St. Paul daily globe., 1891-06-10
THE WHEAT INVESTIGATION.
A Direct Charge That There Is
Combination.

| OJO DuSnelS Snlpped. lie haQ
applied for reinspection, and his
| dockage had been sustained on few
sample cars. 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 he shipped with
out cleaning.
Mr.. Stordock said that he paid some
| thing over $1,000 losses on weights on
the crop of 1889. On the other hand, he
had gained over 1000 bushels in grade
on the state inspection. On the crop of
| 1S90-91 he lost 1000 bushels in weight
and had also lost in grade.
StordOck's Commission.
"Are you not buying wheat for the Mime
apolis q Northern company" asked Mr.
Clausen.
| yes"
Now, hasn't Mr.. Pillsbury, the head of
| that company, man on the tracks to protect
their interest?'
| Yes"
DO you mean to say that he does not at
tend to his duties?'
| mo; but think would know more about
| a crop than he."
Mr. Stordock denied that he had cast
any blame on the inspection depart
ment in connection with his loss in
weights and grades.
81 wish to state, without placing any blame
| on the inspection department. that II seems
to me they gave the benefit of the doubt TO
the shippers on line wheat but during the
last season they gave the benefit of the doubt
| to the terminal fellows"
| DO you know that this department cannot
| be run TO suit everybody!' was added.
| mo; only some.'
''Why are the price lists sent out by the
companies?''
Il don't exactly know
| ITO tell the truth. now, don't they charge
| the farmer a five-cent margin:''
II guess So
DO you think that's rightg'
| "No"
When asked what commission he got
for buying wheat Mr.. Stordock ques-
toned whether that concerned the COM
mittee. He later admitted that he got
two cents Dushel.
Don't you collect two and half cents
from the farmer for all the wheat you buy?"
Yes" said the witness. after some hesita-
ton.
Why haven't you reported this abuse
| while making such loud complaints of the
inspection departments
ut was matter of business with me-"
| Then you were not doing this out of love
for the public. 1t was merely a personal
matter"
''Well, think as much of the public,as
some other people. However, l am working
| now for II. G. Stordock. i worked for the
state of Minnesota and the politicians for
good many years. / found l couldn't fill the
Dlll NOW, am DOL mere 10 com Dlaln OF nv
employers. That is not what they employ
| me for. / think the companies ought to
charge margin for the expense of build
| ing"
John Day Smith figured that an ele-
vator'wlth capacity of $50 cars per
day would gain $3.50 year by this
margin.
Clausen Wins.
Mr.. Moore, of the committee, objected
to any further examination of the wit
ness as to his country elevator, on the
grounds that the committee were simply
to investigate public warehouses at
terminal points in accordance with the
l. legislative resolution. Mr.. Clausen in
sisted upon his right to defend his de-
partment against charges made in this
public manner. and desired to know
how ne was to accomplish it unless he
got at the country elevator books? He
wanted the books brought before this
committee, and the right to use any
legitimate means to show the injustice
OF Stordock's criticisms. Senator John
Day Smith supported Mr.. McClau-
sen and was seconded by Gen. Barrett,
who wanted everything In the wheat
business covered. The committee
agreed to allow the chief grain inspector
the utmost freedom in conducting his
| case. Mr.. Stordock made some Objec-
will be brought before the committee.
Mr.. McManus reported that the ma
tural shrinkage of wheat in transporta-
tion was forty pounds to 1000 bushels.
When the Shrinkage became larger an
investigation of the cause was made.
Senator ID. w. HlXon of Grant comfy,
testified that in 1888 wheat shipped by
him from Hermann to Minneapolis, was
short in the cars on delivery. He had
never been able to trace it farther than
the state weighing officials.
A Witness RattIed.
E. M. McManus, chief weigbmaster at
Duluth, was recalled to the stand in the
| afternoon. He was questioned by As
Sistant Attorney General Childs as to
whether or not the shortages reported
in vessel cargoes from Duluth to Buffalo
were really as heavy as reported. His
reply was that the shortage sometimes
ran up to hundreds of bushels in sin
| gle cargo. These shortages were al
ways reported back to him by JuniuS S.
| Smith, Merchants exchange Weighmas-
ter at Buffalo. When a shortage was
| reported the matter was investigated,
and it was generally found that the
cargo had got wet or the shortage was
explained in some other way.
| "What other way?''
! well, the Western Reserve, carrying $4,000
bushels of wheat to Buffolo turned up 7SO
bushels short in her cargo and on investiga-
| ton the whole business was found between
herlinings. This frequently occurred. An
other vessel. carrying $4,000 bushels was SS5
| short OF this amount SCI bushels were after
| wards accounted for.
w. III. Sutherland, agent of the
Farmers Alliance elevator at
Hermann, Minn., was called. He
| had operated the house for one year; had
| had considerable experience in milling and
| grain handling; had one car that weighed
| fifty seven and half pounds to the bushel
| graded No. northern; thought it should be
! No. northern because it weighed enough
| sor that grade. He testified that in handling
| 60,G0O bushels of grain he had shortage Of
| seventeen bushels, and thought the dockage
! was heavy.
Mr.. Clausen cross examined the wit
ness as follows:
| How long have you been miller?'
Nine years.
"Where?n
Iowa Texas and Minnesota
Have you milled in this state?''
'YeS" :"
been merchant miller?''
"YeS, merchant and CUSTOM"
soft"
What do you call hard wheatg"
Hard Scotch Fife"
(which has the most gluten" soft wheat
| or hard Wheat?''
F'Soft wheat"
Mr.. Moore thinking the witness was con-
| fused, asked the same question, to which the
same reply was given.
How much dry gluten would you say there
was IN pure, plump, sound, hard Scotch
Fifteen per cent
Row much in pure, plump, sound blue
! stem wheat?