St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-31
COMMITTEE WORKERS.
Informal Discussion of Bill for
80
a. State Elevators.


State Elevators.
The grain and warehouse committee
of the house held an informal meeting
last evening to consider House Files y,
introduced by Mr.. Mcguire. and 12S, in
troduced by Mr.. Wagner. These are
the bills providing for state elevators
and warehouses at the state fair grounds
and at Duluth. Senators Geissel. Cane
storp and Erickson were present as in
terested listeners.
Gen. Barrett was given hearing. and
spoke in favor Of the principles of the
bill. He said, however, if he were to
draw such bill he would make it de-
cidedly different from the measures pro-
posed. Chairman Zelch sharply ques-
toned Gen. Barrett as to what benefit
would be conferred on the farmers by
state elevators. if erected. The reply,
in varying forms, was that they would
increase competition. The general
maintained that the wheat of the North
west is at present pooled in great
stream which is guided and rec ulated
by very few men. He wanted to
change Or abolish that stream. A large
part of the generals argument had been
left in his grip at the hotel. Eric Olson
the committee had adjourned. 1t will
he heard later.
Senator Geissel fsaid he had been
trader III this state since '76. In 1885 he
was compelled to buy much wheat that
had SprOuted. He shipped 1000 bushels
to Duluth, stored it all winter, paid
storage, transportation charges, ETC..
ami realized profit of 9 cents per
bushel, wien he had expected to lose
20 cents per bushel. Next year he con-
cluded 10 try the same plan, but was
promptly informed he could not do it,
as the elevators were there to do that
business i'll the future. The senator
also called the attention OF the commit
tee to the success of the binding Irvine
plant under state management, stating,
by way of suggestion. that it had
brought the cordage trust to terms,
though making but very small portion
of the Irvine used in the state.
Senator Canestorp instanced some of
the abuses heaped on grain growers by
the elevator trust, strongly asserting
that it was impossible for the farmers to
escape its clutches, do what they would.
After some further discussion the COM
mittee adjourned without action.
Representative Ives rather took Gen.
Barrett back at one period of the meet
ing. lie inquired as to the rule sup
posed to govern prices, AMI what he
difference in price was between Duluth
and Chicago. I he general replied that
the difference was considerable, the
price at Duluth being as a general
thing several cents below Chicago, where
millions of bushels of wind wheat
were being bought and sold. Then MIR.
Ives made the point that it would be for
the benefit of the Minnesota wheat and
elevator combine to have the anti-op-
ton bill passed, as indorsed by the leg
islature and thus take the wind out of
the Chicago dealings, which might per-
haps lower the price the combine would
have to pay at Duluth.
The house committee on education
has decided to recommend for passage
III. f. 204, appropriating S25, 900 for sum-
mer training schools for teachers. and II.
f. No. POS, defining school holidays. II.
f. 1873, relating to change of boundaries
of independent school districts, will be
sent to the judiciary committee. The
matter of free text books was informally
discussed and will be taken up again at
7:30 this evening. The university bill
will be discussed at 2 p. IN. today.
A subcommittee of the Judiciary COM
mittee last evening discussed some bills
of minor Importance, and will report to
the full committee for action.