St. Paul daily globe., 1895-12-27
COUNTRY WAREHOUSE LAW.

Several imDOrtdnt amendments 10 lHe COuH-
try warehouse law Of 1888 were adopted at
the past session of the legislature. The or
iginal law provided that 'all elevators ana
warehouses situated on the right OF way
of railroads in the state, at stations and sid
ings other than at terminal points, are
hereby declared public elevators to be under
the supervision of the railroad and ware
house commission.
A number Of elevators at interior points
are located upon land which. had been set
apart for depot grounds by the railway com
panies and the owners of such houses. most
ly line elevator companies, declined TO ap-
ply for a license to operate, on the ground
that being located on depot grounds they
did not come within the purview of the law.
Initial proceedings were pending againstthese
parties at the time the legislature convened.
but were discontinued upon the adoption of
an amendment which includes all elevator
/ and warehouses located not only on the
right Of way, but also ''on depot grounds and
other lands used in connection with any
such line Of railway" thus removing any
further preteIt for evasion. At the present
writing all elevators at interior points which
come within the scope of the law are now
operating under license and number in all
1,031.
The law was still further amended SO as
to secure to the holders of warehouse re-
ceipts on public country elevators, the op-
ton of demanding and receiving their grain
either at the local point or on track at either
Of the terminal points, the warehouse men
being held responsible for the delivery OF the
weight and grade called for by such re-
ceipts, less the actual loss shrinkage in
transit, not, however to exceed sixty pounds
per car load. Whether many have ayailed
themselves Of this important and valuable
right, is question, but that it affords an
advantage to owners of grain stored in coun-
try elevators, at times when terminal prices,
as compared with local prices, favor the en-
ployment, certainly admits Of no question.
Other minor amendments were made result
ing in a complete, effective and comprehen-
siye law, thoroughly adapted to the pur-
poses for which it was created.
Very few complaints were received at this
office during the season as to unfair and
points, differences Of opinion between buyer
and seller in most cases having been ad-
justed by mutual agreement to abide by the
Judgment Of the chief inspector, samples
agreed upon by both parties having been
sent to this office for the purpose. The
number OF such cases submitted for arbitra-
vious season, Indicating an increased knowI-
edge of the law and greater disposition to
resort to. the methods provided by it, in
cases of dispute.
RULES AND REGULATIONS.
One of the important features of the
years work, was the complete revision of
the rules and regulations governing the du-
| ties OF the members of the several depart
nlents OF inspection. weighing and registra-
tion. Many of the old rules which were in
| applicable to present conditions were elm
| most important is the relation fixing a limit
of time during which employees of the de-
partment should be allowed compensation
during absence from duty On account of sick
ness,
During the last session Of tbs legislature
@ bill was introduced on the recommendation
of your honorable board and the department,
providing for system of examination and a
standard of qualification for applicants for
positions in the department.. Unfortunately
the bill failed TO become a law, The delicate
nature and serious Importance of the work
OF this department, by which every producer
in the Northwest is affected demands that
nothing should be left undone which will
tend to perfect the service and promote the
general interest. / should feel that I was
derelict in my duties if I failed to again
call attention, to this important subject and
the urgent necessity. for adoption by law of
such system. -.
The number OF persons employed in the
various branches of the department was
! slightly larger during the, first four months
! of the season than during the remaining eight
months; the average number engaged in the
work was 1885,. as. follows: One chief inspee-
tor, four chief deputies, two first assistant
| deputies, eighteen deputies, seven sub-depu-
ties and seventeen helpers in the inspection
department. In the weighing department.
four state Weighmasters, sixty-five deputy
weighmen, one scale expert. In the registra-
1 ton department., one warehouse registrar and
two assistant registrars. In. the various
/ branches of the department there are also
twelve bookkeepers and clerks and two STEM
| ographers.
! tistical tables Exhibits isA' to "L" inclu-
sve) which follow, and which afford full in
| formation in detail concerning the different
features of the work for the crop year.
Following the exhibits will be found the
Minnesota grades of grain, as adopted by
your honorable board Aug. 5, 1895, and which
| are now in force, also the rules and regula-
/ tions for the government and control of pub
lie country elevators and warehouses as
adopted June /, 1895. in accordance with
chapter 140 Laws of 1895.
Your attention is also respectfully called to
| uaTrahIn and Instructive reDOTtS of the
several state weighmasters and registrars
| hereto attached.