The Washington times., 1906-05-26
GRAIN ELEVATOR
TRUST ACCUSED
Senator McCumber's Charge
Against Minnesota Law.
lNSPEC TON CONDEMNED
North Dakota Congressman Fighting
for National Legislation to Cover
the Case.

Alleging that the grain raisers Of the
Northwest are being robbed of many
millions per year that American Grain
Is being injured in the worlds market,
and that a gigantic conspiracy Of cor
ruption is responsible for this. Senator
McCumber of North Dakota ahas open
ed war on the Minnesota grain inspec-
tion laws. and demands substitution for
II, national inspection. He was defeat
ed IL the first round Of the battle. but
is prepared to push It at the next ses-
sion Of Congress.
Senator McCumber made some Of the
most direct and startling charges of
graft that have been mace in recent
years on the floor OF Congress He ex-
plained the whole system or grain in
spection and grading. and told how it
works for the robbery Of the farmer who
raises the grain.
Grain Graded Lower.
The basis Of the sensational charges Of
Senator McCumber was the allegation
that the grain inspection at Minneapo-
lis, Duluth and Superior is systematicaI-
~ conducted on the plan OF grading
grain lower than its real quality for the
purpose Of purchasing. and raising the
grade when IL is sold. He proved this
with figures from the report Of the in
spection commission of Minnesota. T-1,us
1or one OF the great Duluth terminal eIe
Eatofs he showed that the report of the
state inspectors indicated that in 1904
Inere We're received II 400, ,UON bushels Of
NO. Northern. and shipped out on I'M
DuShels; received 10 1895. .OOO bushels Of
NJ, -Northern ~ and shipped out 6,728.OOO
puSneIs or the same grade; received D
''.6,WO bushels Of No. 8 Northern and
SllPped $1,000 bushels OF the same grade.
mis- ms particular elevator was only a
that the inspection and grading system
was corrupt and fraudulent
When Senator McCumber used these
eplthets Senator Clapp OF Minnesofa
arose declaring that he couldn't sIt
silent and hear the sworn officials OF his
Stdte mus denounced as parties 10 a
Wholesale fraud
Judge Sanborn Quoted.
Then came the sensation ..I mas
merely quoting those epithets from the
decision handed down on April On last
by Judge Sanborn. in the Circuit Court
OF the United States,'' explained. Senator
McCumber- Then he sent out the do
clsion 70 the desk to be read. In If
Judge Sanborn denounced tbs. Minnesota
inspection system IN unsparing terms
as fraudulent and corrupt conspfracy-
OF buyer, seller, warehouseman, and
carrier Senator Ciapp retired from the
contest.
But this was not nearly all of the
cnarges Senator McCumber had n
make. He explained that the NTinnesofs
grain inspection board is controiied nv
the terminal elevator people, who also
own the small elevators along the rail-
10ac INES that bring IL TO the lake ports
1heSe elevator people have the grain
BIdQed Dy their local buyers and agent =.
90 Tat II Will correspond with the grad
lngs given at the terminal points.
ne elevator trust, however, has other
methods OF getting ahead Of the farmer
ACCORDING 70 Senator McCUmber. There
are mixing elevators. in which No l and
80 grain are mixed together. inspect
ed after being mixed, and certified as
NO. !, and then shipped to Europe and
sold as No l. The result of this Is
that IN foreign markets American grad
lngs are under constant suspicion, and
the same grade of wheat from the
United states sells for several cents
less lhan from Canada, simply because
the Canadian inspection is relied uDOn
as Eonest and the American is not. The
american farmer thus suffers greatly in
the reputation of his products. and the
demand for them is curtailed