The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-02-18
SALT INSPECTOR
CALLED AT PLANT
ONCE A MONTH
Salt Was Inspected ''for' Him
and Report Filled Out
for Signature
HELME COMES BACK
AT INSPECTOR BAIRD
Asks That Senate Journal Re-
cord Proof Of Gov. Fer
ris' Charges

LANSING, Mich, Feb. ls.-The vie
ent quarrel which has arisen betwee
ax-State Salt Inspector John Bair
and State Dairy and Food lnspecto
James Helme was renewed tUda
when Mr.. Helme presented TO the SCI
ate a communication and asked (
have II spread on the Journal.
The communication states that ina!
much as a letter from Mr.. Baird charl
Ing Helme and Governor Ferris Wit
bad faith and making false stat
ments, had been read into the Journa
he thought IL no more than fair I
also give his side OF the argumeI
equal publicity.
Attached to the Helme commune
ton was the following from Fran
Moore OF the Diamond Crystal 81
Co.:
Detroit. Mich. Feb. IL. 1913,
To Hon. James w. Helme. Dairy
and Food Commissioner. Ian
sing, Mich. r
to eDtroit this morning noticed
In the papers the long article la
regard TO State Salt Inspector
John Baird's letter to the senate
and your reply. Immediately on
reaching Detroit l wired you that
your statement in regard TO your
interview with Mr.. Moore and Mr.
Whiting OF the Diamond Crystal
CO.. st. Clair, was absolutely cor
rect.
For a number OF years proceed
ing Mr.. Baird's holding OF this
ONCE and during his entire time,
the writer has personally made
the monthly settlements with the
deputy salt inspector In our DIS
trict. As stated In your erticle.
the deputy Inspector, whose home
is In Algonac, comes TO our plant
once a month for the purpose OF
collecting his fees. At that time
he usually goes through our pack,
ing department and makes
superficial inspection Of the salt
actually being packed ut that
time. The statements OF the
amount Of salt packed by rs. on
which we have paid inspection
fees, has always been figured nv
me, even to the extent Of nll'ng
out the deputy's report or receipt
for him To sign, and, 50 far as !
know, no EFFORT has ever been
made 10 even check this up TO see
II fees were paid on the actua.
amount OF salt packed.
n. as sometimes happens, any
discolored or No. 2 salt was man
ufactured by Us, It could not be
separated from the No. / salt I'M
til We came to pack 1t. but both
kinds would be mixed together in
the draining bins, and a large
quantity of this discolored salt
might be covered up, so that. by
visiting our plant once a month,
this would not come TO the in
spector's attention In order,
therefore. to actually inspect the
salt we are packing (from $50 to
900 barrels per day OF so-called
common salt IL would be neces-
sary for an inspector 20 be at our
works at least once In every "a
hours. IL seems 20 the writer,
too, that the salary paid the
deputy inspectors $4,000 per
year, IL fixed az this amount with
the idea that they should devote
their entire time to the inspeo-
ton OF salt at the different plants
In their district No daily inspec-
ton has ever been made at our
plant, nor, to the best OF my
knowledge and belief. at any salt
works, either i'm the district in
which we are located or In the
entire state OF Michigan.
So far az the fling Of annual re-
port IL concerned. I think Mr..
Baird, as state salt inspector, has
compiled with the full letter OF
the law. There has, however,
either under HIS administration or
Of his predecessors In that office,
for the last fifteen or twenty
years-to my personal knowledge
been no actual inspection OF
salt. and, for that reason, the
statement made by Governor Fer
ris in his annual message to the
legislature, that over 10000 Is
collected yearly from the salt
manufacturers OF this state for
the inspection OF salt which Ia not
inspected, and for which neither
the manufacturer nor the con-
sumner receives any benefit. Is alb
solutely correct. In this matter,
however. Mr.. Baird's administra-
ton OF the office OF state salt In
spector has been no different
from the administration of this
office under former state salt In
spectors for the last twenty years.
have no desire TO rush into
print in this matter, but. II this
letter will be OF any assistance TO
you, you are welcome TO use IL
in any way you see At and | am
perfectly willing TO back up every
statement have made by affi-
davit and the testimony OF fore
men or our packing department.
Qfnraralv vnnra