Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-02-24
REGARDING GRAIN IMSpEC-
TON.

l'''
and make an Investigation into the mat.
ter of grain inspection. with Il view to
ascertaining what steps it is possible to
take for the benefit Of the system and of
the farmers OF the state, has been filed
with the legislature. The docu-
ment is an exhaustive one, entering into
the matter in every possible detail and
covering Ill OF the facts ascertaincd by
the committee. Probably no matter is
of greater interest to the farmers of
North Dakota, all Of whom are interest
ed and through whose earnest requests
the steps were taken for the possible
improvement of the present system, with
the benefit of the shippers in view.
The committee considers the matter
under Il number of phases. First, the
doing away with the.inspcction is consid-
cred. This the committee believes
would be seriously unwisc and Il dis
tinct step backward. While inspection
does lot improve the grain, it gives IL
certificate Of character which is valuable
in grain dealings. 1t acts as check on
the commission house. Grain with Il
certificate of inspection will sell at il
premium over u%ninspectcd grain. While
there is no provision in the law rcquir-
ing grain to be inspected, it is a benefit
and one that it would be impracticablc
to do without.
The question Of inspection at tcrmin-
ais in the state has been discussed, but
this the committee finds must come
naturally with the growth Of the bust
ness and cannot be forced. The neccs-
sity of securing arrangements with rail
roads to permit its unloading, inspection
and shipment again under a through
rate might operate against the system if
this arrangement with the roads could
not be made easily and would be fatal to
it, if it could not be made at all. Then
without the large business and CONNER
cial interests behind it, the certificates of
grades would be of comparatively small
value. The market would be limited
and the terminal market would be a
sort of middle market only. 1t is easy
to suggest the plan but there are many
obstacles and disadvantages in the way
of its operation.
The same reasons apply largely to the
proposed inspection at Superior in COM
petition with Duluth. The Importance
of the backing Of large buying and COM
mercial interest is shown by the fact
that while a great share of the grain is
received at Superior for shipment it is
inspected under the Minnesota law. The
attempt has been made in Wisconsin to
establish competitive inspection but was
abandoned. The committee does not
believe competitive inspection is what is
wanted but uniform inspection, which
shall place grain in a favorable light
with other systems of inspection. Uni
form grades should be reasonably high.
The members of the Superior board
agreed that the time was not yet ripe for
Superior inspection. but the committee
believes that it will eventually super
sedc that at Duluth and chat this will
be brought about naturally, by the large
shipping interests at the former place.
The methods of lettering the Mime
sofa inspection system are thcn entered
into. The system is good in theory. the
weighing system perfect and The law cx-
%cellent. and the complaints arc due to
inability or indisposition of inspectors.
1t is possible that Judgment may be in
tluenced sometimes through powerful
concerns interested. But the certili-
Gates of the system stand well. \ radi-
cal change, the committee thinks, should
be made in the matter OF appeal. At
present there must be re-inspcction at
additional cost if complaint is made,
and a further complaint must go to the
board of railroad and warehouse com
m%issioners. where the board is guided
largely by the recommendations of the
chief inspector. This confers much
power on the inspector-and the delay,
ACL4ulAOSC ailO oll1CI lcto ll1uhc ZIG dI-
peal in many cases impossible. The
committee recommends appeal boards at
Minneapolis and Duluth, with provisions
for immediate appeals and decisions.
The boards are to be continuously in
session. These boards would insure I'M
iformity and stability of inspection, and
there would be the advantage of the
Judgment of several men instead of
practically only one. 1t would be a
check on the inspection department, and
it is believed assist in securing fair and
Just remedies to the shippers immed-
lately.
The committee believes, however, that
federal inspection is the solution of the
whole problem. The business is one of
too great magnitude and Importance to
be subjected to local Influences. The
following statement of the case is quoted
from a gentleman at West Superior and
endorsed by the committee:
"The right of the people Of every state