The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-23
COVERS GROCERS TOO
PRODUCE COMMISSION MEN CLAIM
GROCERS SHOULD OBEY
GRINDELAND LAW
DEPENDS ON NATURE OF DEAL

Conference With State Railroad and
Warehouse COmmIssiOn-Grind
land Law as Applicable to Gro
GERS Is Discussed-A Fine Legal
Point Is Raised In Order to Bring
Them Under Provisions of Law.
The produce commission men are de-
termined that If they are compelled to
obey the Grindeland law they will en-
deavor to drag In the grocers of the state
under the same law. 1t is claimed that
the grocers are also doing produce COM
mission business although they are called
grocers. With this purpose in view a
delegation of commission men from Min
neapolis visited the railroad and ware
house commission yesterday to ascertain
If the commission, which is charged with
the enforcement of the Grindeland law,
would look upon the grocers as commits
sion men providing the fact could be
proven.
The meeting was by appointment for
mer Attorney General Childs being pres
ent as the special attorney for the rail-
road and warehouse commission in the
absence of Judge Mills, the regular legal
adviser of the commission. While the
delegation present representing the COM
mission men were from Minneapolis they
claimed to represent the commission mer-
chants throughout the entire state The
position and situation were outlined by
the spokesman for the delegation as fol-
lows:
we believe that the grocers of Min
nesota, of whom there are 500 or 500 in
the Twin Cities, are legally liable to come
under the provisions of the Grindeland
law, which requires all grain and prod
uce commission dealers to file a bond
and take out state license. We base
our claim upon the nature of their bust
ness, and the way it is conducted, and
hold that if we. as bona fide produce
commission men, are required to take out
licenses and give bonds, the grocers also
should be compelled to do so, otherwise
the grocers will get the big share of the
business, as they have no additional ex-
pense to pay. From our point of view,
the grocers do virtual commission bust
ness. suppose, for instance, a farmer
SENDS to grocer a dozen cases of eggs,
without accompanying the consignment
with a regular bill, stating the price to
be paid The grocer, of course under
stands that the eggs are to be paid for
at the market figure, and that he is to
qeduct a percentage for the expense of
handllng them. The grocer looks at the
market hgures and finds eggs are bring
ing 10 cents, wholesaler therefore he
SENDS the farmer 1872 cents, retaining the
balance as his commission and then soils
the eggs at retail or wholesale, as he
sees fit. This we hold, is regular com
MISSION business. 1t is the same as we
produce commission men do. The grocer
certainly does commission business, and
should be licensed if we are
nat depends somewhat on the nature
81 Of the deal, suggested Attorney Childs.
II all depends upon whether or NOT the
t1tle passes to the grocer when he ia KS
the consignment. If he pays cash down
WIlhout hgurlng commissions or expenses
ne undoubtedly takes the title. and can
not be said to have bought or sold the
GOODS on the commission plan"
Inese grocers aim to do away with
OF the latter. ''They are trying to do do
BUSINESS direct with the producer. TINS
cutting us out. If you do not reoI1ire
nne mt 10 o. take out licenses they will run
-, ana II we all take out licenses we will
al 90 much better business. and there
VII De perfect harmony" suggested an
Chairman Ringdal, asked for his onin-
ION ION by one of the commission men. said.
ms poard does not want to make fish
OF the one and flesh of the other. r oil
Hahgs upon the legal question suggested
ny zen ChlIds, whether or not the title
OF the goods passes to the grocer whom
ne accepts the goods. The Intention Of
the commission is to try and enforce the
Jaw. inns duty was laid on us bv tha
legislature and we have no option in +ho
matter. If we find the grocers are doing
a commission business, then 1 SUPPOSE
they Will have to take out licenses the
same as you fellows will have to do #
will be big job, though
IL the commission men succeed II. estab-
Hshlhg the fact that grocers are doing a
commission business under the Grinde-
iano law the grocers will be Obliged to
take out licenses and give bonds or SION
handling goods on the commission plan.