St. Paul daily globe., 1891-06-11
WAS HARD TO HANDLE
Inside History Relative to
Handling the Crop of Last
Year.
Wheat All Off Color, Caused
by the Hot Waves During
Summer.
Gov. Merpiam's Sound In
struetions to the Chief
Grain Inspector.
Wheat Inspectors Ferreting
Out That Unholy Combi-
nation.

Samuel G. Scott was recalled when
the wheat investigating committee went
into session yesterday morning. The
testimony of Tuesday was reviewed.
The witness was asked of his own
knowledge whether there was anything
in the condition of the elevators that
would deceive the owners as TO dirt. He
replied that he couldnd't state that he
did know of any such thing.
Gen. Barrett asked if he ever knew
of change in the price OF wheat to be
ordered.
Witness replied that on June 2, 1889,
f. Ii. Irons ordered an advance of five
cents per bushel on some wheat, and
the next day reduction of three cents
per bushel on certain grades. Each
member of the combine was assessed to
pay Irons $4,000 salary. There was a
committee which fixed the prices ordi-
narily, but in their absence Irons had
authority to fix the prices arbitrarily.
A Mr.. Chambers was the only member
of the committee that he knew. He
had been under the impression that
Mr.. Irons controlled the agents of the
when he applied to Mr.. Irons for a Do-
sition that gentleman told him he did
not-that MIR. Chambers was the man
to whom he must apply.
Canning on the stand.
Charles Canning followed for a con-
tinuance of his examination began the
other day. Asked whether he had ever
attempted to find whether there was an
n Oh tacr in al for a
witness replied that he had not
last year. lie saidit would not
be surprising if there was an over
age of 1000 bushels in handling
56,OOO,OOO bushels. He thought dock
age of an ounce to a bushel of wheat
was too much. Neither di6 he think
one-fourth of an ounce would be right,
but he thought it could be done IN less
than an ounce. He would not say that
he had ever asked for less than an ounce
in buying. Asked what would be the
effect of posting 100000 bushels of DAM
aged wheat demoraliZed, Mr.. Canning
replied:
In my opinion, the receipts of the
warehouse in which that wheat was
stored would be demoraliZed until such
time as it could have been known on
what receipts the damaged wheat would
apply. | think it would rather bear the
wheat than bull 1t. | do not think it
would have affected the wheat in Min
neapolis if the Dnluth wheat had been
posted, but it would have paralyzed the
business of the elevator in which the
wheat was stored for a time"
Mr.. Canning continued at the stand in
the afternoon, and again lie was sub
jected to severe cross examination by
Mr.. Clausen.
Mr. Canning" said the inspector, did
you ever get better grade for grain than you
shipped it for?'
Yes
How many times?'
81 don't know exactly. but a good many"
Caustie CIausen.
He had often heard farmers complain
of the grades given them at Duluth.
The witness strenuouSly denied that he
had ever graded too loosely. His grade
had been uniform, but OH one occasion
when he had grades on fifteen cars
shipped to Duluth he afterwards graded
lower, and the lower grades were adj
vanced in Duluth. The inspector in
quired into Mr.. Canning'S knowledge
of wheat grades.
rs there anything in the rules to authorize
this department at terminal points, or the
country buyers to grade bleached or damp
wheat as No. northernT'
THAT is question hard to answer. 1t all
depends to what extent the wheat was
bleached."
Does the rule for No. 1 northern admit of
any stained or bleaehed grain?''
Il believe it can. l am not acquainted
with the wording of the rules"
Inspector Clausen explained the nat
ure of the crop of 1890 1t was very
different from any crop before grown in
the Northwest. The wheat had pc
culiar green tinge, such as was never
before known. The best that was pos
sible was done with this crop. The
grain was stained. Some was graded
No 2 northern and some No. 3 north
ern. Some of it was rejected. Millers
began to complain of the wheat. They
thought the crop was very bad. Com
plants came from all sources, and in
the midst Of it all, word was received
from Buffalo that Minnesota No. 2
northern had gone No. 3. The New
York people were complaining. Some
of the wheat was analyZed by Prof.
Harper, of the state experimental sta
ton. 1t was
All Off Color.
except the best grade, and the cause
was proved to have been the hot waves
of last summer. The confidence in the
Minnesota crop was somewhat shaken
in the East, but A. j. Sawyer went to
Buffalo and succeeded in partially re-
storing it. The inspector held con-
sultation with Gov. Merriam with re-
gard to the publication of the letter
from Prof. Harper OH the cause of the
condition of the wheat, as it would aid
to restore confidence in the state grain
department. He knew the result would
be good SO far as the East 7as con-
cerned. The governor said
stand by your grades. Do not publish
that letter. for it is bad business principle to
decry your own wares If your grades are
correct they must be maintained"
All this time the farmers in the Fifth
district were making great howl. This
was the first time that Prof. Harper'S
letter had been read publicly. The pro-
feSSor had said that the wheat might
gain color by warehouseing, and, said
the inspector, his observations were cor
rect. The wheat is now going from the
elevators greatly improved in color.
w. w. Erwin objected to this state
ment by Mr. ClauSen. His statement,
said the attorney, was made as an ex-
euse. This is satisfactory 10 the in
spector, but not to the committee. 1t Is
not certain but that there was desire
on the part of the buyers early in the
season to bear down prices. Mr. Erwin
wanted the statement thrown out of the
minutes.
The question was deferred.
The witness. Canning. was then taken
in hand by Assistant Attorney General
Childs and questioned with regard to
IDe.O Of l1n ha6