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

urn are not The owners of a single
pair of test weights, and their weigh
masters appear to be without instrrc-
tons as to the care and treatment of
their scales. Their scales were found
to be in the worst kind of condition.
Before the scale inspection was
complete the attorney general handed
down an opinion that the Grain Com
mission had no supervision over ware.
house scales, that being the duty of
the Pure Food Inspector, who is the
sealer of weights and measures, and
am informed that officer is so bur-
dened with work that no attention
can be given to public scales, thus
the most important transaction is in
trusted in many cases, to the careless
end unconcerned weighmasters. The
same law that Furnishes a farmer for
selling roll of butter an ounce short
because of a defective mold, should
punish a miller or warehouseman for
short weighing on grain or flour.
The Commission should use its influ-
ence to have the next legislature put
public scales under the supervision
of the Grain Commission. 1t will |
hope prove to be tribunal that win
give equal rights to all and special
privileges to none.
Railroad Discrimination.
Slowness on the part of railroads
to furnish cars to outside buyers has
retarded the free movement of grain,
in many places and to a damaging de-
gree. At Moscow where there are
three competitive railroads, we have
no complaint of car shortage.
But at other points, outside buyers
have been compelled to cancel their
orders because they could not get
cars. Conditions in South Idaho are
worse than they are in the North
part of the state, both in car short
age and in excessive rates. The rate
on grain from Culdesac TO Portland,
a distance of 524 miles. is II cts. per
hundred or 1912 cts. per bushel. The
rate from Idaho Falls to Salt Lake
distance of 1S4 miles the rate on
grain is 20 cts. per hundred or 2 cts
per bushel
| Sec. 1892, entities the holder OF a
warehouse receipt to the immediate
possession OF the commodity and re
4 lieves what has long been a very en-
I barrassing condition. Some dealers
who We're not anxious to obey the lay
have been very dilitory about loading
out grain, sold by farmers, to outside
/ buyers, claiming that they were com
PEELED to take care of their own or
ders first, but the railroad companies
can not consistently discriminate, but
are obliged to furnish cars alternate
4 ~. So if the warehouseman gets a
car today, the one coming tomorrow
belongs to the farmer or independent
/ dealer, and while it is spotted at the
warehouse door the agent has no ex-
cuse for not loading it.
Since the Greer case which result
4 ed In sending to prison for a long
/ term an agent for violating Sec. 1920
which forbids the shipping out of any
/ commodity for which warehouse re-
ceipt has been issued without the
/ written consent of the holder of the
/ receipt. there has been no complaint
along that line. Before the enact
ment of this law, it was very commo
/ for dealers to ship out grain at will,
to supply their own demand, the farmer
having nothing to show for his grain
but a non-negotiable receipt which in
time of failure was valueless.
Too much stress can not be put on
the Importance of eliminating the fou
matter from grain. and bringing the
grain up to higher state of purity.
Foul matter in grain is the most dam
aging condition that we have to con-
tend with, and Is absolutely prevent
able by the farmer. 1t is very no
ticeable fact that the farmer who
produces the filthiest grain, is the
worst contender for higher grades.
and if the dealer Everglades the foul
grain In bidding for storage, ne must
make good his loss by undergrading a
grain of higher quality. or by UNI
derpaying producers who are less con-
atentious. all of which furnishes no
encouragement to the farmer who
produces nothing but pure, clean
grain. As whole the grain is
freer from foul matter than for
merly. The farmers who own and
operate their land by a system
of diversified farming, are keep
ing their land clean and a large
per cent of their grain viii grade
choice milling; but much of the land
owned by spectators and operated BY
tenants is not kept in the best con-
dition, and often fails to yield a No.
/ grain. If spectators and landlords
would secure the service of qualified