The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-27
ONE Law THAT HOLDS
SUPREME COURT sUsTAINs THE
GRINDELAND BILL, sO-CALLED,
GOVERNING COMMISSION MEN
INSURANCE COMPANY WINS
Brought by A. Doten-street Rail-
way Company Granted 4" Reversal
Asked for because Irrelevant and
Improper Testimony Was Admit
ted In the Lower Court!

The Grindeland law passed at the last
session of the legislature. requiring COM
mission men and grain dealers to take
out a license and become subject to regu-
lation Of the State Railroad and Ware
house commission. was declared consutu-
tional by the Supreme court in two test
cases decided yesterday.
When the law became operative the
produce commission and grain men of
the Twin Cities decided by mutual con-
sent to make test of the constitution
ality Of the new statute in the supreme
court after decision had been rendered
In the district court sustaining the con-
stitutlonalfty Of the act. The Red Path
case Of st. Paul, involving the law IN Its
application to commission men, and the
Mohler case, representing the grain men,
were both decided by the court yesterday
The supreme court sustains the consti-
nationality of the act upon every point
raised. and holds that mono of it's provis-
ions are at variance with the constitu-
ton Of the United States.
In the Redpath case Attorney j. H
Beck appeared as relator and Sheriff John
WAGNER as respondent The syllabus Is
as follows:
State ex rel. Jos. H. Beck. relator. vs.:
John WAGNER, as sheriff OF ramsey
county respondent. -
Syllabus-1 L. 1892 chap. 225. an act TO
license. regulate and define the puSine1e
Of commission merchants or persons sei3-
ing agricultural products and farm proc
ducts on commission, etca. helo Sonsla,
tutional. 1t is not in conflict with 1ne
provisions of the fourteenth amenone4S
to the Federal constitution. Nor does It
conflict with any Of the provisions or
sec, g. art. l Of said constitution. nor
are any of its provisions In connlct WIN
secs. 2 or I Of art. / Of the state constltu-
ton. Nor is it unconstitutional on the
ground that legislative powers nave
therein been delegated to the railroad
and warehouse commission of this state.
2: The peculiar characteristics OF agrl5
cultural products and farm produce ana
the liability to peculiar abuses resulting
from a sale thereof on commission. are
such as to suggest the practical necessity
for distinctive legislation on the subject
different from what would be expedient
or necessary in the case of other proper
ty sold on commission and TO !ustlly6 the
legislature. in its discretion. In putting
those who sell them on commission IN
class by themselves.
s. Whether sec. 8 of said chapter Is
In conflict with certain provisions Of the
fourth or the fifth amendments to the
Federal constitution, or in conflict with
provisions found In secs. Z and 10 of art.
l Of the state constitution. is not decided.
because the questions are NOT involved
herein. Writ discharged. Collins, j.
No syllabus was filed in the Mohler
case except a statement that the vital
points are covered in the decision printed
above.
Senator E, G.. Potter, one of the leading
produce commission men of Minneapolis,
says that the effect of the decision
will be to drive all but the very largest
commission firms out of business. $50
There is no such law in any other state,
says Mr.. Potter, and the result will be to
drive trade to the markets of Chicago and
Omaha
There are some fifty produce commits
sion firms in Minneapolis and a meeting
will be held in few days at which there
will be representatives of the Minneap-
oils, Duluth and St Paul commission men
and a line. Of action mapped out.
F. O.. Tilton, of the, firm of Tilton &
Co, and president of the Minneapolis
produce exchange, when seen last nieht
in regard to the decision of the supreme
court of the state in favor OF the Cirihde-
land bill, said: f"The commission men
will hold their regular meeting tomorrow
morning, and at that time final action
will be taken as to whether the ccnst;-
tutionality of the bill will be further con-
tested In the higher courts. The con-
mission men feel that the law works a
great injustice upon them, and although
they are lGath to give up the fight. it
may be decided at tomorrow's meeting
to put up the bonds and let the matter
drop"