St. Paul daily globe., 1891-04-17
ONE-sIDED COMAIITTEE.

So Members Charge the Inves1i-
CATION Into the Duluth Wheat
Deal.
There was lively skirmish in the
house yesterday morning over the Du-
luth wheat deal and the forthcoming re-
port OF the committee appointed to in
vestigate the matter. There is a pre-
vailing opinion among members that
the investigation has been one-sided; ;
that the defendants have not been prop
erly treated in the matter having been
excluded from the Investigation. Oh
the other hand the cOmDlainaHtS have
been represented before the committee
by Attorney w. w. Erwin. Mr.kendail
had introduced a motion the dav previ-
Gus, requiring the wheat investigation
committee, before they reported. to
hear the testimony OF Duluth elevator
men.
Mr.. Kendall had this resolution called
up, and Immediately Mr.. Barrett en-
tered a plea against il. The Duluth
Elevator company had been given every
opportunity TO be heard before the com
mittee. Alr. Rublee. superintendent Of
the Lake Superior company, had been
furnished with copy Of the testimony.
Mr.. Rublee had thereuD0n appeared
before the committee and demanded
that his attorney be given chance to
recall the witnesses and examine Them.
The committee feared this would take
up too much time so as to prevent a re-
port being made TO the house. and con-
seQuently the request had been refused.
Roasted by Reeve.
Mr.. Reeve made very fOrcible speech
lie had confidence in the members of
the committee, but that confidence
would be much better maintained did
he nOtSee back OF the scenes that tall
gdunt specter. with the pale. Magda-
lene face. that cOld-blOOded criminal
lawyer, who is known in the politics OF
this state. and whose moves on the
chess-board political contemplate. by
the aid OF the new party which he has
chTistened by his eloquence, his eleva-
tlOn to seat IN the United States sen
ate. Mr.. Reeve continued:
Now what are the facts about this mat
ter: It IS q notorious fact that as long ago as
last October an affidavit had been made and
placed in the hands OF a certain person well
known 10 Us all. setting forth that $1,000
bushels OF wheat had been illegally Shipped
out OF Duluth This affidavit was signed by
two discharged employees OF the elevator
companies The substance OF the affidavit
of this evidence in their possession. 1t IS
strange indeed that nothing is done until
the very last days of this session. when q
star chamber InquisitiOn is created. Whv
gentleman, Gen. Barrett, as prominent an
Alliance man as there is IN the state told
that committee that 1t had made q very seri-
GUS mistake III holding secret sessions. ana
not allowing at least the parties interested
to be present at the hearing
An Explanation.
Mr.. Reeve. proceeding, said that in
1856, the year when most of the wheat
raised in Minnesota was frosted. 800. 600
bushels OF wheat were stored in Duluth
that this wheat was Inspected bv the
state officials as No. l. owing to the
fact that the inspectors were not able TO
detect the damage done by frost. The
wheat. or course, was discovered to be
worth less than half price. and. having
been inspected as No. /. the loss fell on
the elevator companies. The loss was
S97. 0G0. but the elevator companies
made it good to the cOnsignors OF
the wheat by issuing wh eat re
ceipts for 100000 for the sole purpose OF
maintaining the present system. which
has been SO prolific of good results to
the farmers. There had accumulated
during the ten years previous 10 1886
about 0,0O5 bushels average out of co.
600 bushels of wheat inspected. which is
an average OF about one pound for every
twenty-five bushels. The average was
shipped out. but 1t went a very little tn
ward making the loss to the elevator
company good. This is all there is of
the matter and TO deny the represent
atIyes OF the elevator companies 10 be
present at the meetings OF the commit
tee would lessen the credibility OF any
report which might be made.
Mr. Stevens declared that in all fair
ness and justice the elevator men should
be heard by the committee.
The discussion grew warm.
Substitute.
Mr.. Greer sent up the following sub
stitute:
Resolved, That the special investigating
committee appointed bv this house under
resolution Of March y be directed TO turn
over ali documents. papers ana testimony
taken before II 10 the state railroad and ware
house commission: said commission 10 con-
duct free and open Investigation of this
matter and all meetings to be open to all
parties; said commission TO submit q full re-
port TO the next legislature.
Mr.. Kendall accepted the amendment.
Mr. BJOrge paSSlOnately protested
against the motion. 1t seemed TO be
the intention OF interested members to
stultify the work of this special com
mittee, and TO cover up the startling
things they were going to reveal.
Mr.. Greer denied this. All that was
wanted was Justice. Let both sides be
heard.
Mr.. Keyes twitted the opposition with
attempting to staye off report which
would be found unpalatabIe to them.
1t was unfair to the committee to pass
such resolution before their report
was present.
Denounced.
Mr. Searle denounced the narrowness
of mind that characterized the gentle
man from Minnna and some nther nca,,