, 1881-02-20
STRICT INSPECTION OF GRAIN,


!. The resignation of the Chief Inspector Of
Grain in Milwaukee, after 8 term of service
Of nearly twenty years, has been already
reported. Towards the close of last week it
was rumored that the reason for his resigna-
tion was a much more important one than at
first supposed. The reason is alleged to be
insuperable difficulties In regard to the con-
duct Of the inspection in that city. 1t is
claimed that, under pressure from parties
anxious to do larger business as receivers
of wheat from the country, the quality OF Ger
tain grades has been reduced, till it is now
not so good as it ought to be. To put the
case plainly, as stated, some shippers have
recently Disseminated against Milwaukee
wheat on the ground of inferior quality.
The Inspector has wanted to keep up the
grades, but has been unable to do so; and
still the receivers press and press to have
grain admitted which is not equal even to
the reduced quality of the grades. The Of
fetal saw 10 way of escape from the dilema
except BY summari1y resigning the RESPONSE
biIities Of his anomalous position.
Whether or not the facts be exactly as al
legged, the matter is one Of especial impor-
tapce at this time, as the grain-inspection
system Of Chicago is now in process Of official
Investigation, the more so as the Mil
waukee inspection has been several times re-
fcrred to by the witnesses examined at Spring.
field. Outside OF the allegations Ut personal
"indiscret1on" on the part Of Commission
ers and (sonle) Inspectors, the chief point
made is, that our grading has been too high
to be just to the country shipper, and proof
furnished by reference to the fact that Ger
tain parcels Of grain have been graded high
er in that city than here. OF course
this chiefly applies to wheat, which is
the great staple in the grain trade of Mil
waukee. We believe it is generally admit
ted that such raising Of grade has often
occurred as a consequence of transportation
from this.point to our ncighbor, eighty miles
farther north. The claim that such inspec-
ton must give lower actual value to
named grade there was answered by the
statement that Milwaukee inspection was
elastic" and compensated for the one by
greater rigor in the grading of wheat there
which did not come from competing areas.
1t is now conceded that the result of this
policy has been an actual lowering of grades,
and that to a point where they will not bear
comparison with those of Chicago, except at
disadvantage. It is due to the retiring Ill
spector to say that parties in the trade
here do moi blame him in the matter, save
for lack of backbone. In other words, they
believe that he has only yielded to such
pressure as is now sought to BIZ brought to
bear upon our 1nspnctors,-a pressure of and
by receivers, which would be Irresistible II
the officials were under their control, as has
been the case in Milwaukee.
Whatever may be said about the Injustice
of a State system Of inspection, and the iney-
liable tendency to let politics dictate appoint
nellts under such a system, there is one |
thing certain: nothing more is gained in the |
long run BY letting down the quality Of an
article than is gained by reducing the quanti- |
ty. When it once becomes known that wheat |
which is called No. Q is inferior to the wheat |
that was called No: 2 some time ago, it will |
no more command the same price from the |
than If 1t were sold by the bushe1
Of fifty pounds instead Of the bushel of sixty
pounds as it is now. And it is impossible,
in the very nature Of things, that the quality
Of grade OF grain can be maintained If all |
the grain goes into it which is claimed By the
holders to be equal to that grade. There
must be line somewhere, and it should be
strictly adhered to. We may even add that
the line would be much better placed
! little too high than as much too
low, since it is well known that 4
good article will always command the
BEST going prices. Abpve all, there should
)c no tamperfng with grades. L set of
standards once established, unless notorious
y impracticab1e, should be rigidly adhered
o. Country shippers would soon learn to
accommodate themselves thereto, and buyers
It distance would feel and exhibit conf
[ence impossible where change was per-
nitted. The lesson studied and taught bv
ur neighbor should be we'll considered BY
be grain trade Of Chicago. The City of
Milwaukee held commanding position in
be wheat trade of the world up to a couple
f yp1rS ngn hr yirfnta nf ~, int]nyihfa i'm. |