The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-29
BLAMED IT TO COCKLE
INSPECTOR CLAUSEN's EXPLANA-
TON FOR SOME Low GRAD
ING OF WHEAT
COMPLAINTS OF INSPECTION

SOWI EHIN j - VI tNOI IL iSN
State Railroad Commission begins
an Investigation Into the Ground
for So Much Kicking About the
Work of Inspection This Year
Several Districts Where Farmers
Have Grievances.
The state railroad and warehouse
commission yesterday considered the
complaints from farmers against the
state grain inspection system. Farmers,
millers, members of the Farmers AL
lance and elevator men were present
at the hearing. The conference was
the result of complaints from wheat
raisers throughout the state obJecttng
to the grading Of grain, the general
contention being that this years crop
was being graded too low. Those pres
ent besides Ira B. Mills, George L.
Becker and Nathan Kingsley, members
of the commission. were Ignatius Don
nelly, Charles A. Pillsbury, Senator e.
T. Young Erick Olson, s. D. Cargill,
j. S. Robbins, A. G. Clausen, J. S. Shain,
F. H. Riley and Noah Adams.
Speaking for the district about APP
pleton. Senator Young said that the
farmers grievance lay in the fact that
this years grain was being graded
lower than that of last year. Grain
grown from the same seed as that used
the year before and that came from
the thresher in good condition was be-
ing rated only as No. grade, while
last year, he said, the same wheat was
graded No. l.
J. T. shain. appearing before the
commission as the representative of
the business men Of Browns Valley,
had the same fault to find as Senator
Young. Local elevator men, he said.
were better able to grade the grain
than the state inspectors at terminal
points. He declared the grading was
entirely too fine, saying that men en-
gagged in the wheat buying business
for years found their experience and
judgment set at nought by the state
inspectors. AT Browns Valley he said,
there were no Independent buyers,
while the other purchasers had been
advised by their principals not to grade
any wheat above No. 2, as this was
the highest grade that could be gotten
from the state inspectors at Minneap-
oils. AS a result of this Mr.. Shain
SAID, the wheat naturally tributary to
Browns Valley was being diverted to
SissetOn and other points on the Mil
Waukee road, where there were indie
pendent buyers, who graded the grain
higher. Furthermore. Mr.. Shain said
the close grading at the hands of the
state inspectors resulted in loss to the
country elevator men. for, if they
graded car of wheat No. l, when If
came to a terminal and was there
marked No. 2, they had to stand the
loss.
j. 5. Robins, Of Willmar, said there
was much complaint In his district
ana exhibited a sample Of grain grad
ed NO. 2 this year that had last wear
been graded No. l.
WOULD ABOLISH INSPECTION
When Mr.. Pillsbury was asked about
the quality of this sample, he declined
TO pass upon 1T, saying he was not an
expert judge, explaining that all Of
ms grading was done by his buyers.
MI P1llsbury said that the SITTER the
grading, the better it was for the
farmer and all parties concerned. but
ne was, moreover, he said, in favor of
apolshlng all state inspection and al
lowing the miller or other buyer to ex-
dLpIhe car of wheat and pay for #
what he thought it was worth
AS secretary OF the Farmers AM
ahce, j: Z. Hanley said there had been
much dlssa tisfaction among. the farm
eFs early In the season, but that Of
Iateo matters had been more satisfac-
tCry; he said that the farmers chare-
Gu the buyers with being in a conspir-
acy. Commission men had inforp,ad
MINI MINI MI Hanley said, that where re-
Inspectlons had been had fairer treat
ment had been received.
d. L. Gfandin said that out Of sIxtv-
Two cars of wheat shipped from his
ulstrlct that were held for reinspec-
era6o ' a ~ SIX We're given a higher
sfade on the second inspection.
Z. A. Pittsburgh give NV word 90
hohor that [ know of no combinatio1
among the millers to effect prices The
pest plan would be to do awav with
grazing altogether. The miIlers never
wanted this system. If the grading
was abolished the wheat pit would he
oohe away with also. l would not re-
s at' II THIS We're the case. Millers DO
not oppose high grades. Prices adiusr
themselves to grades
1Shatlus DOnnelly said the difference
IN the price of Nos. 1 and 2 amounted
70 millions Of dollars to the farmer
he looked upon this matter as a con-
H1ct between opposing interests He
argued that he did not understand that
there is any complaint of fraud or
thieV1ng made against the inspection
department. 1 have tried remarkably
IN the legislature to have a. different
plan adopted as to inspection. I favor
an elective commission Of considerable
numbers made up Of farmers and bust
ness men from different parts of the
state. At the beginning of the inspec
ton season the commission could NEE,
ana TX grades. This would do away
with complaints. There should be an
Inspector at every local point where
e wheat is shipped. The present insnec-
ton IS in the interest of the elevator
man.
SELL BY SAMPLE.
Inc abolition of the inspection sys-
tenn was advocated by P. H. RahiIly,
OF Lake City. AS a practical farmer
who shipped annually 10000 bushels of
wheat, he advised the farmers to sell
by sample, By this means, he said he
had received five cents more per bushel
than for wheat sold under inspection.
MI Rahilly said he had no complaint
TO make regarding dishonest motives
on the part of state inspectors.
Eric Olson, state lecturer Of the
Farmers Alliance, said nine out or
every ten farmers wanted the inspec-
ton system abolished.
State Grain Inspector Clausen took q
turn at defending his department. He
said he had always maintained that the
grading system of the entire country
sWas wrong. He favored the purchase
or wheat by sample. The best wav. he
said, was for the buyer to get on the
wagon examine the wheat and then
pay the farmer what 1t was worth In
regard to the 1nsinuation Of a con-
spiracy, MIR. Clausen said he was pre-
pared to defend the department against
any charge that state Inspectors were
dishonest. The best way to determine
whether the grading under the present
system was fair or not, Mr.. Glausen
said was for tha farmers 70 viSit +ho