, 1873-03-20


Into tho nloritu and como to au Immediate COLI
olusion. Tho 1nsrootorn would then bo nccoant-
able to mon thoroughly oonvera"nt with
grain inspection, and notthor ignorance nor
neglect would oecnpo tho nttontion OF tlono VINO
would 30 primarily intorcstod In occurring fair III
Hpootion. It would bo difficult for tho Doara OF
T'ratlo To form combination againHt tho ahtp"
pora, nnlcr tho ronlalning provIalonn OF tho
Railroad and Warehouse law, II 1t woro inclined
to do 80. It is n1ao n body, 1nado up OF various
agents representing various interests, Which
would not as check upon ono another. Tho
succoaB Of the Board depends upon retaining tho
ouatom OF tho country shippers and eatisfying
t1,o Eastern buyoru. It would DO simply suicidal
to drive OF either c1nsu by inspection thst was
not fair.
Tlloao aro tho principal argumonts upon which
ls based Tho proposition that grain inapootton
allall bo takon ont Of tho haudg Of tho Railroad
nnd Warehouse Commiaaionora and given ovor
to tho Board Of Tradc. Tho gonoral auparvia-
ion of tho warehouse system would still ro1nain
In tho hands of tho Commissioners, whono
powers would bo unin,pairad for milking tho
wnrohousoB conform to tic rnfoa and regulations
provided by tho law. This IL anothor phaRo Of
tho question which docs not seem to lleye had
tho confederation which 1t deserves. drain III
| apection affects ,sLoat and barley moro than
all other grains, as tho inspecting Of thono re-
| quiros technical knowledge md nicoty Of dis
tinction tllrt can only bo acquired through long
experience, which Is not truo in regard to corn.
| Tho great wheat-growinB gtates aso h1snucaota,
Iowa, and Wisconsin, which look upon
| Chicago na their proper outlet. Tho State
of Illinois contributes but an insignificant
| portion OF tito wheat that comes to this narkot.
Practically, thon, tho State Of Illinois aota up
Commission, with headquarters Mt Springfield,
md governed by inaexiblo rules, to inspect and
classify the property Of othor statca. Thcro Is
certainly no Justice In this. It cannot bo argued
that thero would bo tho snmo objection If tho Chi
cago Board Of Trade should act In tho capacity OF
grain-inspector instcatlof tho State Commission.
Tho Board Of Trade ip composed Of tho chosen
agents Of tho citizons Of Mnnonota, Iowa, and
Wiacousin, who send thoir grain to Chicago and
thoy could demand nothing fairor tllau to have
tho atatus OF their property fixed by tho mon
whom they omploy to represent thom.
The TRIBUNE has frequently indicated the
dangora TINT await tho Chicago grain trade on
account Of tho prcsent arbitrary system Of
inspection. Tho matter ilas now beon brought
boforo tho Legislature in q shape that do
mands action before tho adjournment. 1tis un-
necessary that this change should provoke dis
cuaHiou rotating to tue abolition Of tho Board oi
Railroad and Warehouse Commissioners. There
will bo enough for tha,n to do after they Hhall
have. boon rolieycd OF the inspection duticE
which do not properly como under thoir adminis:
tratiou, If tho Legislature will pass Railroad
til aftor tho model Of A1r. Hildrup's latost prop
oaition, under which tho Commission may rendol
itself valuable. Eyon tho careful and laborioua
preparation Of valuable statiatica, at which
aomo members were inclined to snoor, woult
Justify tho maintainonco Of tho Board
But it is cortain TINT tho intoroata Of Chicago,
and tho intoroBts Of tho whoat-growing States
which tho Illinois Government has undertaken
to control, domand that the inspection syston
should be placed in tho hanas Of mon who vii
maio 1t conform to tho demands Of the grain
trade, both buyorH and sellers.