The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-09

Inc daily sessions held by the Jacob
son grain investigation committee NAV
result In recommendation that Tho
State grain inspection department he
placed under the restriction of civil
service
chairman Jacobson seems to be pro-
cecdlng with this in mind at all times.
as many OF his questions put to those
VINO nave been on the stand bring out
Inc deslrability of the civil service
feature very prominently.
Ch1ef Grain Inspector A. G.. Clausen
was on the stand again yesterday TO
explain some Of the apparent discrep-
encles In the present system Of grading
and docking the farmers product at
the three Minnesota terminals
Larry In the week several witnesses
were examined by the committee. sup-
plement1ng their testimony with sam
pies or grain, which were claimed to
nave been locked excessively or grad
ed too low.
chairman jacobson in each case sub
united the sample to the chief grain
inspector before reading the testimony.
regarding the particular sample in
question. The first was submitted to
the committee by T. Harbon on Mon
day. Mr.. Clausen, after taking the
sample to the light and examining it
critically, pronounced it No. 2 north
ern. and when questioned further stat
ed that a dockage of a pound and a
half would be about right.
Mr.. Harbon's testimony was then
read. He testified that he shipped
three cars from the same field and that
on one ne was given No. 2 northern
with three pounds dockage and the
other cars were graded No. and No.2
respectively. Mr.. jacobson asked the
Witness to explain why it was there
was such varience in the grading Of
wheat which was Of the same growth
MI Clausen in answering asserted
that II the sample, which was very
small, was a fair representation of the
three cars, gross error had been made
as the sample fully came up to the
grade he gave it.
Another sample, submitted by, Wit
ness Ross, was handed the chief in
spector for his opinion Upon examina-
ton ne said it would make a good NO
z northern. Chairman jacobson read
the testimony Of Mr. Ross, which was
TO the effect that three cars of the
same wheat had been shipped, two to
Minneapolis and one to Duluth. Upon
inspection one was given a rejected
grade, the second was classed as No
2 northern and the third No. 3 spring
Mr.. Clausen in this case reiterat-
ed MS FORMER statement to the effect
That ii the sample was a fair one the
grade had been given too low. The
sample submitted to him was good
milling wheat, and without the cookie"
would grade as No 1 northern.
The committee has. perhaps come
TO the conclusion" said Mr.. jacobson
to inspector Clausen that the grain
inspection OF the state is not as effect
ual as 1t might be made What legis
latlon would you suggest?
In my annual report I suggested the
establishment Of boards of appeal at
terminals. This would. I think e-eate
a much better feeling among the farm
ers, and 1t would go out that they
could have voice in the state inspec-
ton, and would insure a great deal
more confidence in all quarters"
AS result Of further questioning
upon the methods of appointment and
quanhcatloEs OF inspectors, Mr.. Clau-
sen asserted that 1t would never be
possible to establish a perfect system
OF inspection, as all grading is depend
ent upon human judgment. 800
Mr.. Clausen then explained the sys-
tenn used by the department in INSPECT
ing grains. Each inspector had two
helpers, who probed the car where di-
rected. About six samples of every
car were taken. and from these the
grade was established. One inspector
could inspect thirty-five cars an hour
All appointments were made by the
railroad and warehouse commission
utoH the recommendation of the chief
inspector. Mr.. Clausen asserted that
ne used more than ordinary care in
selecting inspectors. Promotions were
made from the ranks.