Mower County transcript., 1891-06-17
WHEAT INVESTIGATION.
WEARY GRIND STILL CONTINUES
IN COMMITTEE.


IN COMMITTEE.
Shipping Of Wheat and screenings-A
Great Deal of Hearsay Put in as Evil
dence.
ST. PAUL, June 1O.-H. G.. Stordock,
ex-warden OF the state penltentlary,
now wheat buyer at Rothsay, was the
and interviewed on the question OF
dockage and shipments from The country
elevators.
He said he had shipped some 5000
bushels to Duluth in 1889 and had suf-
fered loss of cents per Dushel by rea-
son of the wheat being graded down.
He had also shipped to Minneapolis,
where he had obtained better grade
but had been docked more. He was
sure the dockage at Minneapolis was
fully double what it should have been.
In 1890 he shipped to Minneapolis and
lost his grade on two-thirds of the
wheat shipped without cleaning.
I complained to Weighmaster Reece at
Minneapolis and he made special ex-
animation of some Of my cars. Since
then I have had better weights.
II wish to state, without placing any
blame ON the inspection department.,
that it seemed to me they gave the ben
etit of the doubt to the shippers on line
wheat, but during the last season, l
think they gave the benefit OF the doubt
to the terminal fellows.
Fixed His Own Standard.
The witness admitted in this connec-
tion that he fixed his own standard on
line wheat, and that it was by this
standard he judged the department, and
he would not say positively that the de-
partment gave the terminal men the
advantage.
"How much commission do you re-
ceive for buying wheat?" asked the in
spector.
Does that concern this committee
Well: get 2 cents per bushel, and hire
my own help. All I get is the ware
house and the money with which to buy
the wheat. u
"Now, don't you collect 2 1-2 cents
from the farmer On every bushel Of
wheat you buy"
After some hesitation the witness ad-
mitted that they did.
hooking Out for Stordock.
"Now, why haven't you reported these
abuses, while you were complaining sc
loudly of the inspection department."
'lt was a matter of business with
me"
"Then you were not doing this out OF
love for the public. 1t was merely a
personal NATTER
"Well, think as much Of the public
as some other people. However, am
working now for Fl. G. Stordock.
worked for the state of Minnesota anC
the politicians for a good many years
I found I couldn't fill the bill Now,
am not here to complain against my
employers; that is not what they EN-
ploy me for"
Mr. Stordock emphatically refused te
answer the question as to whether OF
not he considered this margin exorbi
tant when the question was put to hin
directly. He thought the companies
should charge some margin to pay thu
expense of handling.
A lively discussion then ensued as tt
whether the Investigation should be ex
tended to the country elevators. Mr.
Clausen wanted it extended there t.
find out where the real fault was, an(
to clear the department. of charges mad
against it. It was finally decided to in
vestigate the country elevators.
Regulating the Price of Wheat.
ST.. PAUL. June 14.-Mr. Scott was re
called when the committee reassem b]ed
After reviewing his testimony he wa
asked if he knew anything in the condi
ton Of the elevators which would de
ceive the owners as to dirt. mo,
can't say do, =" he replied. At one tim
the witness said Mr.. Ruply said th'
dockage placed on some wheat by Mr.
Higgins, his assistant, was not suH
cient, but second test sustained thei
Judgment. Gen. Barrett asked the wit
ness if he ever knew of a change in tn
price of wheat to be ordered. He sait
that on June 2, 1889, F. II. Irons or
dered an advance of cents per bushe
ON some wheat, and the next day re
duction Of cents per bushel on certain
grades. Each member of the combin
was assessed to pay Irons $4,000 salary
There was a committee who fixed th
prices ordinarily, but in their absenc
Irons had authority to fix the price
arbitrarily. The only member OF thi
committee he knew was Mr.. Cham
bers.
Charles Canning followed Mr.. Scot
to the stand for continuance of hi
examination.
"Did you never attempt to ascertain
whether you had an overage or
shortage in your elevator" asked MI
Childs.
my elevator man was sick and di'
not last year,
The witness said that it would not b
surprising if there was an average Q
1l,OOO bushels in handling 100000
bushels. He thought a dockage of a.
ounce to bushel of wheat was to
much. Neither did he think one
fourth an ounce would be right. but b
thought it could be done in less than al
ounce. He would not say that he ha'
ever docked less than one ounce in buy
SWhat do you think of the effect 0
posting 10000 bushels of damage'
wheat would be?" was asked.
II think it would rather bear tn
wheat than bull it, J." He did not thin
1t would have affected the wheat il
Minneapolis if the Duluth wheat ha
been posted. but it would have
Paralyzed the Business
of the elevator in which the wheat wa
stored for time.
Messrs. Clausen and Canning full
nished entertainment most of the after
noon, beginning with discussion OF tn