The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-20
TOO MANY CRITICISMS
RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS WILL
INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS
ABOUT GRADING OF GRAIN
ALL INTERESTED INVITED
Chairman Mills Thinks Mistakes
May Have Been Made, but Moth
Ing MOre-Says the Present CrOp
Has Many Defects-Commfss
VIII Examine Samples and In
vttes Free Discussion.

The criticisms of grain shippers in
North Dakota and Minnesota of the
methods OF the state grain inspectors,
"hom they accuse of dishonest and un-
rair grading, have been taken up by
the railway and warehouse commits
sloners, who have decided to investi-
gate the matter. With a view to Sc
curing all the evidence that NAV be
oIlefed IN support of the charges the
commissioners will hold a hearing at
6 n of1ces Wednesday morning, Sept.
20. Ihey Will also consider the cues
ZION or the Minnesota grades and say
that II 1t Is shown the rules are in
error they shall be amended.
Inc charges against his department
nave been denied by Chief Grain In
sPector C!ausen. Yet a number of
shippers claim that the inspectors pur-
posely give wheat an inferior grade IN
order that when 1t is sold from the
elevators 1t may be graded higher and
the elevator owners reap the benefit OF
the d1fference in price The farmers
IN North Dakota particularly have been
very indignant and have considered the
adV1sability of working for the aboli-
ton OF the state inspection bureau.
They say 1T would be better to, have
grain inspections conducted by the
Z
and an agitation for such a change by
Legislative enactment has been threat
ened. The matter has become so serious
that the commissioners have been
0phged to take cOgniZance Of it, SAID
Chairman Mills yesterday:
There has been considerable excite
ment in the northern part of the state
over the grading of wheat at the ter
m1nalS, Duluth and MINNEAPOLIS. Ow-
cSjn hoJi
mistake or misrepresentation. The rules
are the same as they have been for
several years and the instructions to
the inspectors have been the same, viz,
to grade the wheat according to the
rules, always giving the benefit of the
doubt to the shipper.
The force is composed Of honest
men; the commission have the utmost
confidence in their ability and integrity
and believe that they are honestly per
forming their duties. The best Of men
In all branches Of business will some
times make mistakes and some Of our
inspectors may have made mistakes In
grading, but for these there is a rem
edy by an appeal to the chief deputy
and from there to the commission
The present crop has a great many
defects and criticism comes from both
the buyer and seller, the former con-
eral-the latter that it is too stringent
There have been several meetings call
ed In the country for the discussion
Of grades and as it is impossible for
the commission to attend them all, af-
ter consultation with Chief Inspector
Clausen, the commission deem 1t ad-
vfsable to hold a meeting where every
one interested can be heard, so the
commission may be fully advised if It
is the desire to have the rules changed
to suit the conditions of the present
crop and let in smutty and cockley
wheat in the higher grades. Of course,
If this is advisable. every one Is en-
titled to know it and make their con-
tracts accordingly.
''The commission hope they will have
a full attendance and free discussion
of the subject at this meeting and will
be glad to examine any samples or
hear any complaint that any one has
to make, desiring to do only the best
that can be done with the present crop
for the Minnesota, wheat grower"