The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-21
Kansas Grain Dealers Rebel
Against New Law.
Raise Rate for Inspection to
PrOhibitive Figure.
FIND A WAY OUT.
Request Members to Bill Grain
to Kansas City, Mo.
Allege New Law Is in Interest
of Stubbs Machine.

After two weeks of careful study of
the situation, the Kansas Grain Deal
ers' association this afternoon took
the first steps looking TO the defeat of
the purposes of the new grain inspec-
ton law, which has threatened to
cause grief for the grain producers
and shippers of the state. From the
once of E. ]. Smiley, secretary of the
ASSOCIATION, letters are being mailed TO
the 1,2OO members notifying them of
the provisions of the law and outlin-
ing an avenue of escape Each mem
Der is urged to ship his grain to Kan
sas City. Mo, and escape inspection
fee.
1t Is to abolish what threatened to
be a dangerous political organization,
that the step was taken by the asso-
cation. Not only this, but the success
OF the scheme means thousands of
dollars to Kansas grain producers.
Ihe new in and out inspection and
weighing fees amount to almost a
quarter of cent a bushel. Grain
men declare they cannot and will not
pay it. For this reason the burden
must, of course, fall on the producer.
There are about 1885, grain produce
ers in the state who would be affected
by the provisions of the new law.
In their letter to members, the as
soclation charges that the state grain
inspectors office employs incompe-
tent men, that the fees are exorbit-
ant and for the purpose of perfecting
political machine that would look
after the interests of the state admin
istration. The action, which expected
to virtually close the inspectors Of
flee. originated among the large grain
dealers of the state.
Association Makes Complaint
In his letter to the members, E. ].
Topeka, Kan, March %, 1911.
Bulletin No. A.
Dear sir-section 1884 of the general
statutes of 1909 were amended at the
last session Of the legislature to read
as follows: The fees for services of the
officers of the department shall be as
follows: For inspecting or reinspect-
ing grain in and out in carlots Or on
boats or barges containing one or more
carloads, one cent per thousand pounds
minimum capacity. Fees for weighing
in or out Hopper or track scales one
cent for each thousand pounds or frac-
tion thereof. Duplicate certificates or
dered after service is performed, ten
cents. Extra sample, twenty-five cents.
You will note that the amended law
provides that the charge for service
shall be made on the minimum capacity
of the car, regardless Of its contents
To illustrate, a shipper in the north
central part of the state shipped car
to this market of 100000 pounds ca
pacity, containing $4,000 pounds of
wheat. On it's arrival the deputy in
spector inspected the contents and is
sued certificate for No. wheat for
which he made charge of $1.00. On it's
arrival at the mill they called for rein
spection and the same deputy changed
the grade to No for which he made
a charge of $1.O0 The car was ordered
on to Kansas City and on its arrival
there another deputy inspected it as
No. f. making a charge of S1.00. 1t was
then ordered to the Missouri side,
where it was again inspected and i.
charge Of 65 cents was made. 1t was
then ordered to a. Kansas elevator for
unloading where a charge of S1.OO was
made for weighing by the Kansas in
spection department and so cents by
the board of trade weighing department
or a total charge for weighing and in
specting single carload of wheat, $5.15
When this wheat is ordered out another
charge of $1.60 will be made by the de-
partment, making a total charge OF
$6.75.
"The charge for this same service un-
der the old law would have been 20
cents original charges, no reinspection
charge. 40 cents Kansas City inspection,
65 cents Missouri, so cents in Weighing
charge. so cents board of trade charge
or a total of $2.45 instead Of $5.15 in
bound charges. Are you willing to sub
NIT to such charges. Section II, chap
ter 222 sessions laws of 1907, reads that
nothing in this act shall be construed
so as to prevent any person from sell
ing grain by sample, regardless of
grade. This section of the law was not
amended and it is opinion of our
attorneys that a shipper desiring to
have his grain sold by sample can
make the notation on his bill of 1ading
and notify the Kansas inspection de-
partment direct or through his receiver
acting as his agent, that inspection is
not desired and for the department to
keep hands off.
eE. ]. SMILEY. Secretary
Will save S125,OOO.
This action on the part of the Kan
sas Grain Dealers association yil
mean a saving to Kansas farmers anC
grain dealers of almost $125, 900 a year
1t will do away with many useless jobs
break the cogS OF a gigantic politica
machine and all but abolish the state
grain inspection department. AROUND
the new law was network of intri-
cate details that meant trouble for tbs
grain raisers and shippers. On thu
other hand there were thrown around
various institutions a blanket of pro-
lection which enabled them to under
sell competitors.
The first move to construct a formi
dable political organization through
the grain inspection department came
early in the session of the Legislature
when Senator Hunter introduced a bill
to increase the salary of the inspector
from 81 800 to $500 a year. But thi.
was not all the bill contained. 1t pro.
vided that the chief clerks SALARY
should be increased from 81, 200 to 81,
800 year. The bill then let down tn.
bars in general and provided that thu
state inspector should be empowered
to employ as many inspectors as h,
saw fit. 1t also allowed the inspector