Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-02-12
THROWS Light ON
DEMURRAGE Law
GRAIN DEALERS, JOURNAL PRE-
SCENTS INTERESTING VIEW ON 80
REclPRocAL DEMURRAGE

The question of reciprocal demur-
rage and the effectiveness of a recip-
& rocal demurrage law has attracted
4 widespread attention among the indie
pendent elevator men at. their meet
ling which was held here last month
! during the convention of the Tri-State
I Grain Growers association. In a let
J ter to H. B. Borneman Of Colgate, the
Grain Growers Journal of Chicago
throws some light on the subject.
/ In answer to the letter Mr.. Borne
man also presents his views, which he
/ believes, if carried out, would help the
independent elevator men and all
small shippers. n
The letter of the Grain Dealers
Journal and that Of Mr.. Borneman are
/ as follows:
Chicago, Jan. 20, 1907.
Mr.. II. B. Borneman, Colgate, N. D.
| Dear Sir our kind favor of recent
date enclosing report of organization
|of Independent Elevator association of
North Dakota was received and pub
,,lished in last number.
We believe you are in error as to
your fear as to the effectiveness of re-
ciprocal demurrage. To acknowledge
that reciprocal demurrage law could
not be rigidly enforced and thoroughly
carried out would be to acknowledge
that no law could be enforced. We
believe the laws are just as strong as
public sentiment, no stronger; unless
the laws are completely supported by
public sentiment they cannot be fully
enforced. The railroads have the same
opportunity at present to discriminate
in favor of the large shipper by rebat-
ing to him demurrage charges, in fact,
the railroad has a much better chance,
because the demurrage charge is not
now recognized by federal law.
Yours very truly, II
Grain Dealers Journal
Grain Dealers Journal, Chicago, Ill.
Gents Yours dated January 20.
Your statement is correct and builds
up some new light on the subject, and
should be gone into at once If recip-
rocal demurrage will allow us ship
pers to ship to any point in the United
States, we'll and good. Then we don't
need interchange of cars, but we are
not allowed to load a Great Northern
car beyond Duluth and Minneapolis,
which compels us to sell at those ter
minals. dependent shippers Of North
Dakota and other states have just as
much brains to sell, or find markets
as the big terminals, elevators or
mills. 4 wanted to ship some barley
to Buffalo, and was obliged to wait
for foreign car. / finally received
Grand Trunk car, after waiting
month Interchange Of cars will allow
us to load cars at once and not allow
the large cities like Chicago, Phila-
3delphia, Boston, New York and others
OF the same nature to monopolize all
the trade with the country and become
large railroad centers; also compell-
ing railroads to spend millions Of dol
lars for yard room, and forcing our
tri-state grain growers to divide their
hard earnings with Duluth and Min
neapolis, as our commission men
could and would find outside markets.
which would bring up new competi-
tion. It would bring the small coal
mines, saw mills, oil wells and all
man aaInlufacturers Of any commodity into
play, and in opposition with large
cities. Our present system is every-
thing bought and sold to the large:
wholesalers, terminal elevators and
mills. BY this method we have built
trusts, as the small fellows, refusing
TO come in on combine, were frozen
out. Interchange Of cars is positive
trust.breaker, and is the only big stick
mat can cure it. Yours,
| III. b. Borneman.