St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-22

| OF ices accounted to the state by him,
/ and the actual number inspected and
| collected for.
| In view of such evidence, statements
| OF oil inspection and fees paid have
| been obtained from all the oil COM
| panies having oil Inspection In Henne-
| PIN and RamSeY counties. except from
! the Independent Oil Company of ST.
| Paul, partnership composed of Joseph
| Bartles and Dilworth Richardson, whose
| evident dislike of having light thrown
on matters in their business pertaining
! to Oil inspection would seem TO indicate
! that they had something of interest to
| the committee which they desire to con-
| ceal. In view of the fact that the evil
dence shows that this same company
was detected in using in Wisconsin a
| stencil to brand barrels of oil coming
| into Minnesota as having been approved
| by Minnesota state inspection, il would
| seem that the necessity for investiga-
| tion is not confined wholly to the state
| Oil inspector.
The committee finds that the aggre-
gate number of barrels of Oil reported
| by the Standard, Northwestern Star,
Excelsior ana Chester Oil companies as
| having been inspected for them in Hen
nepin and Ramsey counties during the
months of June, July, August, Septem-
| Der, October, November and December,
| 1889, is 1881, during which months the
| inspectors report shows 40,069 barrels
| inspected in said counties, which latter
amount, however, would include all oil
inspected for the Independent Oh com
pany and several other small companies,
from whom statements
Were Not Requested.
Although Messrs. Bartes and Rich
ardson, of the independent Oil COM
pany, refused to give any authoritative
statement to the committee of inspec-
ton and fees paid. they estimated that
the average amount per month inspected
for them would be about I 200 barrels
or S,400 barrels for the above seven
months.
After deducting the balance of SOS
barrels, heretofore shown to exist for
said time in favor of the inspector, there
would remain an estimated amount OF
1,702 barrels inspected during said seven
months the fees on which were not re-
ported to the state, and which would
amount according to the law then III
force 90 cents per barrel) to $l,540.4O.
This result, however, can only be esti-
mated. The committee further finds
that the people of this state have derived
no appreciable protection Or benefit
from the state oil inspection since about
March, 1890, but that in all respects
they would have been as well protected
If there had been no state inspection
whatever.
At the time the law of 1876 with re-
gard to Oil inspection, was enacted. there
was but comparatively small amount
Of oil imported into the state. and that
was all received in barrels of forty or
fifty gallons each. The law provided
for the inspection and branding of such
barrels before sale to retailers. and the
amount of business being done at that
time did not prevent such law from
being practicable.
At the present time the greater part
Of the illuminating oil sold in this state
is received by wholesalers in MiHneap-
oils, st. Paul and Duluth, in tank cars,
and is drawn from the tank cars into
storage tanks holding from 1,000 to 2.400
barrels. from which the oil is drawn
into barrels and shipped to retailers.
The inspection of the oil has been gem
orally made while in storage tanks, but
the law provided for the branding by
the inspector of the barrels OF oil sold,
and this provision would require that
whenever oil is drawn out OF the tanks
into barrels the inspector OF deputy
be present to brand them. The evil
dence adduced at the investigation
tended to show that such a course is I'M
practicable, since there is so much busi-
ness done that with but one deputy in a
county there was likely to be 4 conflict
in the times of branding for the differ
ent companies in the counties of Hen
nepin, Ramsey and st. Louis. Your
committee is, therefore, of the opinion
that some
Legislation Is Necessary
to meet the requirements of the changed
conditions, and having considered the
matter fully. recommend that law be
enacted i'll which is contemplated the
inspection of Illuminating oils when
exposed for sale in the stores of the
retail dealers, after any possible aGul-
terations have been made and all
schemes for imposition and fraud have
been practiced, which time is Just be-
fore the oil reaches the consumer
The committee has examined the
work and duties of the state dairy aud
food commissioner, with regard to in
spection of dairy products. baking
powders, vinegar, ETC., and the manner
of performing same, and Is of the
opinion that with a comparatively
small appropriation in addition to the
present one for such commissioner,
the work of state oil inspection can be
done most advantageOusly and economic
ally in connection with the present dut-
les or the commissioner. His assistants
towns and cities of the state and make
their tests of dairy products, baking
powders, ETC., and, to include in their
duties the inspection of Illuminating
oils appears to be thoroughly consistent
and practicable.
The most important reason, however,
for recommending such a change is the
matter of cost of Illuminating oils to the
consumers. Under the system of charg-
ing fees for inspection Of all oil before
sale, the cost of oil has been enhanced |
to the consumer by the amount so paid |
for Inspection, and as much more as the |
companies saw fit to charge for their |
trouble, and as compensation for being |
compelled to have their oil in |
sDected, sInce it has been the |
universal custom of the oil companies to |
consider this inspection fee and trouble |
in fixing their price, and it is the opinion |
of the committee that the price of oil |
has thereby been enhanced at least one |
cent per gallon. This system has. prob |
ably, for several years cost the people |
of the state $4,000 per year, and it is |
the opinion of the committee that the |
work can be done more thoroughly by |
the state dairy and food commissioner |
and his assistants on an additional ap- |
preparation not to exceed $4,000 per an |
mum.
The report was adopted, and Senator |
March'S bill read and referred. There |
will undoubtedly be an interesting dis |
cussion when this bill comes up for con- |
SideratiOn.