The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-16
eewHY SO MANY"
The Chief Grain Inspector Explains
the Work Done.

To the Editor of the State Journal:
In the Journal of the 18th find an arti-
Gle headed why So Many?" This seems
to be straightforward question. shall
take it so, anyway, and endeavor to give
a straightforward answer.
In the first place there were no new
names placed on the pay roll yester-
day" You look back over my monthly
reports for a year or more and you will
find them all there then. l have added
to the force by engaging helpers" Gor
as long as needed) at salaries am sorry
the Missouri inspection department, just
across the line AS to the other salaries
you mention, the law fixes these and 1
have nothing to do with them, but to
crticise their size; and will say that for
no more or better work, other inspection
departments pay to assistant inspectors
$120 to $3.50 per month and to Weighmas-
tiers SIS to 500 per month.
Please note that on August we reduced
the inspection fee from % cents per car
This seemed necessary since the law pro
hibits a surplus, although 1t is impossible
deficit was Impossible for the month of
August at the reduced fee. The law con-
templated just what came ABOUT exactly,
and 1 followed it as closely as possible:
it is a good provision in the law and good
AS to criticism because of so many dep
uties,' / will answer that l am glad of
will not hurt the head of SO important a
department as this. One thing you must
remember: that the state does not receive
a cent from, or pay a cent to this. depart
ment. It must be "self-sustaining and
no more" The grain shippers pay for this
work, and if they do not object to pay
ing 10 cents per car when they used to
pay 80 cents, l will consider my work in
dorsed.
1 have appointed three or four weigh
binary circumstances. But to prevent the
shipper being robbed of not only the 100
pounds not allowed. I placed an extra
weigher at some of the elevators, with
very good results, and II think neces-
sary I will put two more men there q an
nounce this now that you may not be
mined to locate and stop this unwarrant-
ed shortage which is the "bete noir' of
dorsement of the shippers, as the minutes
of the Grain Dealers association will
was organized expressly to combat this
evil, and this department is going to lend
them all the power it has for its accomp-
1ishment.
AS to rewarding political workers" I
will reply that I do not do it. The CEN
trail committee has never asked of me the
appointment or employment of anyone.
Governor Leedy has never asked the APP
pOintment or employment of anyone since
the first days of organization over a year
ago. 1 have selected men thought avail
able and the governor has kindly commits
stoned those to be commissioned, and those
that did not require a commission I do
not suppose the governor knows anything
about. am glad to say that many
worthy men have found employment in
this department, but I will say also that
there is not one of them soldering on
I do not think the people of the state
generally take in the volume and scope OF
the work of this department. We cover
nine points in the state, and the work of
inspecting ''on arrival" here in Kansas
! City, must be done by 10 a. m; this to en-
able sale to be made and ordered
to avoid car service or demurrage. In
the afternoon we inspect the grain ''out''
| of the elevators.
give the above more as an explanation
than an answer, for I know that anyone
who knows what this department is doing
will not make the charge implied in your
| why So Many?' article. I would not
[ nave ATTEMPTED
question seemed so candid that a candid
answer seemed proper. I have every rea-
son to believe that the friends of this de-
partment are the ones for whom we do
the work, and up to the present time
I have not heard of any complaint from
them. Until do, I take it we are o. K.
| Very respectfully,
W. w. CULVER.
Chief Grain Inspector.
Kansas City. Kan. Sept. "a. 1898.