The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-07

of the warehouse and grain law the producers
of the state had alleged that they had been
the victims OF great injustice by reason of
system OF handling the grain crops which
was instituted and controlled by the boards
Of trade composed largely of the buyers of
grain. The measure referred to was the re-
suit of this feeling of dissatisfaction and
since its enactment in 1885, the inspection
weighing and registration system at the
terminal points, Minneapolis, Duluth, ST.
Paul and st Cloud has been under state
control and has proved of incalculable bene-
fit to the producers and shippers of the state
in securing an intelligent and impartial in
spection of grain, uniform standards and
correct, reliable system of state weights.
At the session of 1893 additional legislation
was secured for the purpose of strengthen
ing and supplementing the terminal inspec
ton law. The most important the
Country Warehouse Law" it's object being
to extend the Jurisdiction of the railroad
and warehouse commission to the local mar
kets of the state, for the purpose OF correct
ing the general evils that might exist and
furnish the farmers with an impartial tri-
bunal before which to bring complaints of
Injustice and oppression, with view to
their proper consideration and adjustment.
Three years experience under its operation
has fully demonstrated its usefulness and jus
tif1ed it's enactment. In 1895 the law was
amended in several particulars where eX-
perience had dictated its necessity all pro-
visions Of practical and salutary nature be-
ing retained, while those of an opposite
character were eliminated The law may
now be regarded complete and practical in
all its features. fully meeting the intention
or Its friends and promoters, and also the
hearty approval of the general public
In addition to these measures in the in
terest of the grain producers of the state,
are chapters 81 and 65 of the Laws Of 1898
the former providing for the erection of ele-
Vators and warehouses on the right of way of
railways. and providing for condemnation
proceedings in connection Herewith. and the
latter for the construction of switches and
side-tracks upon the right OF way OF rail-
road companies to elevators and mills located
on lands adjacent to such right of way.
1t IS conceded by those who have carefully
observed the development, operation and re-
suits of these various measures that equally
meritorious- laws, looking to the protection Of
the producers and grain interests in their
various aspects, have at no time been enacted.
They were prepared with great care and fore
thought, and inspired by the desire to cover
as far consistent and practical the problem
of handling grain at the interior and terminal
markets and to afford, without stint, the ia
cilities and protection which have so long
been demanded by the people of the state.
From this brief review Of the grain laws
the vast Importance Of the work Of the rail-
road and warehouse commission and the de-
partments under its control may be appre-
ciated. The increase in the business at the
terminal points may be best understood by
quoting from the last report of the state
grain inspector, which sets forth that the
annual receipts Of grain at the four terminal
points have increased from 81 635 carloads
in 1885, to 80, sos car loads in 1896. The an
nual earnings of the department have in
creased from $63471 to $241 ,943. while the
number OF persons required to discharge the
duties has grown from 81 in 1885 to las in 1896.
BY careful methods and wise management,
although the scope of it's duties have been
widely extended, the cost to the owner of
grain for the combined service of inspection
and weighing has decreased from / 1-3 to 2-3
Of a mill per bushel. This branch Of state ad-
ministration is in no sense a tax upon the
general public, but strictly self-supporting
being maintained from fees collected exelus-
lively from the owners OF grain.
Business Methods Applied to State
Administration.
OF subjects relating to state administration
with the exception of taxation, none is of
greater public interest than the movement
for securing thorough application of business
nicipal affairs. This movement is usually
referred to under the designation of civil
service reform. 1t has many phases Mime
sofa years ago, by the wise action Of It's
chief executive and its legislature, in creating
and appointing non-partisan boards for NE
regulation and control OF our penal, charit-
able and educational Institutions applied
strict business principles to greater relative
portion of its civil service than was at the
time attained in any other state of the Union
or than is yet attained In more than two
or three states The success of the applica-
ton of business methods in such a large rel
alive portion of the employees under state
control early led to general desire for its
application in still other departments OF
state. The board of railroad and warehouse
commissioners four years after the establish
ment of our system Of grain inspection be-
came convinced that proper fulillment and
the efficient discharge OF tho exacting duties
imposed upon them In that system necesai-
tated In the same classification and train
ing OF it's employees. Acting upon that con-