St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-06-12
SAINT PAUL.
ALMOST wEARIED OUT.
Wheat Investigators Slow in Get
ting Down to Work.

ting Down to Work.
There was no session of the wheat in
vestlgation committee yesterday morn
ing. Several of the committeeman wer
absent. and Chairman Geissel had not
returned from st. Clond. An adjourn
ment was taken until p. m. At tina
time Charles Canning was called to thu
stand again, and the examination wal
continued by Attorney Severance. ME-
Canning was asked if, in his opinion,
the posting of 100000 bushels OF wheat
that was damaged in Duluth would b
without effect iii the Eastern market.
He did not believe that the posting OF
100000 bushels would materially affect
the market. Some confidence might
have been lost III the No. 2 and
NO. northern grades. but it would not
nave affected the others. Eastern buy
ers were shrewd enough to distinguish
between grades, and would understand
that only certain amount of the crop
had been damaged.
The witness successfully evaded
making direct answer. The attorneys
and the committee tried him again and
again, but he beat them all in finesse.
In vain he was asked whether he
thought that, pending the investigation
in Duluth, Eastern parties could give
Tie same value 10 the warehouse GER
tificates as collateral
Questioned by Mr. Erwin as to the
intention of the inspection laws. Were
they not framed alike for the pro.
lection of the shipper. the dealer, the
grower and all other persons interested
Mr.. Canning believed they were
What is the greater cause of panicg'
asked Mr.. Erwin, 1.-The knowledge that the
law regarding posting of grain has been
broken and that the inspection department
has winked at its violation or that there was
100000 bushels of spoiled wheat on the mar,
ket?''
THE breaking of the law would, if known,
be the greater cause.
Mr.. Erwin continued to question tha
witness in way to show that the eX-
| cuSe Tor nOn-pOStlng offered BY the In
| spectlon department, that they were
afraid 1t would create panic, was SIM
| ply lame effort to show cause for hav-
F.! ing totally disregarded the law provid.
Ing for the posting of wheat.
| When asked whether, of his own
| knowledge, he was aware of the exist.
enee of combine in the regulating
| prices for wheat, Mr.. Canning replied
! tnat he believed such combine eX-
| listed.
"lf it had been a pure and square concern
| you would have known about it in your ex
perience since 1889, wouldn't your" wa
| asked.
Yes, sir think so'
Then its secrecy and the fact that 1t was
kept from your knowledge is suspicious,
ism t it?'
Il think it is'
After lengthy questioning by Mr..
Erwin in the line of review of the
proceedings of the department of in.
speetlon in the grading of wheat, the
| witness was asked by Mr.. Severance
| whether I'd Of
| the wheat market lately. He replied
| that he had not.
did not you say just now that the failure
to post damaged wheat would be more liable
! to panic the market than the knowledge
that the wheat was spoiled?"
well, have not the facts of the case been
| widely published lately, and have you OBJ
served any panic as Il result of the publica-
tiOng'
No, sir"
Mr.. Severance still had the witness
when the time came for adjournment,
Late in the afternoon a telegram was
read from Duluth that the experts at
| work there would be ready to report
Monday. John Day Smith moved jlst
| prior to adjournment that the sergeant
| alarms be instructed to prepare a state
| ment of the expense incurred by the
| committee to date and submit the same
Saturday. The motion carried.
THEIR REPORT Is READY.
| Special to the Globe
! DULUTH, June 1.-THE experts who
have been examining the books of the
elevators and the inspection depart
ment have finished their labors, and fail
! to find any mistakes or crOokednesS.
! They will have their report ready to-
| morrow. and will depart for st. Paul
Saturday afternoon.