The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-26
WISCONSIN
LET THEM MOVE EN-
Display of Fireworks Before the
Committee Hearings on the
Grain Inspection Bill.
Frauds in Minnesota Inspection at
Superior Alleged Mr.. Hill
Said to Be Blufing.
Special to The Journal.

Madison, Wis, Feb. 26.-yThe big dere-
cation of Superior men who descended
on the Wisconsin capital yesterday to
push along the grain inspection bill have
occupied good deal of the attention of
the legislature since their arrival. Yes
terday afternoon the senate chamber was
turned over to them for hearing before
the committees on state affairs of the
two houses The hearing was continued
in the evening, and was resumed at S
o'clock this morning.
F. A. Ross opened the discussion at the
afternoon session. making able argu-
ment for the bill. He was followed by
Judge Myron Reed, who said he did not
believe the Minnesota inspection of grain
In Wisconsin elevators wass legal.
Hits Man IN Opposition.
John A.. Murphy, representing the Hill
interests, was the principal speaker of
the opposition. He asserted that the Su-
perior board of trade was moving in the
In difficulty between cities and asserted
that the board wanted the state to ap.
propriate $4,000 or $4,000 to help out the
board, which was confessed3y bankrupt.
The bill. Mr. Murphy said. would ieopar-
die the vast railroad interests Of Su-
perior, for it was doomed to failure and
would result in driving all Of the ele-
vatOrs from Superior to Duluth. Refer
the law of 1895 Mr. Murphy predicted
that the same thing would happen again.
The attempt to subject grain passing
through Superior to state regulation. Mr..
Murphy argued. was futile. as such a
measure would be unconstitutional.
Mr.. Murphy after relating the manner
in which Mr.. Hill came to build his
81. 200. 900 elevator in Superior. said he
did so despite the warnings Of the Du-
luth people that the tendency Of the SUI.
perior men was to embarrass the grain
trade, but Mr.. Hill gave no attention tt
me assertion. 1t was a serious mistake
ne thought, that the bin should have
been drawn without consulting the Gle.
vator interests. They furnished the means
of livelihood to So per cent of the popula
ton of Superior
Mr. Murphy insisted that the farmer.
had no interest In the measure. They
sold their wheat in sack in the neares
town and it purchased by the eleva
TOR men. Nlnety-eight per cent Of all tn
wheat passing through Superior wa
pwned by the elevator men. They solt
their wheat on grade and had establishe,
reputation that could not be overturned
Of such value was the inspection, Mr.
Murphy said, that Minnesota inspectet
wheat brought three cents more pc
bushel than Manitoba wheat Of the sam
grade. although the latter was the bette
wheat.
minnesota Stealing"
The hearing was resumed In the eve
Ming. e. c. Kennedy Of Superior being tn
FIRST speaker and urging the passage g
the bill He began by saying that he rep
resented all abut a. few--six he though
vas the exact nurnber-of the citizens q
Superior. He took exception to sewers
Of the statements made. by Mr. Murph,
and alluded sarcastically to his figures o
the taxes paid by the elevator owner
The Great Northern. Mr.. Kennedy sal,
built big steel elevator which cost mi
lion and half dollars, but 1t was assesse
last year at only about s375,0O0, and pal
tax of very close to $4,000.
Mr.. Kennedy caused something of
sensation by making the flat charge ths
the Minnesota stealing is done in the Mir
nesota inspection Of grain at Superio
law he said, land the proposed bill is
copy Of it. But when the Minnesota ii
spectors come over to Superior they a,
beyond the Jurisdiction of the Minneso
law, and there Is no law in Wisconsin
reach them"
Grades Mixed.
To substantiate his claim Of fraud
the Minnesota inspection at Superior, M
Kennedy gave figures from the report
the Duluth Board of Trade showing tn
over SO per cent more No. 1 hard whe
sAshipped out of the elevators at Superb
than is shipped in, while the receipts
inferior grades are about twice the shi
nents. the conclusion. Of course, bel
that inferior wheat shipped in is mix
with No. 1 hard and included in the era
of that grade shipped out. His fgur
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