St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-24

taken up, and an opportunity given for re-
marks upon 1t, to which j. j. Hill, of the
Manitoba road responded The subject, he
said, would involve careful consideration.
At some time when the committee was further
progressed In its work he would be pleased to
appear before it and present the claims of
the railroads, and if the committee should
not then be convinced of the justice of the
claims made, the Legislature should apply the
remedy. He further said he was
glad to be present at this meeting and listen
TO the ideas advanced on the subject of
wheat grading. Until standard was estab-
lished in this direction the troubles and COM
plants of to-day would be constantly recur-
ring. 1t was just as competent to grade
wheat fairly as 1t was tea or lumber or any
other commodity. 1t took more of the time
of the officers of his road to look after COM
plants of grain grading. with which they
should have nothing to do, than 1t did
the legitimate affairs Of the road.
The state should establish grain inspection
and control of public warehouses. Such
system, he claimed, would add five cents to
every. bushel of wheat raised in the state.
Under the present system the man that raises
good wheat only gets pay in proportion to
the average mass. The farmers land and
his products and the railroads are INSOFAR
able. At the proper time he would give the
committee facts connected with the business
of his road. In the handling of wheat the
elevator man Was not all at fault. The trou-
BILE is not so much what is done as what
Is not done. He had carefully investigated
the warehouse business and he had come to
the conclusion that there must be state con-
troll, as now the laws did not protect either
party. Their contracts with the elevator
men required the business to be done with
out discrimination and subject to the laws Of
the state. But the trouble is the legislature
had neglected to pass law regulating the
business. In the matter of the size of ee-
vators he said it was impossible to keep the
different grades separate in small buildings
and so the rule had been established
that the public elevators along his line should
be of at least 80, 900 bushels capacity. II
wheat was graded upon an intelligent con-
ception of its value, the farmer could deposit
his wheat in bank, because it would be based
upon real property. If such system be es-
tablisheG, the farmer would not be compelled
to take the chances on conflicting grades as
now, but would have the markets of the world
open TO him. With that as the starting point
other troubles would disappear. In
spectors appointed should be COM
PEELED to come before the state board every
year. be examined, and if competent give
certificate. The situation was full of diff
culties, but there was way out of it. Els
ideas were the result Of handling between
fifty and sixty millions of wheat in Mime
sofa. In conclusion he said there was not
an elevator doing business along his road
but was under contract to comply with the
laws of the state for the goveinance of eleva-
tors aud warehouses.
Mr.. SammIs explained the resolution re-
ferring to fat and transit rates. As now the
transit rate is Is cents TO Chicago against
171S cents for fat rates, or when the product
is stopped at Minneapolis. Where the "a
cents goes to be did not know, but the pro-
Queer paid It. What the resolution de-
manded was that the shipper should be given
the option of rates, and that the Fat rate-or
the rate ON roads terminating in Minnesota,
and for the Chicago haul shall not be more
than the transit rate. All the roads having a
Chicago terminus eXtorted the Sc fiat and
tran sit rates.
The other resolution recommended law
to compel railroads to deliver 10 all elevators
and warehouses along their lines without
discrimination. The effect, 1t was explained,
would place all millers, whether belonging
to the association or not, and all elevators
and warehouses on the same basis.
On this, Mr. Marvel, of the Manitoba
road, said that during the fall 1t was found
impossible to serve the country the pro-
ducers, except by delivering to its own ele-
vators at Minneapolis and ST. Paul. Outside
deliveries delayed the discharge of cars, and
therefore made it impossible to do the busi-
ness at interior points as rapidly as desired.
Mr. Sammis, who Is outside the associa-
ton, claimed that they had the same facilities
and guaranteed the same prompt delivery of
cars. and that the refusal of the company did
them great injustice.
Mr.. Marvel continuing, read the action OF
the Minneapolis chamber of commerce on
the subject, charging the road with unfair
discrimination in the matter. He said he
met the committee making the charge, and
declined after explaining the situation to
accede 10 the request, but denied
that there was unfair discrimination as
charged. Continuing his explanation, he
said there was not time during the fail the
company could supply the demands for cars
made upon them, the shortage in November
alone being s,212 cars. For this reason 1t
was impossible to deliver to different parties,
but forced the company In justice TO the pro-
Queer 10 pursue the course IL had. In bis
opinion, IL the demands Of outside parties
had been granted, it would have delayed cars
at least twenty-four hours. The rolling stock
of the company, so far as mileage and ton
mage is concerned, Is equal 10 that OF any
railroad in the northwest. II the request was
made to-day he should be inclined to con-
slider It favorably, but he was not anxious.
In such emergencies as last fall he claimed
the company had the right to keep It's cars on
its own line, but they had done
different since, and were glad to do II to find
storage.
Mr. Krech said all the outside millers
wanted was 10 be treated tine same as the
Millers' association, which they were not now
receiving. The complaints had been brought
to the attention OF the Manitoba officials for a
year past, aud still there was no relief.
Nr. Marvel said the communication in
November last was the first brought 10 his
attention. There was another thing, though,
that is probably referred 10. The company
had refused to send their cars off their road
to accommodate shippers doing business with
Chicago The position the road took was
that the company hauling TO Chicago
should send its cars to their eleya-
tors and get the grain wanted. Another rea-
son why the company declined to unload at
tie outside elevators, was because the man
ayers had on certain occasions refused TO
guarantee their receipts
Mr.. Marshall held that il was common
practice at grain centers for railroads 10
unload their cars at all public elevators. He
denied that the Manitoba cars would be de
lsyed by accommodating the outside eleva-
tors, and it Was an injustice 10 compel these
outside parties 10 pay a bonus to the elevators
OF the Mllers association.
Mr.. ManYel in support Of the position Of his
road, said 1t was precisely the same system as
that in use in Chicago, all western roads TAX
ing wheat to that market unloading at their
own elevators, and the roads taking the wheat
on east sending their cars 10 those elevators
10 load.
This closed the discussion Ehereupon NJ