St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-01-05

PUBLICATION, however 1ney all stated
that they had come to st. Paul to re-
sumo the inQuisition into the business
methods of the elevator companies OF
Minneapolis and Duluth, which is
being conducted at the instance
of the state legislature. An
appropriation was made at the last ses-
sion to meet the expense, and joint
committee was appointed to conduct
the investigation. This committee sat
for several weeks and adjourned until
today, and it is the purpose to recon-
venc in the senate chamber at the capt.
tol at . p. m. this afternoon. w. W.
Erwin is the attorney for the grain
growers. and &. a. Severance is counsel
for the elevator interests. But there
seems to be an element of doubt that
envelops the future course OF the COM
mlttee. Mr.. Erwin was unable to give
any information as to what course will
be pursued, and Mr.. Severance had not
been notified that any additional evil
dence is to be presented. John Day
Smith, who is member of the commit
tee, and who declared at the last session
of the committee that 1t was his aim to
delve to the very bottom of the charges
against the methods OF the Minneapolis
elevators, was not present.
What Was Accomplished.
Representative Bowman said that he
felt confident that the work will be
taken up today where it was dropped
last spring, and he moraiized somewhat
upon the situation.
The investigation has had great
effect" he chatted at the Clarendon.
81 must confess that 1t doesn't appear
specifically to have amounted to much:
but the farmers know that it has placed
a great many dollars in their pockets.
1t induced the farmers to become their
own shippers, and this proved a great
saving to them, They became
more familiar with the style of
ing. in shipping out without
inspection, and in shipping wheat as
screenings and the like, and they took
the business into their own hands, and
this forced the elevetor companies into
making valuable concessions. There
was lots of grumbling about the appro-
priation we made to pay the expenses of
the investigation, but 1t was just as SEN
sible as it was to appropriate $4,000 to
build those stone steps on the old cap
itol building. don't you think so?''
Representative Barrett said he did
not know whether additional evidence
Will be taken or not. He had just ar
rived in the city. and had held no con-
ference with his coadjutors.
Senator Probstfield has been one of
the most active promoters of the inter-
ests of the gram growers association.
and he remarked to Senator GeisSel, as
they met casually in the hotel rotunda,
that he believed the committee should
proceed with its investigation to the end
without further bolStering by the grain
growers. He felt he had been at enough
expense personally. and would protest
against paying any future assessment.
Senator Gissel returned, in substance,
shat II the grain growers had lost all in
terest in the investigation nothing
more will likely be done by the commit
tee. In other words, they will meet at
O'Clock, and in the event there is no
further evidence to be brought before
tia final adjournment will be had pend
Ing report to the state department..
John Lathrop and r. j. Hall, of the
Grain Growers association, were busily
getting the members together, but they
could throw no particular light on the
outcome of today. They intimated that
things will not be allowed to drop, but
they did not know that any witnesses
will be Oh hand when the committee
meets in the capitol. Senator Geissel
preferred to talk Oh the Washburn op-
ton bill. He said it is all right ift can
be made operative, but he predicted
ehOO IL Will UC IIIOWu OUT IS
unconstitutional. ut will interfere
with states rights, and the end cannot
be reached i'll that way" he insisted.
II have talked it over with good many
ll.posted men, and they are of this
opinion. But something should be
done. Gambling in options is a great
injury to the producers. | believe
there are 100000 fictitious bushels
OF wheat sold to every bushel
of actual wheat. This creates
an unsettled condition of the
markets, and it increases the margin be-
tween the shipping point and the con-
sumption market, at the expense of the
farmer. DO away with options, and
wheat will become a stable commodity
and confidence will be restored and
these margins cut down.
At 6 O'Clock last evening the mem
berS of the Investigating committee and
the grain growers held secret confer
ence in the parlorS of the hotel, but
nothing definite was accomplished, for
Senator Geissel said he had no more in
formation to give after the meeting
than he had before.
In the Evening
the members of the Grain Growers asso-
citation held conference at the Caren-
don. Attorney Erwin announced that
he was so taken up with his business
that he would be unable to attend the
meetings of the investigating commit
tee. This fact caused the members to
change their plans. and. without further
ado, it was decided that the at meeting
OF the investigating committee today the
grain growers would ask that the meet
Ing be adjourned to the middle of
February when Mr.. Erwin can be
present, This will be done,
but there is some doubt as
to whether the request will be granted.
Many of the members are tired of the
whole business and are in favor of an
adjournment sine die. This will be
considered and may be the course
adopted.
The grain growers themselves are
tired of paying their'own money to help
the matter along. Senator Probstfeld