Daily globe., 1879-01-31
THE SWINDLING KETTLE

Meeting of the Special Committee Last
Night-A General Feeling That tho Swim
die Must Go.
The joint committee of the legislature on
'the little swindling brass kettle'' held pre-
llmiuary meeting at the Merchants hotel last
night. There were present Sena, ors B"nniwelE,
P'llsbnry and Page. and Representatives
Campbell. W. NJ, BarSness, Smith. Riebe,
Schrn,h, Cummins, Powers.
The meeting was organized by tho election of
5enator Rahilly to preside, aud MI. Powers as
secretary.
Nir. Campbell, to arrive at speedy consum-
alton, moved that the brass tester be abolished
the grade test Of wheat In the State of Aim
nesota.
This provoked long discussion, participate
ed in at leugth and with a great frequency and
freedom, by every mem Der. Mr.. Bonniwell
seconded the above motion. He and MIR.
Campbell spoke to the point. The farmers
throughout the State were advocating and urg-
ing its Grolition. It was expected that the
lrgislatu would DO it, aud the relief SO urgent
ly and emphatcaliy demanded by the people
shnu d he extended.
Bcn.tor McCrea favored it. lie represented a
constituency universally in favor OF tho aboi-
ton uf the brass kettle.
Senator Pilsbury had an excuse, or u word
or t"oof defense foc the kettlv. However,
in defeIenee to the seneral aud
of the substitution of 81 sealed balf bushel AS
the standard test of grades in place Of the mill
ers' pet
Senator Williams, in half dozen speeches.
favored the substitution OF half bushel
measure. which wnuldn'1 swell or contract, for
the kettle. He believed tho joker fair enough;
never had perceived any difference when prop
erly handled, but then it could b.
manipulated. In compliance with the
general desire. he wanted to see
the half husnel introduced and established ms
the standard. but the bra. kettle needn't be
abolished it SO convenient. and conld he
Senator Page wasn't in favor u2 ibpliShin. the
present test until be saw something in the
shape Of il remedy to replace it. In the hands
Of honest dealers, like cards. it could be made
honest. But like hree- e-card- nonie, the little
i'ker trick could be played. He sugge>. led
something about penalties.
MIR. Powers, rs the lawyer Of the commit ee
was asked Il penalties could be attached. etc..
and VIII ther it was legel to abolish the present
tester. The gentleman was at loss to ex-
plain.
biz. Campbell stated that it had been done.
Then related that in 90 at Litchfeld, he knew
of ALI in>tanc where two elevator men, who
pers's ed i'll nsngit. had been fined Sl.0UU each
Dir. Campbell continued that universal fes;-
ing against the brass Ike tie existed in the
SIa'S. EAU Sn)ulu DC aDOliSne0. ana nothing
but that would satisfy the farmer. He then
extorted from Senator Pills bury the con feS sion
that the little joker could be manipulated to
bring about different results. He claimed this
was III itself sufficient to condemn the Device
Tue speakers own experience corroborated
these 'diferences." He had witnessed an ex-
pertinent where wheat had been made No. 8.
then No. 2, and finally 6lH ponnds-the same
wheat, and the same tester
Whit the former wanted was a reliable
tester. giving uniform results. The sealed half
hnshei was such q standard. This they could
understand, and feared no cheating in it. At
least, measures could be adopted relative to
the mode of illing which would prevent such
differences in the results obtaining in the use
Of the little brass KETTLE
Senator Pillsbury admitted that there was O.
process OF manipulation in he brass tester by
which the farmer could be cheated.
He went further and confessed that
the former had been cheated. Yet he believed
IT the buff -bushel were adopted, it would not
bring about the agricultural Utopia anticipat-
ed. | fact, he surnised that on the question:
OF test. 1t would ultimately be found that the
kettle would show up in favor of the farme,
more than the haltbushel. The Senator blamed
the scales more than the tester, and stated that
up IN Minneapolis there were MANY scales
which scored up weight less than was actual.
ly put on them.
Mr. Campbell referred to the fact that these
scales which werc wrong never scored up to,
'nnch, but too little. aud the loss fell on the
Fe4ler The scales qncstion one to DO xet]
up IN connection with the tester business.
MIR. Rebe made 2 long and urgent appeal tc
Hboilsh the brass kettle. 1t was o cheat and \
fraud, SO the farmers believed. They didn't
understand the mauipulations and different
resul,s.
Voice-"Yes, we've seen !, man turn lack
every time in dealing cards. but never under
STOOD it, Uaughtrr).
Mes>rs. McCrea. Cummins, Officer, Mealey,
Powers. Page, and Others took part in the dis
cusslon. The general verdict being, Down
with the swiudling bras kettle r!
AT this stage OF the proceedings Senator Pills
bury moved to amend MIR. Camp>eli's motion,
by saying it was the sense Of this committee
that the sealed half hr~kel should he adopted
as the standard test for grading wheat in the
State OF NJ nnesnta.
The amendment was accepted, and when put
TO vote prevailed without dissen'in. voice.
Mess's. Cnmmins and Williams both advo-
Gated the retention of the kettle for con-
Fenience sake-that no penalty should attach
to its use, but that by consent it could he used
the half bnshel being the final resort to tst
After further desultory talk, during which
Senator N'esley highly Commend. q Mr.. STAGE, 5
t't wright county, device for filling the littls,
joker as we'll as he half bushel. Ten thousan M,
different men using il would produce the same
result.
4'A"'loN' ca 1o'scu itS COnSlderatlnn at the
next meeting; this was further enlary=d to
take IN oil bills, tests, etc, pertaining to the
matter. and was supplemented by an
invitation to wheat buyers in
St. Paul and the Nillers' association
IN Minneapois to participate in the d+libera.
lions, and experiments with wheat to be sue.
piled.
:. Next Tn sday evening WAS designated as the
time, and the Capitol as the place to do t. G
testing and talkiny
sity E:-a4irer's Sale.
lhe city treasurer will sell property on the
following streets for GeIinouent nssaSsmep+s