Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1891-07-03

nlttee met Witness Edward McManus
was recalled, and the examination con-
tinued on the same lines as Saturday, in
an effort to break down the statements
contained in the old house schedules.
Nothing sensational was developed, al
though discrepancies of greater Or lesser
importance We're discovered. After the
| noon adjournment a short executive
session was held, at which the commit
tee decided to adjourn until the first
Tuesday in January, 1892, as soon as all
the evidence regarding the Duluth ele-
vators has been taken.
The Commissioner Version.
ST. PAUL, July lin the wheat in
vestigation the defense made a. grand
rush on that alleged shipment of twenty
six cars of No. northern, which Eric
Olson affirms went out as screenings
Oct. IS, 1889.
w. F. Foote, assistant car accountant
of the Northern Pacific, was on the
stand, backed up by schedules, reports
and documents, by which he endeavored
to account for all cars shipped in and
out that fall. It was shown that car
No. z288, which was one of those re-
ported in the train load of twenty-six
cars, was not east of the Rock noun
tains during the entire fall OF 1889.
Other cars were identified as having
been used in the shipment Of rags, iron,
lead pipe, coal and cinders to various
points along tho line at about tho date
of the alleged shipment.
Immediately on converting at o'clock
the committee went into executive ses-
~ I'd hat
days session the committee will take an
adjournment to the first Tuesday in
January.
I. I. Murdoch, ex-railroad and ware
house commissioner, occupied the stand
during the entire afternoon. He de-
tailed the organization of the commits
sion and the inspection force, and the
beginning of the operations of the new
law in August, 1885. He then went on
to testify as to the crop of 1885. Frosted
wheat was new thing in Minnesota in
that year. There was discussion as to
whether it would be advisable to estab-
lish grades of No. and frosted, but
this was decided to be impracticable, as
such q proceeding would cast stigma
on the entire crop of that year. Most
of the frosted wheat came from the Red
River valley.
In June, 1856, the chief inspector 70.
ported from zoo, 900 to 400, 600 bushels
of bin burnt wheat in the Duluth eleva-
tors, and Mr.. Murdoch testified to the
damage to good wheat by mixing the
bin burnt wheat with it. He then testi-
fed to the law which relieved the ware
housemen from liability if he posted
grain that was out Of condition. He
read from the official records of the
commissioners where they took action
regarding the damaged wheat and testi-
fed to the proposition of the elevator
companies to buy up the warehouse
receipts, and ship quietly to save inno-
cent purchasers. The commissioners
considered the situation and thought
that no one but the warehousemen
would be benefited by posting, and if
not posted he would be the one to have
to make the owners good. The elevator
companies had right to "post" to get
rid of liability, but it was not their
duty to do so. After due consideration
of all the circumstances, the commits.
sioners authorized the chief inspector to
take charge of the damaged grain and
ship quietly so as not to cause any alarm
on the part of banks loaning money on
such receipts. They were unanimous
in reaching their conclusion, and Mr..
Murdoch said he would do the same
thing over again today if the exigency
arose. He said no one but the elevator
companies lost,a dollar. He believed
frosted wheat was liable to bin burn.
He had visited the New York produce
exchange, and they had talked about
the matter and suspected the true situa-
ton. .aI