The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-16
WILL SEEK NEW LAW
Present Measures Not Sufficientito
Prevent Car Sweeping.
LOSSES BY SWEEPS ARE HEAVY
The Railway Commission Is Deter
mined to Stop the Practice and
Has Strong Backing.

Members of the state railroad and ware
house commission have decided to ask the
Legislature to pass law prohibiting the
sweeping" of wheat cars, and bill
designed with that end in view will be in
troduced during the special session to be
held next month.
Recently the commission has gone into
this matter thoroughly, and has decided
that the practice has ceased to be a
nuisance and has become, instead a posi-
tive evil. Commissioner Staples has es-
timated that the loss of wheat occasioned
in this way is from 1900 to 1000 bushels
daily, during the busy season, in Mime
apolis alone. AS this loss falls largely
upon farmers and small outside shippers,
it has resulted in lettering shipments to
Minneapolis that would otherwise come
here, and diverting them to Chicago and
other points. $50
Mr.. Staples believes his estimate to be
conservative. If it is, it affords unmis-
taxable evidence of collision between the
men employed in unloading cars at the
mills and elevators, and the sweepers.
Said a state official yesterday:
This thing must be stopped Until recently
we supposed that existing laws were sufficient
to stop it, but in view of Judge Dickinson
ruling in a recent Minneapolis case, we
have decided to secure the enactment of a
new law. We do not wish to criticize the
disappointed at his decision. There are prob
ably 300 people who make their living in Min
neapolis by sweeping wheat, and rnost of
them make a good living at that.
Other Cities Have Suffered.
We have letters here from Charles S. Clark
editor of the Chicago Grain Dealers Journal
Grain Dealers association. He writes that
Chicago and Kansas City both experienced
this difficulty some time ago. He says that
In Chicago the sweepers made a practice OF
carrying liquor to the unlOaders in return
for their leaving few bushels of wheat in
each car they unlcaded, while in Kansas
City the unloadeIs shared in the monetary
profits of the sweepers fear that both of
these plans in operation in Minneapolis
and we are determined that the evil shall be
remedied. 4..r...t ..-s. .r4.... .-...- -
There are several small dealers in Min
neapois who are better than fences for
these sweepers. They buy wheat knowing it te
have been stolen, clean it and make a profit
of 10 cents or more on each bushel. To-day
sweeping is not allowed either in Chicago
or Kansas City and 1t should not be per-
mitted here. ..a. .'.-., 49,. -.
Our records show that complaints of Short
age from shippers are increasing constantly.
This means that the shrinkage is due to other
than natural causes, for natural shrinkage
SllOulu uOI eACoSu 1iuul lulfLy 10 Sixty pOuuuS
to the car, while it now runs from two to four
bushels, A Waterman who was formerly al
lowed to do all the sweeping in one yard,
told Mr.. Staples that the privilege was worth
about 300 bushels Of wheat the year round.
! That is pretty good pay for a Waterman
Strong Forces at Work. ,.'.-
| The millers, railroads, elevator companies
and the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce
| have united with us to eradicate this evil,
and the only way to do it effectually is to
| keep out of the yards everyone who does not
belong there; even the apparently inoffensve
small boy, who is usually the tool of some
one older than himself in matters of this
kind. --. ..e.'
Sweepers have become so bold in Mime
| apolis that they even steal from unloaded cars
and conceal their plumber until nightfall.
| when they can load it into wagons without
detection. Recently we found two sacks OF
fax cached in this way in one Of the Min
neapolis yards We set detectives to watch it.
| hoping thus to capture the thieves, but they
were too wary and never went near the
! plant. r.. 80 .-.. =
| The commission will not cease its efforts
| until this evil has been overcome; and, as ex.
| listing laws have been held to be Inadequate
we are determined to secure legislation thai
I shall suffice to blot this stain from Mime
! apolis record, and make it possible for ship
| pers to send grain to the -four city withou
being compelled to pay a percentage tribute
to Minneapolis wheat thieves. r..