The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-20
Secretary Smiley of Grain Deal
ers' Criticises Governor.
Says New Grain Law Is Unjust
to Dealers.
IMPOSE HEAVYBURDEN
Kansas Executive Is RESPONSE
BILE for Measure.
Banquet of Association Is Held
at AtchisOn.

E. j. Smiley, secretary OF the Kan
sas Grain Dealers association. created
a sensation at the grain dealers ban
quet in Atchison Friday night. in
which he took Governor stubbs to
task for his new grain inspection law.
reference to which was made on the
editorial page of the state Journal In
Chapter XIV Of the "Reminiscences OF
the editor.
The following report of the meeting
was printed in the Atchison Globe:
E j. Smiley, secretary of the Kan
sas Grain Dealers association for the
past htteen years. made an attack last
night at the grain dealers banouet
upon Governor Stubbs and the 1e1o
session OF the legislature. for the pass
age OF the inspection bill which Mr.
smiley declared is double the former
charge and is now twice as much as
the Zee in any other state in the union,
The grain dealers virtually endorsed
Mr.. Smiley's attack. as practically
every man stood up when the secre-
tary asked for a rising vote in nledr-
ing ten dollars per man II money be
needed to carry the mandamus case
now pending in the supreme court OF
Kansas to the United States supreme
court.
E. J. Smiley. known by some of his
friends as the watchdog OF the or
ganization, kicks up a good deal OF
dust every time the association meets
and usually gets away with it. lust as
he did last night For ffteen wears
have been secretary OF the Kansas
Grain Dealers association" said Mr.
Smiley and 1 had hoped that II
would never become necessary for this
organization to take a hand in poll
tics, but now it looks like We will have
to protect ourselves.
Are yous Mr.. Grain Dealer going to
allow a set Of politicians to fix a value
upon your grain and below that OF
other states? / think not. In 1910 the
cost of inspection was 40 cents a car
load, and the new law known as an
administration Dill, more than doubled
the inspection rate" The secretary
cited numerous Irregularities under
the new law, one being a case where
the cost OF inspecting "a carload Of
wheat was $5.65 1t was Inspected. re-
inspected, graded three different ways
before It reached the market. and "a
Topeka inspector graded It No. at
its first inspection and later relnspcct-
ed 1t ana graded IL No. 3.
The Kansas Grain Dealers Associa-
ton, thirteen railroads and three ele-
vators are defendants in a mandamus
suit brought by the state Of Kansas
to compel them to comply with the
new inspection law. The above de-
resisted the new law and sold
their grain by samples. Grain men
declare that when they sell grain by
an inspection Is unnecessary
and only incurs a needless expense to
them and would compel them to pay
at least half cent per bushel less
for the grain because Of the inspection
fee of one cent per 1000 pounds. The
case viii be argued next Monday The
grain dealers are confident that the
law will be held unconstitutional.
They want n reasonable INSPECTION fee
of so much per car like other states
have.
The rate in Missouri is only forty
cents a car load, and Minnesota, n
great wheat producing state. has a
rate of only fifteen cents. Under the
law passed by the 1910 legislature the
fee is never under dollar a car and
m ore II the car is an unusually large
one, as the fee is based entirely upon
the number of pounds. And IL Is
well known fact that railroads are
building larger cars each year" Mr..
Smiley discussed scale inspection and
other loose ends of the grain busi-
ness. and as usual carried with him
an array of figures that would stag
ger an ordinary man.
w. c. Brown of Beloit. president Of
the association, said: You must
know it is a real pleasure to come
here.
Il have to ride 1s4 miles for tho
privilege of mingling a few moments
among my brother grain dealers and
the courtesy Of the Atchison
Board Of Trade"
Kansas grain dealers and the rail-
roads are getting along just lovely to-
sether; at any rate, the officials and
the dealers appear to be united for
their mutual benefit. and around the
banquet table last night were seated
4 superintendent and several CONNER
,ial agents. ". A. MCGOWAN. CONNER
sial agent Of the Nickel Plate. at KAN
sas City, was introduced by Mr.. Washer
IS the Perpetual President Of the
railroad club, - and made plea fora get
-ogether" spirit between the railroads
md the grain dealers; meet each other
lalf way and adjust their differences
without the aid Of law or lawyers. Mr.
speech was a happy. 0pti-
nistic one that pleased.
r. G. Garden. superintendent or the
Central Branch, was introduced unex-
oectedly by the toastmaster. and the new
made a defense OF tbs
much abused road that sounded good.
Not only did # sound good but the Erain
iealers. many OF whom came from Cen
raj Branch towns. applauded Mr.. car
ien's remarks relative TO change in SEN
iment regarding the general condition OF
he road and the arrival OF uinety-eiGht
per cent of5 itts trains on time during the
year closing last July. Bert Walker. ed-
tor or the Osborne Farmer. and a
mighty fine fellow" said Mr.. Garden.
has been a thorn IN my side believe
hat when Bert runs out or something
mean to say he writes a mean item
ibout the Central Branch. But met Mr-
Walker a few days ago and took occa-
sioE to tell him that he was awfuily
rough, and when ] gave him some im-
Dortant facts about our road and the
lrrival or nearly all Of our trains on the
schedule time he wrote a nice piece iu
ais paper about the Branch and tie
marked change OF sentiment" The visit
f-4 nnf Nn