The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-02-07
STATE NEWS CONDENSED.
AN EXTRA SESSION UNWIsE.

AN EXTRA SESSION UNWISE.
Gov. Hubbsrd's Reply is the Petitioners
Who Want Grain OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Take
Time to Study the Best System Of Re-
form.
REASONS OF THE EXECUTIVE.
STATE OF MINNESOTA, EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
ST. PAUL, Jan: %, lSs4.-Elias stienerson,
Esq.,, Fisher, Polk County, Minn-Dear Sir:
Your name appears first in order upon the
first of many petitions lately received, ask
ing that the legislature of the state be called
together in extra session, to consider the
matter presented in regard to the grading,
shipment 81 pm. and transportation Of wheat It is
published for tie information Of all the
signers, giving some of the reasons Which
lead me to the conclusion that it is not
best to convene the legislature. I do
not doubt that there exist grounds
for complaint on the part of the
growers Of grain in q considerable part of
the state against the prevailing rules and
practices in grading, buying and transport
ing their products l am not now for the
first time convinced that there is danger that
those who control the operations OF great
ing the interests of their stockholders by the
economical and effective management of
their gigantic agencies, would be found less
prompt i'll observing that some of their rules
were burdensome ON the mass OF the people,
than that they were convenient and profit.
able to themselves and the small minority OF
the people who deal with them in
large, frequent and easily regulated
shipping contracts Recert expert
ences have made it painfully e.:
1dent that the uncertainties and variable
ness Of grading impose frequent losses upon
those who sell grain, and create belief of
losses, perhaps, more frequent and greater
than actually exist. believe that legislation
can tic much to remove just complaints on
the ground of monopoly in buying, extortion
in transportation, or inequality in grating:
yet doubt if the relief desired could best Be
obtained from the present legislature.
STATE INSPECTION.
In my message to that body one year ago,
l earnestly recommended the adoption OF "a
system of state inspection which should COM
prehend the fixing of grades of grain, and
the adoption of rules regulating the manage
also, strongly urged upon it's attention the
necessity Of some Legislative &C
tioa imposing restTai1,ta upon 9TH the man. A.
branches of the legislature had botE
these questions before them Bills were
introduced for legislation similar to that
which the petitioners now seek. They were
considered by committees of both houses;
both houses came to the conclusion that no
action was advisable. recall of this legis-
lature to perfect such Legislation might he
INTERPRETED to imply censure of their form
er judgment, and possibly be regarded as an
attempt at coercion of the legislative discre-
ton by a co coordinate branch of the govern
ment But such is the condition of the
finances of the state, owing to the extraor-
binary demands upon it's treasury from
the necessary rebuilding of it's capitol
and those parts of its hospitals for
the insane and the reform school
destroyed by fire, the expense of the extra
session of 1881 and the Impeachment trial
following, that doubt if would be justified
in imposing upon the taxpayers of the state
the burden of the cost of an extra session of
the legislature, even if these subjects had
not already occupied the attention of that
body. The evils complained Of though un-
derstood by the agriculturists of the whole
state, are now most keenly felt only in por-
lions, along certain lines of railway. Even
there the damage will have been mostly done,
the crop nearly marketed and the losses
suffered before legislation could become
effectual. new house of representatives
will be elected next November. It may be
chosen it the electors please, with reference
to these questions 1t will convene with the
senate the first Of next January To that
legislature l shall assuredly recommend the
enactment of laws that will secure at every
station market open and unrestricted;
shipm ent and transportation for any and all
without discrimination; and the establish
ment and maintenance within the state of a
uniform and unchanging standard of grading.
The intervening time will not be too long
for those who may have the duty of legisla-
ton before them, to study the problems what
to do and how to dO it, and to direct public
sentiment to an agreement upon a solution
so reasonable and practical that no interest
can hope to obstruct or evade it. Yours, very
k3"11J