The Mankato free press., 1893-03-31
ANOTHER PLEDGE REDEEMED.

The bill providing for the placing
of all country elevators upon railway
right of way under the supervision of
: the state board. of railway cemmlS-
sioners has passed both houses of the
legislature and will become a law, as
it was carefully looked over by the
Governor and had his sanction
previous to its Introduction into the
legislature. This matter of relief of
the farmer in relation to a grain
market was one of the issues of the
recent campaign which the Republic
an party was pledged to carry out,
and its representatives have now re-
] deemed that pledge The state ware
house commissioners have several
times recommended as a remedy for
some of the evils that have been
complained of that the country ware
| houses be placed under their supervis-
ion with restrictions which would pre-
vent fraud and give the farmer a
wider range of market. But the dem
] agOgueS who have hOwled the lOudest
about the ills of the farmer, always
! opposed such a course, and they op-
posed the present bill because it's en-
actment into a law and successful
working will take away their stock in
trade in a political campaign.
The Republicans stood pledged to
some practical relief in the matter,
| and Gov. Nelson made that one of the
principle points of his campaign, and
when he was inaugurated, briefly but
clearly outlined his views upon the.
question of what ought to be done,
and those ideas Incorporated in bill
await his signature today. The re-
lief secured by this bill to the farmers
is pointed out by the Pioneer Press at
follows:
If the farmer is not satisfied with
the grading of his wheat, the wrong,
if any, can be rectitied by sending sam
piles to the state inspector. If he al
leges frauds of any kind they can be
Investigated and rectitied by the state
warehouse commission. The bill does
more than that, good deal more.
1t gives e.farmers choice Of mar
ketS for their grain. Under its pro-
visions they are entitled to a receipt
for their wheat at the local elevator
less the cost of storage, or the receipt
for like quality at any terminal ele-
vatOr, less the cost of Transportation
and storage. They Lave thus sure
means of escaping from the dictatiOn
of any local combine. If they can get
better price for their wheat, less
) their charges, at Duluth or Mime
apolis than at the local point of ship
ment, they are free to make their
own choice of market. That these
provisions would prove of great prac-
: tical benefit to the farmers there can
be no doubt. They would afford sub
stantial remedy for some grievances
of which they have long complained.
There is no reason whatever why the
: same protection which is wisely given
, to the farmer against fraud in the
terminal elevator should not be eX-
tended to his transactions with the
primary elevator. There is even more
: opportunity for fraud at the initial
I point of storage than at the terminal.
1t has been claimed by the oppO-
5 nents of the bill that it would not
give the relief sought, yet they have
signally failed to produce substitute
that would meet the said require
: ments. They declared it to be simply
in the interests of the railways and
corporations, and likewise failed to
explain wherein this was true. They
5 also declared that the farmer was
against it and did not want such a
measure, and again they failed to
y show any strong sentiment in that
r direction.
S Those who are well informed as to
? the situation and the requirements of
: legislation along this line believe it
t will give the relief sought. 1t is not
0 claimed it will do away with all the
, ills suffered. 1t is doubtful whether
any measure could be framed that
would but it will emancipate the
: farmer from the narrow market he
J has been obliged to depend upon and
4 widen his range in that particular,
d and it will also give him a chance to
0 appeal in the matter of the grading if
he is dissatisfied Herewith and obtain
: relief if it is wrong In uthis way the
farmer will obtain the relief he should
have and will no longer be at the
mercy of any class of men.
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