New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1892-04-20


COMMITTEES might be received as unquestloned
evidence before it, that they would disclose the
Illicit shipment OF a large quantity OF grain from
the public warehouses at Duluth which has not
been explained away by testimony adduced be-
fore it for that purpose, but inasmuch as the
committee subjected sucn schedules to
very severe test early In the session
and thereby became convinced of the unreli-
ability OF such schedules as evidence If ON their
very many proven inaccuracies. due to the mex
rience of the persons by whom they were pre-
pared, and the statement m1de by Mr.. Erwin,
the attorney for the Grain Growers association,
when the said schedules were under discussion,
that he was perfectly willing that the old sched-
ules should be stricken from the record mas
much they had been proved unreliable and
had been superseded by the more accurate sched-
uies OF the experts. The COMMITTEES now find
that on account of the apparent discrepancies
the old schedules cannot properly and should
not III justice be regarded as proof OF any fact.
The committee deems it proper to say. touch
ing the matter OF the damaged wheat in ques-
ton. that the said elevator companies incurred
an expense OF about S1Ou.OOO i'll providing for
the warehouse receipts outstanding against the
same. $50 5#a
STATE INSPECTION AND WEIGHING DEPARTMENTS.
The committee finds that the record. as u
whole, does not reflect upon the integrity and
efficiency OF the state inspection and weighing
department. With very rare exceptions the
employees OF the sta.e in the two said depart
ments, so lar as the record discloSes to the con-
trary, are gentlemen OF high character and abil-
rity Of any OF these servants OF the state has
been drawn in question the testimony is too
conflicting and lnconcluS1ve to warrant the COM
mittee i'll finding such persons guilty OF bad faith
i'll the performance OF their duties.
1t appears from the record OF the committee
that complaints have frequently arisen on ac-
count OF what has been deemed improper
weighing and docking OF grain The committee
finds that after listening to testimony OF wit
nesses OF large experience ana unquestloned
veracity that such complaints, while at times
we'll founded. failed to show auy disposition on
the part of inspectors aud weignmen 20 impose
upon or favor any interests Whatever. There
RI fht1f ri
at times excessive. As the amount OF dockage
to which shipment OF grain is to be subjected
in a given case is largely dependent upon human
Judgment it will be always matter OF approx
lmatlon, aud the committee IS unable to find
that there has been all abuse of discretion to a
serious extent i'll this regard. The witness,
Charles Canning, man OF very large experience
both producer and commisslonf mer-
chant testified that he had no fault to find with
the state service III that regard. The attention
of the committee was called to number OF in
stances OF
GRIEVANCES BASED UPON SHORTAGE
In weights of shipments made Co public ware
houses The committee fluids that such1com-
plants are frequently we'll founded. but is not
prepared to say their number is out of proper
tion to the volume OF business transacted.
Among the many causes to which shrinkage in
weight i'll shipments Of wheat may be attributed
the following, no doubt, constitute the more i'm
portaut, evidenced by reliable testimony:
First-Shipment without weighing by the local
Second-Weighing at the place Of shipment
Third-MistakeS necessarily incidental to
weighing on small scales as where a draft is III
advertently repeated.
Fou.1h-Defective coopering or the cars. re-
sulting in leakage at times to a marked degree.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. by petty theft upon cars
en- route to and at destination.
SiXth-Chapge in atmospheric and climatic
conditions between places OF shipment and that
OF destination.
Seyenth-Loss OF moistuer by grain
Eighth--Defect in scales at terminal points.
1t is the opinion OF the committee that very
few instances of such shortage have arisen.
which should not, If the committee were in pos
session of all the facts, be attributed to one or
more OF the above named causes.
SCREENINGS.
The committee finds that during the year $50
a large quantity OF wheat was shipped from the
said public warehouses at Duluth under the
name OF screenings; the amount SO shipped ag-
gregated upward OF 10000 bushels. The wheat
so shipped was, no doubt, the average OF 49,
600 bushels to which attention has already been
called. The committee is aware OF no evidence
tending to show that any other wheat than such
average was ever shipped in a clandestine man
ner from the said houses. The committee studi-
ously endeavored to ascertain whether or not it
was d common practice OF the said companies
to dispose of average under the guse OF screen
ings and arrived at the result above Indicated
Likewise it became matter of interest to ascer-
tain whether the said companies have been or
now are. reaping excessive profits from the sale
OF screenings. This, however. is not established
by the record. It is doubtless true that until
quite recently screenings were not source of
profit to elevator companies; the record dis
closing that formerly they We're either burned OF
| destroyed otherwise by such companies.
THE GREAT COMBINE.
When the attention OF the committee was first
called to the existence OF a combination or con-
spiracy designed to control the wheat markets
or the state 1t was represented that certain
testimony was prOducible tending to show
that such markets governed by prices ar
bltrarIly established by some person orpersons.
associations or corporations, and evidenced by
the kilograms and other accommodations sent t o
numerous correspondents by Mr.. Frank H.
Irons OF Minneapolis.
1t was not without great hesitation that the
committee undertook to conduct investlga-
ton in the line of such charge. in view OF the
clearly expressed terms of the statue from which
its authority to act was derived. The subject.
however, was finally deemed of so much gravity
as to warrant an Investigation as to
the charge and it was therefore con
committee. Whatever inferences may be
properly deducible from the record in support
of the charge, the committee is OF the opinion
that there is
NOT THE SLIGHTEST PROOF
OF the existence i'll tact OF any such combination
OF conspiracy, nor is there anything in the rec
ord touching this phase OF the Investigation
| initiating against the good name of the said
Irons. 1t is an admitted fact that Frank H.
Irons has been for period or about two years
in the employ OF large number OF elevator
companies at Minneapolis. aud that while SO
employed he did furnish to certain correspond
information touching the current prices OF
wheat. 1t does not appear. however, that he
ever received any instructions from his said en-
ployers, any of them, to furnish this inforna-
| ton to any person Whomsoever. 1t appears to
| have been the practice of the person VINO had
| previously been employed by such companies
to advise local buyers, upon solicitation, rs TO
| the daily prices ruling as the principal wheat
markets OF the country; which said practice wa
observed and continued by Mr.. Irons. There
appears to have been no Discrimination by him
AS to whom this information should be fur
nished; for, if he is to believed, it was sent to
4 whomsoever made application therefor to him.
Instead OF the prices furnished by Mr.. Irons
| having been arbitrarily esla blished by himself
| or by any other person or persons. the commit
| tee find that they We're in he main obtained
from the chamber OF commerce, Minnea polls
| The prices sent by Mr.. Irons to his CORE
| spondents were based upon the reports of a com
| mlttee established by the chamber OF commerce
| in said city, whose duty it is to ascertain the
/ closing price OF the market.
Evidence was introduced with view OF show
] ing that combustion existed between the ele-
/ vator and railroad companies of the state for
! the sole purpose OF maintaining a uniform sys
/ tenn OF prices, and it is doubtless true that
/ some parts of such testimony unexplained
tends to establish that fact. The strongest eyi-
1 dence OF this character is no doubt 4 letter
/ written by one Sommers. clerk in the employ
/ OF the Great Northern Railroad company, over
the signature OF Mr.. Shelby. the general ira fiji
manager OF said company; aud certain Other
communications. which were likewise made a