The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-06-20
L0UNSBERRY ON
INSPECTION
QUESTION
Washington Writer Discusses
McCumber Charges and
Minnesotan's Reply.

--.-..~O
Washington. D. c.. June 15-To The
Forum: The Minnesota Warehouse
commission has filed reply to the
charges of Senator McCumber in. the
matter of Minnesota wheat inspec-
ton. AS to the excess of 26,000,000
found by Judge Sanborn in the ship
ments from Duluth over the receipts
in ten years, the witness appears to
have been fixed as we'll as the grades,
for he now comes forward not with
the plain unvarnished statement that
the lied, but that he failed to take in
to consideration shipments to the
mills, and various other incidentals
amounting in all to 33.145.0 900 bushels,
and in like manner they work upon
the righteous Judge and have him APP
pend a statement to his decision, that
something had happened since he rem
dered such decision. which was based
on the facts before him, that has led
him to think that may be he was mis-
taken.
They prove that they caught one
man fixing samples from which fax
shipments We're graded, which in
creased the dockage 100 per cent He
would then buy the cars that had been
manipulated. What the North Dakota
shippers would now like to know is
how many other fowlers and providers
were doing the same thing.
They also show that mixing is a
regular thing, and undertake to justi-
fly it. So as to the feature OF Senator
McCumber's charges that they manip-
ulated the grades, and mixed the low
err with the higher, they plead guilty.
They do not show how much of the
low grade was raised to the high, and
make no computation as to the profit
to them or the loss to the farmer, but
admit that they got there just the
same.
But let us be fair with them. Here
is their explanation in their own Ian
guage:
Regarding the changes of grades in
and out of elevators: In addition to
the thorough explanations made by
Senator Nelson. we submit the fol-
lowing:
The intermingling or mixing of diff
ferent grades of grain, resulting in
the improving of low grades to high
er grade, is considered by all grain
men and handlers as legitimate a
business as the improving or mixing
of any article in any other line of
business.
The grading of grain is largely
matter of Judgment and no rules for
this can be laid down that do not al
low certain range for every grade
OF grain On this account there is a
higher and lower level in every grade.
and by mixing certain proportions of
the choice qualities of. we will say, /
and 2 northern in the proportion of
the low grade used can be raised so
as to make mixture equal or better
than the average run of the higher
grade.
Wheat that is put in the northern
grade may have all the qualities of
l northern but one. For instance, it
may contain too much cookie, smut,
foul seed, ETC.; it may be bleached a
little too much, or it may be too light
IN weight, but by mixing with it /
northern OF s,ood color that contains
no cookie or bleached kernels, and is
very heavy, it brings it up to the aver
age level Of the upper grade. To ac-
compllsh these results it is necessary
TO have elevators equipped with spec
ial machinery for the handling and
Improving this class of wheat.
There are two classes of elevators
at Minneapolis, Duluth, and Superior
the public and the private The
public elevator affords the shipper the
privilege of sorting his grain where
different grades are not allowed to be
90 81
the control of the state grain depart
ment: The private elevator is not I'M
der the control of the state, except by
courtesy. They may be classed as
grain merchants. They buy all grain
which they store from owners or their
representatives, by sample or grade,
selecting only such as they, in their
Judgment, think can be improved by
handllng and mixing-wheat that is
graded mo grade" on account of be-
ing 100 wet to store, unless handled
and dried or wheat that is tainted
with smut, exceedingly dirty, bin
burnt, or musty. This class of grain
is thought by many persons not con
versant with the grain business to be
no good, in fact worthless, while as
matter of fact it may be, If dried
and carefully handled by brushing,
tanning and cleaning, entitled to the
highest grade.
Senator Nelson explained how they
bought the new wheat at low price
and cleaned it and fixed it and got
the high price for it.
In view of their explanations Sen
ator McCumber concluded to give
them a touch of Roosevelt investiga-
tim nj fnfv &61
following joint resolution, which may
investigation. If it results in saving
nual stealing there will be enough
saved to pay the harvest expense bill.
The resolution is as follows:
Be it resolved, etc., That the secre-
tary of commerce and labor be. and
he is hereby. authorized and instruct
ed to examine into and fully investi-
gate the matter Of Weighing, inspect
Ing, grading, dockage, and mixing of
other cereals, and all matters pertain
ing to the buying, selling, handling
and exporting of same at the cities of
falo. New York. and such other places
of ascertaining what, IL any, irregu-
result, or have heretofore existed or
resulted. to the producer Of such cor
4 ealS or other persons dealing In the
such places, in such weighing, inspect
any other matter pertaining to the
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