The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1910-08-25
IDAHO GRAIN
COMMISSION

benefit of the inspection work and
eliminate abuses all along the lire,
the inspection should begin with the
grain as 1t lies in the interior ware
house, and not, as the case is in
Washington, after it has passed out
of the hands of the farmer.
indefinite Marking of Receipts.
Until a recent ruling by the Sill
preme Court of Washington which
abolished the inspection of grain con
signed to the shipper, we were pay
ing that state from six to nine thous-
and dollars per year for inspecting
Idaho grain, and under that system
one of the most unjust abuses sprang
up, known TO the grain trade of this
state. At the last meeting of the
Commission held in Lewiston, July
18th, 1909, the question of indefinite
marking of receipts was discussed
at length by farmers and warehouse
men. 1t was claimed by dealers and
denied by farmers that the Washing
ton commission established the prece
dence of indefinite marking of re-
ceipts, as No. l, If cleaned, No /,
IL smutted. ETC.. etc. Following your
instructions, | met with the Wash
ington Railroad Commission which
met in Tacoma, Sept. goth, as grain
commission. and to familiarize myself
with their system of inspection l
spent some time with the deputy in
spectors who were inspecting about
one hundred and fifty cars per day,
and to my surprise | found in opera
ton under the supervision of the
state of Washington the same system
OF indefinite marking of receipts as
was practiced in Idaho. and had run
all Independent buyers out of the
state and with them all competition,
but had the satisfaction of seeing
the new commission abolish the whole
system. and establish the use of def
mite terms. The official receipt Civ
en- In Sec 1896 is the best eliminator
of graft and dishonest methods yet
hensive, and right to the point A
receipt that is absolutely negotiable,
and as good as bank check, and cal
be bought and sold anywhere, and
opens the markets to the free and
unhampered buying and selling of
farm products; and where the pro
ducers avail themselves of the pro
lection the law affords them, they
Z can successfully eyade unsatisfactory
price conditions in any local market
In the state. by counting independent
buyers, or demanding their grain load
ed out and ship to terminal points.
Commission Without Funds.
The original grain law created by
the Ninth session, provided no means
of support for the commission. This
was great disappointment to the
farmers who had demanded the com
mission. The Tenth session made in
part the same blunder. by taking the
advice of man who was considered
authority on the number of warehous-
es in the state that would be subject
to the license that was intended to
support the commission. The number
given was five hundred, but only one
hundred and three were subject to H.
cense under the law. This deficit
has prevented the necessary meeting
of the commission, and greatly fetter-
ed my work as inspector. The funds
available for the use of the commits
sion by appropriation and license col
lected last year was $12s5.00, against
5000. 90 given the insurance commits
sioner, $4,000 allowed to the state
engineer, $40 10000 to the adjutant
general, $35 100000 given the land
board, SIT, 10000 given the immigra-
ton commissioner, etc, etc. (See
Session Laws 1909, Page 134)
The Grain Commission is the only
commission In the state that stands
In any way to open up competitive
market for farm products. This can
be done by farmers storing their hay,
gram, WOOL OF oLner products III Dulk
In public warehouses, and encourag
ing the independent dealers who act
as the only safeguard against eombin
atoms in the produce trade. The use
fulness of this commission in the way
OF giving a free and open market for
the buying and selling of all kinds of
farm produce makes it one of the
most valuable commissions in the
state, and should be so recognized
by giving it sufficient appropriation
for its maintenance. One man. how
ever, without funds can not give all
the relief that is expected of this law
Other inspectors are allowed $4,000
travelling expenses, as against $369.20
used by me last year.