St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-24

view OF The question:. liz U6lu UudU III
will be foolish moYe to abolish the in.
spection. Senator Geissel related that
he had had a great deal of practical ex-
inspection is actually in the interest of
the farmer. The inspector gives a
bond not to be interested in the pur-
chase of the wheat inspected. The
senator described very clearly the en-
tire process of grading wheat. He
stated that even an expert may one day
grade certain wheat No. l hard, and
the next day grade 1t No. 1 northern.
The Minnesota grading is made the
standard in the marts of the world.
Senator Donnellv remembered when
there was no mediation between the
buyer and the farmer. While it may be
true that the inspection had has not
been all that had been expected of it,
felt that some good had been effected by
the inspection law. He held that it is
not the proper thing to subject the
farmer to the
Cupidity of the Buyer
without a legal protection. The buyer,
in the absence Of the law that the bill
wipes out. becomes the grader, and all
his interests are in taking every pos
sble advantage Of the farmer. He con-
tended that common reason runs in
favor of continuance of the system,
especially now when the executive is
himself farmer, and whose vital in
terests are for more careful and COM
petent inspection. He urged that the
experiment should be made.
Senator Craven came CALAMITY to the
support of the bill. He maintained that
the inspection system is not IN SYM
pathy with the farmer, but. on the other
hand, with the buyer. Most farmers are
forced to sell their wheat by the wagon
load, and he has no state umpire to pass
upon the grade of the wheat. 1t is only
the wealthy OF bonanza farmer who can
sell in car load lots. The law does not
reach the producer, and Mr.. Craven
quoted the governors message to show
that he, too, saw the existing evil.
Senator Craven claimed that a
state weighmaster cannot be MAN.
tanned at every purchasing point
in the state because of the
expense. The Dakota farmer, who
raises wheat by the thousands of
bushels, is perfectly safe under the law.
He ships by car load or train load lots
to Minneapolis and it Is graded and
weighed. But all this operates to the
disadvantage of the Minnesota farmer.
smaller scale. The grade is lower under
the present system than 1t was before
the enactment went into effect. While
the law was supposed to have been
framed in the interest of the farmer,
it's operation, said Senator Craven,
is to the detriment of the farmer
Senator Lommen spoke as practical
farmer. He held that the inspection
may not be adequate and effective, yet !
it does no harm to the farmer. The
farmer who sells at the smaller station
does not pay for inspection. The farmer
can sell by sample, regardless OF grade.
He knew of injusticeS in the system.
but he had never met with obstacles IN
getting grades and weights, and he
claimed that the inspection in no way
affects the price of wheat.
Senator March did not think that the
interests of the farmer and the public
will be better subserved by abolition OF
the law. He held that some stringent
amendments should be attached, how
ever. Senator SevatSOn took issue with
the governors recommendation III his
message. Senator Mayo supported the
bill upon the hypothesis that the farm
ers that he represented did not ask for
protection from the buyers. They asked
no guardianship. Senator Hompe was
opposed to the bill, although he felt
that selling wheat by sample is really
better than the present system OF grad
ing. If we tear down, we must at once
prepare to build again, and the senator
doubted if the state is ready to take the
proposed step at this time. He did not
believe in the remedy proposed by Gov.
Nelson, and he thought that the farmer
does not believe in it. There should be
all effort to
Break the Wheat Combine.
Wheat in Duluth is not worth what 1t
ought to be, and the speaker urged that
the present inspection system is in some
degree responsible, for the reason that
it renders wheat gambling easier than
selling by sample. Senator Craven
urged that either the system should be
wiped out of existence or it should be
extended to all points. so that the poor
man may have the same influence and
conditions to control the market for his
wheat. Senator O'Brien argued in favor
of a new system Of weighing so that
mixing will be impracticable, and Sena-
tor Keller treated the present law In
very Satircal way. He favored the bill.
He wanted no more stealing and hum
bugging, and he referred to his
gigantic elevator and steamship bill
that has provoked SO much com
ment. The senator's witticisms kept
the senate in good humOr. The motion
to recommend to pass was lost, % to IL.
and upon motion of Senator CaneStorp
an indefinite postponement was voted
Then Senate File 159 was taken up.
The purport was the same as the bill
that had Just been considered, aud this
was also indefinitely postponed.
Senate File 81 was also special or
der This is bill providing that the
railway commission shall be elected by
a popular vote. Senator Canestorp, the
author, moved to recommend the pass
age of the bill, and Senator Tawney
amended to indefinitely postpone. Sena-
tor March offered an amendment 10 the
term of Office of the commissioners. His
amendment was to make the tenure six
years instead of two. He based his argu-
ments upon Iowa statistics. He showed
that the freight rates in Minnesota are
much higher than in Iowa upon grain.
There is even wider difference upon
other freights generally double.
At the next general election, Senator
March's amendment runs, that one COM
missioner shall be elected for two years,
one for four years and one for SIX years,
and at the next subsequent election and
thereafter they shall be elected for six
years. L lie OUJeCl. III VIII Nc OpoOiN Oo,
Is to make the terms alternate so that
there shall always be two experienced
members On the board.
Interesting History.
I'm 1883 law was passed IN Iowa
providing for the election by the people
of railroad commissioners" said Senator
March, land giving them powers to
make rates. On Dec. II, 1889, all con-
troversies between the railroad commits
sioners of that state and the railroads
were settled by the following agree
ment: In view OF the fact that all the
railroads of the state have yielded
to the rates promulgated by
the authority Of the state. it is
proposed by the undersigned railroad
companies that they will at their own
cost dismiss the suits pending between
them and the railroad commission, pro-
yided that in consideration thereof the
commissioners, defendants therein, will
waive all damages because of the
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