The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-04
Trouble Over Grain Inspection
in Topeka.
Thomas Cross and j. F. Buell.
Both Appointed.
WERE NEAR A REVOLT.
Grain Men and Millers Demand
ed Cross Retention.
Threatened to Start Open War
If He Was Not Named

Topeka has double-headed grain in
spection bureau. To settle a hot fight.
Governor Bailey has appointed both
Thomas Cross, the present incumbent,
and ]. F. Buell., st. Marys man. Buell.
came to Topeka several days ago, and is
at work at his new duties. Cross is also
pursuing his accustomed tasks, and the
compromise so far is working very well.
The news of Buell's assignment to To-
peka has been kept pretty well under
cover. Some of the principal millers Of
the city who were asked about the situ-
alton today did not know that the deal
had been fixed up.
The appointment of both Buell. and
Cross is a compromise between the grain
men and millers on one hand and the
politicians on the other. The politicians
wanted Buell. for the job. and it had
been decided to throw Tom Cross out
and give Buell. the place, when such a
| strong protest was made by the Topeka
grain men and millers that the plan was
| changed.
Then it was decided that Deputy In
spector Wright, who has been working
| as assistant to Mr.. Cross during the lat
ter's term of Office. should be let out,
thus leaving a vacancy which enabled
| places to be provided here for two in
| spectors Buell. and Cross were then
| both located here, and the grain men ac-
| cepted the situation Wright got a job
as weighmaster for local milling com
| pany.
| For a time it looked as though there
might be a revolt from the state in
spection laws. The millers and grain
men here at Topeka were all very web
satisfied with Cross, and they called on
Governor Bailey and protested when It
was discovered that Cross was slated
for decapitation The grain men threat.
ened to hire their own inspectors ana
turn no fees for inspection over to the
state. The millers said they would do
likewise It was further claimed that
if the revolt from the state grain in
spection department should start in To-
lpeka, it would in all probability extend
to all parts of the state, resulting in a
great decrease in the income of the
grain deDartme eat
Buell. had already been promised an
appointment here, 1t is claimed, and
the governor was in an unpleasant sit.
uation for awhile. 1t is said that Buell.
had specified in his application that he
should be given the place a Topeka.
and Governor Bailey could not go back
on his promise. At the same time, ne
realized that the united voice of all the
millers and grain men in Topeka could
not be disregarded. For some days the
question was 'uD in the air" and nc
one knew exactly how the matter would
be settled. Last Wednesday Governor
Bailey was asked by a reporter for the
State Journal whether he had settled
the contest, and said:
NO there has been nothing done.
don't think it amounts to much. 1t is
purely a local fight"
Last Saturday, State Grain Inspector
Radford came to Topeka from his head
quarters in Kansas City, and it is said
that his visit here resulted in a COM
promise being made between the millers
grainmen and Mr.. Buell., as has been
stated.
The salary of the grain inspector here
at Topeka is $S5 a month and so it is a
job which is worth having. All the fees
received are turned in to the state treas
ury.
A local grain man who does a large
share of the business said today:
THE difficulty has been settled by a
compromise, and both Buell. and Cross
are at work inspecting cars. We have
no objection to Buell's working here, but
Mr.. Cross will probably do the bulk OF
the inspecting If Mr.. Cross had not
been retained, there would have been q
fight made which might have had i'm
portant results.
Buell. will probably be retained in his
present position if he can do the work
There seems to be some question as to
his ability to do the work"
Buell. came to Topeka from St MaryS
He was in the grain business there tc