The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1892-04-14
INVESTIGATION ENDED.
THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE FIN
lSHES ITS LABoRS


And Gives the Result of Its Deliberations
to the Publio-Duluth Elevator Conn
panies Not Thought to Have Practiced
Any Fraud--No Combine Between Ele-
vators and Observation-Disclosures Rec
concentrations What the Investiga-
tion Cost.
ST. PAUL, April s.-The grain investi-
CATION committee has concluded its
work and will make two reports to the
governor. Representative Moore re-
fused to afix his signature on the
ground that he did not like the report.
It is understood he will present mi
nority report.
The first matter touched upon relates
to the cleaning of cars at Duluth. The
committee finds that there probably
was some laxity in the matter during
the earlier period Of inspection, but thas
as soon as the attention of the elevator
companies was called to the evil meas
ures were adopted to remedy it.
The next matter touched upon is
that of shipping wheat at night with
out inspection. Upon this subject the
committee says:
Testimony was received tending to
establish the charges so made, and
were it not for other evidence subse
quently discovered the committee feel
that they would have been amply justi-
fed in finding the charge so made in the
main true.
There is no question but that in 1885
and subsequent years the two elevator
companies named did ship in round
numbers from their houses at night,
without the knowledge of the employees
of the said state departments, $50, 200
bushels of wheat. After the fact of
such shipment had been substantially
established by the testimony of wit
nesses the said elevator companies adj
mitted that large volume of wheat
had been secretly shipped from their
houses without either inspection or
weighing.
The evidence sufficiently establishes
the fact that large amount of wheat
became heated in the bins and almost
totally ruined. The committee find
that the matter was brought by the said
companies to the attention of the rail-
road and warehouse commission, and
that after the mature deliberation of
that body the elevator companies were
given the authority to secretely dispose
of the wheat; and it is fair to believe
that the irregular shipments testified to
by witnesses were none other than
those made in pursuance of the permits
sion thus obtained. The committee
have no doubt that the action of the
commission in directing the secret ship
ment of said injured grain was
prompted by the highest considerations
of public policy, and amply warranted
both by provisions of the law and the
existing facts.
The committee further finds that the
charge of shipment of As, 900 bushels
from the same elevators without inspec-
ton or weighing was substan TALLY true,
the fact being admitted by the elevator
companies. The companies claim, how
ever, that the amount so shipped was
an average which was on hand at the
time they began to do business under
the inspection law. This wheat, the
committee believes, the elevator COM
panies should have caused to be SIN
spected i'll" at tho time the inspection
laws went into effect. II at it was not
done was probably due, the committee
thinks, to misrepresentation of their
duties rather than desire to evade the
law.
The next matter of Importance
touched upon is that of the alleged ele-
yator combination Tie COMMITTEES
6ads on this subject that there is no
evidence which would establish the
fact Of such combination among
the elevator companies OF Minnesota, or
between the elevator and railroad com.
panies.
The committee finds that the produe-
ing interests of the state are at this time
as they have been for a long time in the
past, the victims of grain manipulators
throughout the country.
The committee recommends legisla.
ton to correct abuses as follows:
]. All the railroad companies of and
doing business in this state should be
required to construct and maintain
track scales.
2. All public warehouses should be
required by law to ascertain at least
once during each crop year the amount
Of wheat in their bins and the amount
of outstanding warehouse receipts.
q. In view of the great Importance
of the subject and the vast inters
ests involved, the committee without
committing itself to any policy of legis.
lation, earnestly recommend thar the
next legislature consider the advisa-
bility of passing law providing
contiguous to deep water, at
public expense, warehouses sufficiently
large to afford storage without mixing
the grain of differnt grades, for grain
produced in this state, and for which
service the state shall receive or may
impose o moderate charas.
4. Furthermore. the committee would
recommend that the next legisla-
ture. either by memorial to congress
or otherwise, take some steps to
counterfeit the evil influence of wheat
gambling at Chicago and other great
grain centers,
e. The committee would recon-
mend, if practicable, that public ele-
vators be required to construct scales
and weigh grain upon the ground floor
before the grain is elevated, so that the
unloading of cars may be under the
supervision Of state yeighers. :
qha total cost OF the investigation
was 81, S07.96.
A COMBINE EXISTS.