff of July 1897. During
those five years the price Of common
| lumber has been raised Sc to So per
thousand feet. The average annual
lumber product of Minnesota is 2,OG0,-
O00, 900 (two million thousand) feet and
the average annual Minnesota lumber
consumption is estimated at 100000
600 Gone million thousand) feet.
At the minimum of Sc increase in the
price of lumber since the passage of
the Dingley tariff, the volume of pro-
tective spoils on the Minnesota pro-
duction and consumption reaches big
figure.
protective spoils, comparing present
prices with prices prior to the Dingley
tariff, amount to $12,000,00O per an
mum.
On the total Minnesota consumption
the increase of Sc per thousand reaches
100000 on one years building sup
ply.
The total amount of taxes levied to
run the state government and state
institutions of Minnesota is $2,400,000.
Therefore the lumber combine tax On
Minnesota consumers of lumber
amounts to more than double the taxes
for state purposes.
The total taxes levied for all pur-
.fo 70 ri tOWnShin
and school-in Minnesota is little
over $13,000000 a year. The increase
Of Sc per thousand on Minnesota's total
lumber product Of 2.00O,000,000 feet.
amounting to $12,0OO,000, therefore
nearly equals the entire direct tax bur-
den of Minnesota for all purposes The
lumber tariff benefciaries nearly rival
the state, county and city governments
combined as tax gatherers.
The entire volume of taxes collected
by the 80 counties of the state for
county purposes only is about $780,
600 per annum. This added to $2,400,-
900 required to run the state govern
ment and institutions makes a total
of 100000 for combined state and
county purposes. But Sc tax on the
1000, 100000 feet of lumber consumed
within the state is heavier tax bur-
den by $1.000,00O year than all the
taxes gathered by the state and coun-
ty governments combined.
The aggregate school taxes of Min
nesota-special school taxes plus in
terest on school loans-are about
$3,500,000 a year; or only trifle over
half of the lumber trust tax on Min
nesota lumber consumption.
The total volume of taxes collected
in Minnesota for city and township
purposes is about $5,2O0,OO0 a year;
this again is less than the annual lum-
Der trust tax on the builders Of the
homes and farm structures and BUSH
ness houses of the state.
But this 100000 which the people
of Minnesota pay over to the lumber
and pine stumpage association, in the
shape of extra costs for the building
of homes and granaries and factories
and shops and business blocks, is al
legged to be collected for "the protec-
ton of labor The lumber and pine
stumpage proprietors are simply the
sponsors for this alleged Tabor pro-
lection" fund. The next question is,
Has the fund been turned over by the
sponsors to the workingmen?
Have work and wages for those en-
ployed in the lumber and logging bust
ness increased in such volume as to
absorb the extraordinary gains arising
from Increased prices Of lumber?
Have employment and pay multi
piled by leaps and bounds in keeping
with the lumber price lists? Have the
ten price lists increasing the price of
lumber which have been issued by the
Mississippi Valley Lumbermen's asso-
citation since the passage of the Ding
ley tariff, been followed by correspond
ing increases in number Of employees
and in the scale and volume Of wages?
On page 444 of volume I'LL of the
census reports of 1900, Director Mer-
riam in the Introductory article on
Minnesota manufactures, says:
The manufacture of lumber and tim
Der products ranks second among the
industries of the state, with ABB estab-
lishments, 1910 wage earners and
products valued at $43,5S5, 161. In 1890
there were S92 establishments, 1910
wage earners and products valued at
| $25,075,132. The increase in the value
of products during the decade was
$1S.510,D29, or 1873 per cent"
That is to say, during this ten-year
| period, while the value of the lumber
product increased $1S.510,029, or 1873
per cent, the number of men employed
actually decreased = being 1910 in
1890 and 1910 in 1900.
In other words, the lumber combine,
besides increasing prices, has been
curtailing production and thereby re-
stricting employment: and this Is
| borne out by the official actions OF the
association as shown by the annual
reports.
Detailed figures from the census ta-
bles show that, In round numbers, the
lumber Industry of Minnesota in the
ten-year census period made the fol-
lowing increase in financial totals:
Increase in total value Of the product
over $18.0O0,000.
Increase in value of materials Clogs
and stumpage) $11,0eo,000.
Increase in volume of wages less
than $30OO,O00.
Thus of the extra s1s,Ooo,Ooo realized