St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-29
DAKOTA AND MINNESOTA.
Legislative Committee upon Grading
and Transportation of Grain.
An Important Conference and Spirited Dis
cussion Yesterday Afternoon.

cuSSt0n Yesterday Afternoon.
The delegation appointed by the Dakota
legislature to confer with special com mittee
from the legislature Of Minnesota, concern
ing the necessary legislation for grading
and transportation of grain and the relief OF
the farmers, arrived in ST. Paul yesterday.
The delegation consists of the following:
| W. f. Steele, chairman of the house deega-
ton; G. W. Scott, c. W. Morgan, j. Hobart
and Eugene Huntington. Council-Dr. B.
2. Kennedy, chairman; Geo. Walsh and c.
d. Austin.
In the afternoon q preliminary meeting of
the delegation was held at the Metropolitan
hotel; the legislature of Minnesota being
represented by Senator G. D. Gillian, Sem
ator Pillsbury and others, besides whom quite
a large number of persons interested were
present
Senator Buchanan presided and free and
animated discussion ensued. The meeting
was opened with remarks by Hon. W. F.
Steele, of Steele Dakota, who outlined the
objects sought to be accompli shed. Remarks
were made by several gentlemen, when SEN
ator Pillsbury spoke in favor of having full
discussion of the subjects to come before the
legislature. Mr.. Holton was not in favor OF
adiourning to meet the subcommittee.
Mr.. Pillsbury addressed the meeting on
the subject of inspection, he said that the
Mtllers' association was anxious to be re-
| lieved of inspection matters entirely.
He thought the true way was to inspect the
grain in the country. He had a paper, he
said, which he would read later.
Senator Giflan then spoke. He called
| attention to a case where friend Of his had
shipped a large quantity of wheat to Mime
apolis The first inspection and that by the
Millers association subsequently making q
difference of $1,000 to him.
Senator Pillsbury then read his paper ON
wheat grading He referred to the unjust
accusations against the elevator companies
| and expressed the hope that the committee
would give the subject thorough investiga-
ton. He referred to former investigation
when the charges had merely turned out to
be honest difference of opinion. He had
no doubt that there were some
dishonest agents, but he thought as a whole
the elevator companies were dealing honestly
with the farmers; he referred to the men
making the charges as moral, political and
social bankrupts who could not get trusted
for suit Of clothes while they endeavored
| to backmail men who were as much their
superiors as was Washington above Benedict
Arnold. He thought these professional agi-
tators should be set down upon, and, en-
PEASANT he paid high compliment to the
Miers association of Minneapolis, which,
he said, had done more than all else to de-
velOp Minnesota and Dakota. He then sub.
mitted specifications showing that the wheat
Of the Red River valley had been over
! graded; that the elevator charges were fair
and moderate, that the Millers' association
had been fair In grading, that the price paid
was higher than other shippers had paid, etc.
In reply to Mr.. Pillsbury's paper Mr. Chas.
! Canning said that he was not an ignoramus
nor an agitator, and he proceeded to excorl-
ate Mr.. Pillsbury's speech; he then gave an
illustration of how the grading worked at the
station OF Herndon, his place of residence;
he showed chat the wheat buyer last year did
not give satisfaction, but that it was not
wholly his fault. for the reason that he was
compelled by bond to grade and weigh BY
certain weights and measures; lately the old
/ buyer had quit business and the new man
gave satisfaction. lie then explained how
it worked at St. Vincent; the farmers were
hauling their wheat to Emerson and paying
! 10 cents duty; at Emerson the wheat was
| shipped TO Port Arthur; the profits for two
| days at one Of the elevators would pay for
! the construction Of the whole outfit; he
| spoke of the duty as being crying outrage
| and shame; the farmers Of the northwest
| grumb led, but with good cause; II laws we're
| not soon enacted TO protect the farmers
many Of them would move away;
the Milers' association and the railroad
| companies united to crush the farmers;
! twenty-five cents bushel was too much to
| pay for hauling wheat from bis station TO
/ Minneapolis. In conclusion he said that
the Millers' association made cents per
bushe in grading
Mr.. Pillsbury refuted some Of the state
/ ments Of the former speaker, saying that he
had lost more money last year than anyone
else for the want of state inspection; the
| mills. he said, had not made over two cents
J in grinding, and many Of them had not
/ made even that; regarding the duty he said
/ that while there was no duty at Liverpool,
there was duty in Canada; the question OF
! specific complaints didn't amount 10 much;
he was aware that the agent at Herndon
I hadn't given satisfaction, but what was
wanted was systematic state inspection; be
considered the elevstor system in Duluth q
system, and he illustrated his remarks by
showing why the Millers' association could
not guarantee grades where the wheat came
" DuluAu
In reply to query from Mr.. J. w. Scott, Of
Grand Forks, Mr.. Pillsbury attempted TO
show who got the bulk Of the profits from the
present system Of grading.
Mr.. Canning made vigorous retort say
Ing he couldn't understand why wheat should
be graded No. hard this week and No. Q
the next week. Mr.. Pillsbury explained the
system Of undergradIng as worked by the
elevators and the as ISOLATION
MI Steele then spoke Of the injustice done
the farmers by the Milers' association and Of
the practical system In vogue at Duluth; he
had known Of where one car Of wheat had
lost thirty two bushels IN transportation and
az rule one bushcI was stolen out Of every
sixty before the cars reached Duluth. He
ailuded to the great injustice done the far
mers, saying that II the latter we're made
bankrupt the wheat ciiques and associations
would bankrupt themselves and be expressed
the hope that the farmers Of Dakota would
not be forced u 90 out Of this market as a
means Of self protection. After further dig
eussion the meeting adjourned to meet the
house committee on railroads at 2:30 o'clock
this afternoon.
The Northwestern Dairymen.