The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1893-04-19
FILE NO. 81
A PROTEST AGAINST IT.
The Following Are Some of the
Reasons Given in Detail
Why It Should Not
have Passed.

way and elevators, of which there
are many, on private lands. If it is
a privilege to be a public elevator
under the supervise on of the rail-
road and warehouse commission,
why should it be given to one and
denied to another2
Elevators that do not store grain
are also excepted, the language
being stored and handled" If an
elevator does not store grain, under
the provisions of this bill it cannot
become public warehouse. But if
an association Of farmers desire to
store and handle their own grain,
under the provisions of this
bill they are prohibited from
doing SO and (sections and 1O) can
be fined and unless emasculated,
Cline 2 section 10) imprisoned. Cor
porations can be fined only.
Farmer associations are prohibited
from merely storing and handling
their own grain, because if they
should store and handle grain at all,
in an elevator on the right-of-way,
they must become public elevators
and must engage in a business with
out their own desires or consent.
1t does seem that the gentlemen
who voted for this bill Tin it's recon-
mendation to pass did SO without
consideration, and, as l shall show
later, without even reading it.
Sec. 8. Empowers the railroad
commission to formulate rules and
makes them a legislative body hav-
ing powerlto promulgate such laws
as they may see fit concerning the
management Of country elevators.
This seems to be an extraordinary
power to be granted, if indeed it
can be granted to anybody. A law
is formed covering the details of
this management of the grain bust
ness, and then for fear that some
thing may have been left out, this
extraordinary language is inserted:
"And such rules and regulations
(meaning such rules and regulations
as the railroad commissioners may
see fit to make and promulgated
shall be binding and have the force
and effect of law"
1t hardly seems possible that
matter of SO much Importance as the
control of the grain trade of the
state should be hurried through one
branch of this legislature without
consideration and that one gentle
CHI RI cf 70
law in the other branch. It seems
to me that more time should be
spent TO make the bill more nearly
perfect, and that power to add to
and enlarge upon the law should not
be delegated to any person or per-
sons.
Sec. 4. Provides for the keeping
of books and shuts out the farmers
who desire to continue in the bust
ness of handling their own grain
through their own houses in the fol
lowing languages: 1.-The party
operating such country elevator
= X : shall upon the request of
any person delivering grain for
storage or shipment, receive the
same without discrimination" etc.
If these farmers private houses
are to be compelled to be public,
and are to be compelled to receive
grain for others, how can they con-
duct the business for which they
have mutually associated themselves
together9
These small elevators Of the farm
ers have been the terror of the pow
erful line elevator companies, and
have, without the help Of the state
and without the assistance of law,
compelled them to do the fair thing,
and to pay fair prices for the wheat.
Year by year they have been in
creasing, and at every station where
they have been built they have been
a blessing to the farmers in that
vicinity. This bill proposes to wipe
them out of existence. In whose
INTEREST," 1 do not know by whom
this section was drawn, but it does
seem to me that the hand Of the
line elevator men is plainly visible
in it's provisions.
The continuation of this section
four (D is interesting. It provides
for the issuing of a receipt which
shall entitle the owner to receive
his grain at warehouse where it
was received or, if the owner shall
desire, on track at any terminal
point at the election Of the owner
where Minnesota inspection is in
force. That is the owner of the
wheat, the farmer, can have his
grain at home or like quantity of
the same grade on track at the
terminal point. And now, com
1mencing at line "a on page of the
printed bill, follows proviso which
I am glad to believe the members Of
the legislature who voted for this
bill did not consider.
Members can read it for them
selves. Briefly stated it means this
for storage or shipment may, at his
option, when called upon for the
wheat, give an order on a terminal
elevator at any terminal point,
which the owner of the grain may
designate, but in such elevator as
the elevator man may designate, for
like quantity and quality of grain,
subject to such lawful charges
which may have accrued upon said
grain from the date Of the issue of
order or shipment until grain is
received.
What has become of the privilege
of the farmer to receive wheat on
track Gone with the proviso, at
the option Of the elevator men.
What is the difference between
wheat on the track and wheat in
the terminal house. One and a
quarter cents per bushel. Just the
terminal elevator charge. Country
prices are now based upon the price
Of wheat on track at terminal