St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-31


ence and unquestioned probty, and il were
unkind TO say of them that. prompted by the
highest considerations of public policy and
unaided by previous experience, acted in
violation OF law or that their action was un-.
warranted by the existing facts.
average was next taken up. and the gen.
eral commended that the charge that wheat in
excess of the damaged grain was shipped
was not sustained by the proofs. 1t appeared
mat the testimony OF witnesses as TO the
shipment Of 1887 bushels as average was
the result or their unfamiiarity with
the methods of bookkeeping, and that it was
all properly accounted for by the elevator
companies in manner which left no i'm
putation upon them. AS to the charge that
10000 other bushels were shipped without in
spection, Gen. Childs said the cnarge was
well founded The companies themselves ad-
mittedit.and attempted to justify their action.
lie thought this wheat which was what they
had on hand when the present law went into
effect should have been weighed into the
houses in the regular manner but he sup
posed The companies. regarding the wheat as
their cwn and over which the state had no
surveillance, took the action they did in
preference to subjecting themselves TO crti-
clsm which might arise by the public being
npprlsed OF the large accumulation Of over
age in their business. II appears that from
August, 1885, to August, 1870 there aeeumu-
lated an average of II, 213 bushels in handling
56,0OO,OOO bushels of grain, or one-quarter Of
an ounce q bushel. But they consulted
with the commissioners regarding IL, and
were granted permission to ship il upon
due notice TO the state weighing and inspec-
ton department at Duluth without cancella-
ton of outstanding receipts. The commits
sion doubtless took the view that the wheat
had become the property of the companies,
and that they should in justice be allowed to
dispose OF the same. The elevator companies
took The ground that, as they had incurred M
expense of about $4,000 in providing for
the warehouse receipts outstanding against
the damaged grain, they were all the more
justified in disposing of these averages as
recompense.
The state inspection and weighing depart
ment was next considered, and Gen. Childs
SAID that it was Il matter of congratulation
that the integrity and
Efficiency of the State Service
both as to the inspection and weighing Of
grain, had been fully sustained by this in
yestigation. With rare exceptions, the en-
ployes are men of high character and good
ability. and in instances where their integrity
has been questio ned, the evidence is too eou
flieting and inconclusive to warrant the COM
mittee in embodying any aspersive criticism.
If instances of dishonest or unfaithful con-
duct had been here and there proven, it
would have been n matter of little surprise,
in view OF the large number employed. and
the selfish and powerful interests seeking
special privileges and advantages at inspec-
ton points. II do not understand however,
that any charge of u serious nature is pre-
ferred against either of these departments ON
such grounds
AS to the improper grading weighing and
docking of grain, he said that the grading
must always, from the intirmity of human
judgment be a debatable and uncertain ele-
ment. The inspector is placed between two
interests Numerically opposed to each other
and equally vigilant over his work, and in
view of the provisions OF the law for rein
speetion and appeal, dishonest inspector
could scarcely impose on either interest
Gen Childs said he was unable to advise the
committee, from the evidence, on the charge
that there is custom OF holding down
grades at the commencement of the shipping
season, at inspection points. The evidence
shows that dockage is at times excessive but
this is again case where the duty of the in
speetoF will depend largely upon his judg-
ment. IL cannot lie said that there IS any
charge of an abuse of discretion in this re-
| gard by the inspectors.
The question of dockage, the general said,
! WAS QUE of no II tie importance, and the COM
| mittee might feel constrained to devote some
| portion of its report, by way OF recommends
lion, TO its consideration. But u was tire
! duty or the committee 10 ascertain whether
| the provisions OF the present law are properly
| observed, and to point out incidentally III
disposed TO go TO that length oyersEits IN
legislation. if any exist, and he thought The
appropriation would be well expended il the
committee was able TO recommend Such 1u-
dicious measures as will secure immunity
from restraint or imposition to the grain pro-
ducers in marketing their crops. lie expressed
the opinion. that whatever The sincerity OF the
motives OF the committee, IL would be pub
lie misfortune IL the final report shoul1 be
found ut variance with the natural deduc-
tons to be drawn from the record. lie adj
vised that while the committee should not
hesitate to record any material fact however
psejudicial TO any individual or interest
when the public welfare requires, yet no eX-
preston should fnd place in the report
derogatory Of official conduct unless abuno-
antly justified by proofs The reargument
Of A 4 guh fn6 N Ia n
tee was referred to as deserving OF careful
consideration, and the opinion was ex-
pressed that some portions of il would be of
value to the committee in framing its report.
Speaking of the Shortage
In weights of shipments made TO public
warehouses. Gen. Chiids said that the COM
plants are well founded, but are out OF pro
portion to the volume OF business transacted;
but he thought that the business OF the local
buyer is TOO frequently carried on in such
disre gard of sound business methods as 10
make the evidence on this score OF very
questionable value ShrinSaGe might be nc
counted for by shipment without weighing
by the local buyer, weighing at point OF ship
ment with small or defective scales.
defective coopering OF the cars re-
sulting in leakage, abstraction by
petty thefts while en- route, change In atmos
pheric and climatic conditions. loss OF moist
ure and defect in scales at terminal points.
He thought very few Instances cited TO the
committee but could be attributed to one OF
more Of these causes. Attention was called
To The fact that the Weighman was obliged &c
depend upon the elevator employees as TO the
identity of cars which are to be weighed.
ana he thought II not Impossible mat the
weight of one car might be attributed TO
another.
Screenings were next discussed. AS TO the
charge that in 1889 large quantity OF wheat
was slipped in the night from Duluth as
screenings Gen. Childs said that IL vas no
doubt the 1900 bushels of average to which
he had already called attention, and that
secret methods were employed i'll shipping IL,
presumably for the purpose of ayerting pub
lie attention and disarming suspicion. lie
was unable to find that any other wheat than
such average was ever shipped in clandes-
tine manner II there was any excess over
such amount il was so small that the fact
would but slightly affect the question. lie did
not think the shipment or wheat under
such guise was common practice adopted
by companies in dispOsing OF average. lie
did not think the claim that the companies
were reaping harvest from the sales or
screenings was established. In fact por-
lions of the evidence lead TO the opposite
view The companies have disposition To
remove as little foreign substance rs possible
from the wheat and yet insure It's shipment,
and ne was unable TO reconcile this fact with
the theory that screenings were enriched by
the presence of large proportion OF wheat.
1t is matter of little moment what DISPOSE
ton is made of the screenings so long as the
wheat Is properly utuuitu ny illc clcNutOE
companies. and it would be quite imprac-
table to attempt to distribute the profits aris-
ing therefTom among the owneIs OF the
wheat.
"sThe Great COmbIne''
was the next branch of the investigation to
which Gen. Childs devoted himself. He said
that the committee entered npOn its inquiry
as to the charge that there was a combina-
tou to control prices with no indifferent
purpose but whatever suspicious may have
arisin as TO the result or such inquiry there
is not the slightest proof of the existence in
fact of any such combination or conspiracy,
nor is there anything which initiates against
the good name of MI Irons II does not
appear that Mr.. Irons ever received any in
structions from his en- ployers to furnish mis-
price list of information ~ any person what
soever. Gen. Childs went into a lengthy
review of the testimony in thiS direction,
and concluded it by saying that instead of
Mr.. Irons arbitrarily establishing prices he
gave the closing prices as established by the
regular committee of the Minneapolis cham
Der of commerce.
AS to the charge that there is a comoina-
hot fta de nd ha oil