Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-02-17
Norway.


Of Christiania, in review of the COM
mercial, industrial and financial con.
dition of Norway at the close OF the
year 1915, says that although there ID
scarcely any industry, trade or bust
ness which has escaped the influence
OF the war, the year-end surveys OF
conditions have generally shown that
the country as a whole is richer than
1t was year ago, especially from the
viewpoint of the capitalist. Continu-
ing, the correspondent says that the
closing of the usual markets on which
Norway has been dependent for such
necessities as coal and grain-doubling
the price OF -four and fuel during the
coolest winter the peninsula has expe-
! rienced in 10 years-has caused no lit.
tie suffering among the porer people,
but outside this class it appears that
more money Is in circulation than
usual. It has been difficult for the
farmers to get sufficient quantities Of
fodder and fertilizer, but, on the other
hand, prices on farm products have
been higher than ever before. and the
net result has been profitable year
for the farmers. General trade has
had many obstacles in its way, but
Notwithstanding this new industrial
enterprises are constantly being found
ed, with plenty of capital at their
command. An incidental feature of
this new capitalization is the fact that
there has been much speculation on
the part OF young people. Even Office
, boys and school children have been
specializing In stock, eager to get
rich quick. The Norwegian shipping
trade has tiourished as never before.
The high freight rates, which show no
signs of reduction, and the scarcity of
foreign tonnage has made the Norwe-
gfan ship owner rich man. The lum-
Der trade has also had very good
period. The demand for round tim
Der and props has been so great that.
notwithstanding the high freight
rates, the high prices have given
great profit. The fishing industry has
had a good catch with prices doubled.
The canning industry has had many
difficulties to fight against
A Christiania correspondent gives
an interesting comparison of the sal
aries paid to public officials In Norway
and the United States, and he holds
that although the salaries paid In
America are much larger than those
drawn by Morse officials, the longer
and more certain tenure of Office en-
ioyed by the latter renders them more
independent than their American
brothers. The highest civil officer,
the amtmand," says the correspond
ent, lis paid $4,000 a year. Chief Jus
tice of the supreme court is paid
$4,000, and the other members of the
bench $4,000, while the chief clerk re-
eeives $1,000 year. Members of the
superior court are paid $500. The
commander OF the army is paid $4,000,
while the chief of the general staff
gets along with $3.50. A second lieu
tenant enters the service with wages
OF $3.50 a pear and when he has served
long enough to become a captain, his
| salary Is advanced to 5000. The post
| master In Christiania, the highest paid
| in the service, receives $4,000, while
his colleagues in the classified service
are paid from $500 to $500 a year.
The members of the cabinet are each
paid $4,000, but the highest paid off,
cial in the country is the bishop of
the diocese of Akershus, who receives
$500 more than the members of his
| majesty's government. Ministers of
the Gospel, belonging to the state
church, are paid up to $1,000, while
| civil magistrates in the cities receive
from $500 to $1,000. A still more
| striking example of the salary condi-
tions in Norway is found in the salary
received by the president of the Bank
of Norway, who is paid $4,000, the
| same as cabinet minister, and the
first vice president gets $4,000. This
| system Of salaries, however, is based
upon the presumption that every pub.
lie official in the military and civil
classified service shall on retirement
/ frcm ONCE receive pension.
| The government budget for the ifs
cal year July 1916 to June 1917 has JUS,
been published, and shows an i'm,
mense increase as result of the war
--l9, 100000 crowns. And this does
not cover the extraordinary expense
incurred by the mobilization of the
army and the navy which the war
made necessary, amounting to $4,000,
900 crowns for the year For a nation
of 2,so0,o0c people this is a vast sum
and as there will be heavy expenses
on account OF the going into effect OF
many social reforms, the prospects for
the future are not particularly alluT
ing to the taxpayers of Norway. A
goodly portion of the expenses of the
national government is met by the
revenues from the railroads, telephone
aud telegraph systems. franchises, gov
L s,ex IL,