St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-23


meet the complaints of the farmers, so
that the party will be free from the
assault of the Democrats on this line in
the campaign of 81. The bill then may
be taken as party measure. defining
the policy of that party and as prepara-
tory for the battle OF next year.
The Democrats have declared in sew
eral platforms of The state party their
policy, and bill embracing it is in the
senate. and another will probably be Of
fered in the house today as substitute
to the governors bill. The differences in
the bills are fundamental. the Demo-
cratic bill being drawn Oh the Demo-
cratic principle of non-interference by
the state in the business of the citizen,
further than to see that the public or
quasi-public duties of persons or cor
porations are performed. The govern
ors bill is drawn Oh the line of Repub-
iican paternalism, whose vital principle
is the regulation of the affairs of the
citizen in any manner deemed advis-
able 1t is for this reason that the gov
ernor's bill becomes an administration
measure and will command the united
support of the Republicans; and for the
same reason it is not entitled to, nor
should it receive the support OF any
Democrat.
The governors bill provides in Sec
ton one that "all ele vators and ware
houses storing and handling grain' OIL
any railroad station or siding, Except
in the cities of st. Paul, Minneapolis,
st. Cloud or Duluth" are declared to
be public elevators, and are placed
under the government and control or
the grain and warehouse commission OF
| the state. They must take out a license
from the commission, and in the applI-
cation must be given the location of the
| elevator or warehouse, and the names
Of the firm Or officers of the corporation
owning it. The license may be revoked,
and any one operating, either after rev.
ocation or without a license, is pun
| iShable by fine, impriSon ment, or sequeS-
| tration of property, If corporation.
| The commissioners shall formulate and
| publish rules and regulations for the
| grading, receiving, storage and delivery
| of grain at these elevators, and Tx the
| rates OF storage charges. The operator
shall keep a record Of all grain received,
| stating weight, grade and dockage; he
shall receive grain from any person Of
| fering it and give receipt, stating the
| gross and net weight of the grain, the
dockage and grade. The receipts are
| to be numbered cOnSecutively, and entl-
| tie the owner or holder to receive the
| grain specified in them when demanded,
and no condition or stipulation in 1T
shall modify the liability Of the ele-
vator as detined by law. Provision is
made for an appeal to the chief grain
inspector IN case of dispdte between the
bailor and balee. and his decision is
made final and conclusive. The COM
| mission is to investigate on complaint
made and render such judgment as the
| facts warrant and institute suits to en-
force its order. An annual report OF
grain received, its grade, weight and
dockage, is to be made to the commits
sion. A section prohibits pooling by
elevator companies.
1t will be readily seen that the pater-
nalstic idea permeates this bill. Com
| plant is made of imposition by class
of dealers, and forthwith the state is
| appealed to and steps i'll, in the role oil
a fond, impartial, wise parent. to regu-
late matters. A private business is de
clared" to be a public one; if it were not
! so designated it would be an unwar-
ranted use of power to interfere with
and regulate it. The operator is obliged
to receive and receipt for and become
responsible for all grain offered him,
whether he will or no. He becomes a
public officer, with sort Of fee for COM
| pensation. \ commission sits in judy
ment on him; a chief inspector re-
vises his business judgment. Previous
acts have regulated the terminal ele-
vators; this act extends the same
principle to others in the state.
AS a Republican measure it is true
to the principles of that party; in ia ct,
it might go farther than it does, and not
be departure. The GLOBE believes it
will beas effective as is the law it sup
plements. 1t suggests to the Democratic
members the ACCESSIBILITY OF leaving to
the Republicans the credit-and the re-
spunsibility-of its enactment.