St. Paul daily globe., 1893-06-14
A FRUITFUL INQUIRY.
That Being Conducted by Sem
ators PETER and Washburn.


atOrs PETER and WaShburn.
Senators Washburn and PETER contin-
ued their investigation yesterday morn
ing, listening to the remainder OF the
testimony which Col. G. d. Rogers had
to offer. Col. Rogers had accumulated
an immense amount of statistics in the
meantime, and was loaded for the occa-
sion. He showed by recent complla-
tions that the wheat crop Of the world
during the past ten years had not IN
creased to any appreciable extent. while
the records show that during the same
period the average price of wheat had
gone down some 80 cents per .buShel.
This was Just what Senator PETER was
irving to get at as foundation for
further investigation, and he made a
note of it. w. Ii. DunWoody, of the
Washburn-C Crosby Milling company, was
asked by Senator PETER what he
thought was the reason that the
farmers in this section all sold
their wheat in a lump as soon
as they could instead of disposing of it
gradually throughout the year as they
used to do in more prosperous times.
To this Mr.. DunwoOdy replied that
| most of the farmers had gone into buSl-
| ness here on a very small capital and
were obliged to get money as Don as
| possible to take care Of the loans which
| they had been obliged to make.
The next question was, How much
do you consider fair profit for the
millers to make on barrel of flour in
this city?"
Mr.. Dunwoody said in reply: 1--WE
would be exceedingly glad to figure on
a profit of Is cents per barrel. We are
not making that now, l can assure you.
The amount seems very small, but
there Is not mill in the country which
would not be glad to make it. The
milling business is not paying as 1T used
to. There was time when we could
always figure OH clear profit of from
so to rs cents per barrel. and often even
more. For one year the Pillsburys got
a net Of $1.S7 for every barrel of -four
they turned out"
S. M. Owen, of the farm, Stock and
Home, was examined in the line of the
bearing OF the inquiry, more especially
as affecting the farmers interests than
any previous witness, and on the cause
of the downward tendency of prices.
In general way Mr.. Owen said 1t was
| due largely to Capitalization of
wealth, which takes from the masses
and puts into the hands of the
classes, increasing the power of
the latter to control prod
ucts. This centers the consumption
of products, and causes an over supply,
hence prices must fall, as they have
done. This MIR. Owen illustrated by
| several forcible examples and citations.
The condition was largely true of the
whole world, but was more noticeable
here. The prices were, he thought,
lower as to farm products than as to
manufactured articles. He reviewed
the progress of the country from the
wartime extravaganza to the present,
and the means resorted to to keep up
with the appetite for extravaganza.
Mr.. Owen closed the investigation for
the day, and probably for the occasion,
although Senator PETER said that pos
sibly another prominent witness might
be called today. If not he will proceed
to Omaha to direct the inquiry more
particularly 10 stock. Senator Wash.
burn will probably not go to Omaha.
Neither is Senator Roach expected to be
present, but Senator Roacn will prob
ably make the examination alone. He
expects to makr social visit in Mime
apOlis next September.