St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-23
WHAT WILL THEY DOa
commissioner still Undecided Oh
the Hallway Law Troubles

commissioners will pursue IN We" oI tiie
difficuity that presents itself IN enforcing
that proyision of the railroad law thaI pro
vjdes for the building of elevators along the
lines of railroad in the state. There were
nresenU. beside the railroad commission
Gov. Hubbard and Attorney General Ham,
and a considerable time was taken up III
general review Of the situation. III was
with closed doors and the commissioners 90
not say Just what opinions were eXpressed.
N was learned that no agreement was
reached az to the future action of the COM
mission. and the matter will be still further
considered. Mr.. Murdoch said last night
that the commission would not yield point
beyond the strict Interpretation OF the law
The people would not be satisfied II they
did not carry out all its provisions, ana the
courts might be called upon 10 DECIDE the
matter.
AN INTERESTING MEETING.
Commissioners Murdoch and Becker
reached the city yesterday forenoon from
Battle lake, having been delayed on the IL
return trip. A very interesting meeting
was held. and the workings OF the new
grain law were discussed freely. 1t was
county organization OF the Farmers an
mce, and there was good attendance. In
the course of his talk Mr.. Murdoch eX-
Dlained TO the farmers something OF the
workings of the new law in Minneapolis
that rather stirred up some ideas as to the
merits of the law. In speaking
af the Millers' association he
,aid: 1.-THE miller rents perhaps
len bins in some elevator that has not taken
out a license, and then sends experts out TO
buy wheat. They order, after having pur-
chased. one carload in one bin and another
In another, mixing it for milling purposes.
The commission has been criticised Tor put
ting inspectors on the track, but that Is the
Dnly way that business could be transacted.
After it is inspected on the track, the COM
mission does not know where II goes 10. III
seems lust as important TO inspect into
milI as to any other place. More than one
half the wheat that goes to Minneapolis
goes into the mills. If we had not in
Jpected wheat going into the mills,
the farmers would have been de-
barred from inspection on large
per cent of the wheat marketed in Mime
apolis. The law should be amended so as
TO make it obligatory to inspect all grain
carried into st. Paul, Minneapolis and
Duluth by common carriers before leaving
the cars. Mr. Murdoch further said that
the visits of Capt. James to all elevators In
the state and his examinations would, Judg-
ing from reports, be very valuable TO the
farmers.
There was some complaint in general
way made of the grades given at the termi-
nal points, a number of shippers present
saying that for what they considered the
same quality of wheat they had been given
widely different grades.
ALoCAL ELEVATOR MAN
present said that he gave No. hard for
best wheat raised on brush land. 81 can
get that grade for it in Duluth" said he.
II shipped a car of the same kind of wheat
10 Minneapolis and it was inspected No. 2
Northern. l was unable to get certificate
of grade. Why was that?"
In response to this, Mr.. Murdoch further
explained the working of the system at
Minneapolis. He said: The commission in
spects what the Millers' association allows
us to. If they put card upon car for
bidding us to inspect it we don't inspect
| suppose your wheat was not Inspected by
the state Inspector" This rather stirred
the assembly on question of change in the
law, and they began an attempt to nail the
commission on the question of an extra ses-
sion, of which they were evidently in favor.
In response TO an inquiry as to the feeling
of the commission on this point, il was
explained that they thought they had done
their duty when they had reported the
facts as they understood them to the gov
ernor. But the meeting wouldn't let it 20
that way and insisted on a straight answer.
''We want your opinion bluntly, whether
YOU think an extra session would be bene-
fit to the farmer or not" said one present
The commission were not there to give out
tips OH the extra session and they tried to
dodge the issue. In explaining further
Commissioner Murdoch said: Il have eX-
pressed my opinion that if this legislature
lNaI cd ba
next legislature, should be in favor of an
extra session. think the present house
could be depended on to grant the neces-
Sary amendments, but am somewhat doubt
full of the senate. We all agree as to the
deSrabilty of curing the defects of the
present law as early as possible. When we
report all the facts then the governor is
responsible for calling or not calling an eX-
ira session."
Mr.. Muzzy, member of the house, was
present, and at this point said that some
time ago Gov. Hubbard had informed him
by letter that if the
COMMISSIONERS RECOMMENDED
an extra session he would call one, and Mr.
MuZzy asked the commission if it was not
its duty to so recommend.
I'VE think it proper that we should only
state the facts" was the reply.
in attendance said that he understood the
governors chief reason for not calling an
extra session was on account of the ex-
pense, and he asked the commission if the
people would not be benefited more than
the cost of the session. This brought the
commissioners more nearly to direct reply
than any of the previous questioning, and
Mr.. Murdoch, with some hesitation, said
I'VE would not like to give an opinion that
would forestall the governors opinion. We
will say. however, that we would be very
glad. if before the market opens next fall.
the defects of the law could be cured. We
don't think we ought TO say any more"
Gen. Becker said on the same subject
that he would not answer the question as
an officer of the state; but as an individual,
he thought that biennial sessions were
great mistake.
RESOLUTIONS PASSED.
Before it adjourned, the alliance passed
the following preamble and resolutions,
favoring an extra session and indOrsing the
work of the commissions:
Whereas. Experience has shown that the
grain and warehouse law of this state is
fatally defective in several important partic-
ulars, namely, it is only local in its prepara-
tions, not binding the Millers' association in
accepting the state grading; and,
whereas, The railway law has proved TO be
defective in not giving the commissioners
full power TO regulate schedule of rates on
freights eUc.; and,
Whereas, The late decision of the supreme
court in the matter of tax laws indicate that
the law should be so amended as TO warrant
protection 10 taxpayers holding receipts from
the county treasurer to be in full compliance
W tn the law affecting said land for said year:
and
Whereas, The census of 1886 warrants the
north and northwestern districts of the state
in u greater representation than they are now