The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1891-06-18
WHEAT INVESTIGATION.
WEARY GRIND STILL CONTINUES
IN COMMITTEE.
A Number Of witnesses Testify as to the
Shipping Of wheat>and Screenings-A
Great Deal Of Hearsay Put in rs Evil
dence.

Great Deal Of Hearsay Put in as Evil
dence.
ST. PAUL, June 10.-H. q. Stordock,
ex-warden of the state penitentiary,
now a wheat buyer at Rothsay, was the
first witness called by the committee
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 bushel by rea-
son Of the wheat being graded down.
He had also shipped to Minneapolis,
where he had obtained a better grade
but had been locked 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 a special ex-
animation of some of my cars. Since
then 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
eft of the doubt to the shippers on line
wheat, but during the last season,
think they gave the benefit of the doubt
to the terminal fellows"
Fixed His Own Standard.
The witness admitted in this connec-
ton 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.
rDoes that concern this committee?
Well, get cents per bushel, and hire
my own help. All get is the ware
house and the money with which to buy
the wheat.
snow, don't you collect 10 cents
from the farmer on every bushel Of
wheat you buy?"
After some hesitation the witness ad-
mitted that they did.
Looking Out for Stordock,
"Now, why haven't you reported these
abuses, while you were complaining so
loudly of the inspection department."
"lt was matter OF business with
me-"
"Then you were not doing this out of
1ONc puullCs IL Woo
personal natter"
swell, think as much of the public
as some other people. However, am
working now for 81. G.. Stordock. l
worked for the state of Minnesota and
the politicians for good many years.
/ found 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 to
answer the question as to whether or
not he considered this margin exorbi-
tant when the question was put to him
directly. He thought the companies
should charge some margin to pay the
expense of handling.
A lively discussion then ensued as to
whether the investigation should be ex-
tended to the country elevators. Mr..
Clausen wanted it extended there to
find ont where the real fault was, and
to clear the department of charges made
against it. 1t 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 reassemb]ed.
After reviewing his testimony he was
asked if he knew anything in the condi-
tien of the elevators which would de-
ceive the owners as to dirt. "No,
can't say do, he replied. At one time
the witness said Mr.. Ruply said the
dockage placed on some wheat by Mr..
Higgins, his assistant, was not suf6-
cient, but second test sustained their
Judgment, Gen. Barrett asked the wit
ness if he ever knew of change in the
price of wheat to be ordered. He said
that on June 2, 1889. F.; III. Irons Or
dered an advances of cents per bushel
ON some wheat, and the next day re-
duction of cents per bushel on certain
grades. Each member of the combine
was assessed to pay Irons $4,000 salary.
There was committee who fixed the
prices ordinarily, but in their absence
Irons had authority to fix the prices
arbitrarily. The only member of this
committee he knew was Mr.. Cham
beers.
Charles Canning followed Mr.. Scott
to the stand for continuance of his
examina son.
uDid you never attempt to ascertain
whether you had an average or a
shortage in your elevators" asked MI.
Childs.
my elevator man was sick and did
not last year.
The witness said that 1t would not be
surprising if there was an average OF
II 200 bushels in handling 81, OOO, 600
bushels. He thought dockage OF an
ounce to bushel of wheat was too
much. Neither did he think one
fourth an ounce would be right, but he
thought it could be done in less than an
ounce. He would not say that he had
ever locked less than one ounce In buy
ing.
posting 100000 bushels Of damaged
wheat would be-" was asked.
CT think it would rather bear the
wheat than bull it. He did not think
it would have affected the wheat in
Minneapolis if the Duluth wheat had
been posted, but it would have
Paralyzed the business
of the elevator in which the wheat was
stored for time.
Messrs. Clausen and Canning fur.
nished entertainment most Of the after
noon, beginning with discussion of the
inspection rules and concluding with an
attempt on the part of Mr.. Clausen tC
discover the motive that led Mr.. Can.
Il -. l. Of fha IN.