Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-08-01

12 last, while congress was IN session
and the federal grain inspection bill
was under consideration in committee
of the house and senate. He calls spe-
cial attention to the following para
graph relative to grain certificates:
complaints have been received and
Investigated of improper certification
of United States grain and brought be-
fore the authorities issuing such GER
tificates, as in former years. without
any satisfaction being obtained Where
however, errors were made in one or
two cases in Canada, attention of the
Canadian government was called with
most satisfactory results, the claims OF
buyers having been fairly and speedily
met.
The international committee on
American United States grain certifi-
Gates has been in negotiation with va
rious exchanges there, but without sue
cess, as there seems little, if any, de-
sire to recognize the evils complained
Of much less to endeavor to provide
any, remedy. That committee probably
would have been compelled to invite
European importers generally to unite
on drastic measure to force American
shippers to take more reasonable at
titude had they not learned that Presi-
dent Roosevelt has taken up the matter
and that there are now bills before the
American senate and house of repre-
sentatives, which if carried, will trans
fer the trading and issuing of certifi-
Gates for all United States grain to
the federal government, as in Canada,
with. they hope, like satisfactory re-
suits
Commenting on this report, and con-
diitons as he finds them, Mr.. Davis
says:
The trouble appears to be that for
several years shipments of American
wheat and maize, when arriving on
this side, are in many cases off in
grade or short in weight of the quail
ity and quantity specified in the GER
tificates issued by the port from
which the grain was forwarded.
Under the prevailing terms no re-
dress is possible, and it is known that
serious losses have resulted. Officers
and prominent members with whom I
have talked feel very deeply on the
subject and assure me that the same
ScllllIlSit SAlSlS DIT oil CIltG0 hlAS
dom and European importing centers.
IF / can read their intentions cor
rectly they mean to do no more bust
ness with American houses on certifi-
cate grain than they are absolutely
compelled to by unfavorable condi-
tons in other lands.
"Since Canada and Argentina are de-
veloping rapidly under the stimulus of
large investments of British capital in
both countries, it would seem the part
of wisdom, if grain merchants of Chi
cago, New York, Philadelphia, Balti-
more Kansas City, Galveston, Toledo,
Duluth and ST. Louis, thru their organ
lied grain exchanges, would agree in
some manner to due consideration of
grievances. The officers of the London
association assert that so far no atten-
ton, officially. has been paid to, their
requests and suggestions, and they are
at loss to account for seeming neglect
of our American exchanges and boards
of trade of the interests Of the for
eign buyers.
"As no corrective legislation can be
enacted that will be effective for at
least a year to come. and since the
problem now presented is one invoiv-
ing a commercial question Of very
grave Importance in the event the
United States should be blessed with
abundant crops this year. and of far
more immediate Importance should
other grain producing nations be fav-
ored with larger crops than hereto
fore it would seem the part of wis
dom for an agreement on terms that
would be satisfactory to all engaged in
the international grain trade. A con-
ference might be called at which
representatives of American grain ex-
porters could meet the international
| aa,i4toa and take final action"