Morris tribune., 1905-09-09
..JudGLlNd THE GRADES"


week. 1t says
The accuracy of the figures given in an
editorial under the above caption has been
challenged, and successfully, by the chief in
spector of the grain and warehouse commits
sion. The figures were used in an editorial two
years before, and they were not then dis
puted, we assumed admission of their accuracy.
They were taken from statement submitted to
the Wisconsin legislature III support of a bill
to establish state grain inspection at Superior
We are convinced of the truth of the saying
that figures won't lie, but liars will figure"
The excess of grain inspected out that
inspected in, 1,3S300O bushels, is accounted
for by the amount of grain on hand Sept. 1. 1901
the end of the crop year-an extraordinary
|quantity caused by the early shipments of that
years crop-which the Wisconsin statement
omitted
The Dispatch while it cheerful1y makes
this statement, which removes any imputation
OF dishonesty IN our inspection
depart n1ent, finds no reason to change it's judg-
ment of the real purpose of state inspection
and of the falsty of it's pretense of being solely
in the interest OF the grain growers. In fact, it
finds confirmation of it's statement that the
system was originated as the elimination of the
practices which had suppressed the open
markets of the initial point under the develop
ment of the elevator companies with their
control at the terminals, for the purpose OF
establishing reputation abroad upon which
the terminal owners of grain might sell with
out subsection to inspection in the markets of
+ l.Ab no ic sold ro
Eastern and foreign markets and accepted on
the certificates of grade issued by the state
inspectors. For these dealers the system oper-
ates admirably and advantageously. For the
80 per cent of grain growers who sell at their
local elevators it is absolutely useless where it
is not positively hurtful. 4
Twenty years ago there tumult among
the grain growers. They charged that they
were given lower grades than their wheat
merted by the local agent of the terminal
elevator company, and that, after state inspec-
ten, the grades were mixed, the better with the
lower grades, to their loss. To remedy this the
law of 1S 85 was passed making every elevator
and warehouse which received grain for stor-
age public elevator, and the mixing eff grades
in them was prohibited under severe penalties.
We recall that it was urged that owners OF
wheat had a right to improve their quality by /
mixing grain, but to that it was replied that
he state has ample power to prohibit it even
~ it's owners. And we recall how the grain
department. announced the submission of ele-
yator owners to the law. We have given the
natter little attention for several years, but we
onfess to surprise at the statement that there
re now but three public elevators ware
louses in the state. In all the others grades
re mixed, and the state has no Jurisdiction
yer them except thru the weighmaster's office,
Which merely weighs i'll and out the grain :
DING into private elevators. The grain de-
admits the inability of the state to !
ay what men shall not do with the grain they /
wn.
All of which, while not ignoring the poss-
Die benefits of the system, goes to reject as
ttery false every pretense put forward for !:
IS existence as a state function.
The following from the Wood Lake News :
nght we'll be applied to other localities.
Rainy weather brings out the good evil in
nen very rapidly. Some men, soon rain
or town where they put in their time spend
ng money foolishly and sometimes making a
aughing stock of themselves. There are others,
however who Immediately do few odd Jobs
he result of which makes home whole lot