Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-12-25
Better System for Elevators
Will Be Sought
CONTINUED from Page One)

Continued from Page One)
Of elevator bookkeeping, which has
been adopted, entirely or in part, by
many private and farmers elevator
concerns, and, Judging by the resolu>
tons passed and letters OF aprrecia-
ton received from companies using
the system, it is very satisfactory.
"The same law authorized the COM
mission to employ one or moro ex-
aminers for checking up elevator &C.
coults-upon request of Is per cent
Of the stockholders, as %stated--and
one examiner has been employed at
this work since last February. More
examiners would have been put on
70 accommodate the numerous re.
quests, but the commissions appro-
priaticn would not permit. !
1T any particular argument was
needed to illustrate the need Of a
compulsory annual examination OF ell
evator books, the work Of this one
examiner amply proves it. In one
Instance it required II weeks Of most
arduous work and larCe expense TO
che stockholders to straighten out
the business OF 4 COMPANY. 1t re-
quired nine weeks to get another one
cleaned up. While in many other
cases, where the elevator company
kept books properly, the examiner
had his checking completed m d few
days. In the two long examinations
cited the cost thereof would almost
have rdii ati.a salary Of a good book
keeper, While the cost OF examination
where books were really kept was
tri1ing.
In another case the elevator corr
pany. in &sk.lng for al exam'aat:on,
said it was bankrupt, and IT reals
Thought it was, because little infor-
nation could be CLEANED from the
books. The commissions examiner
nCl only found the c~oilp!ly was not
bankrupt, but that it was in really
pretty fair financial condition, ard a
change in the business system soon
put it OH its feet again. Many atiec
cases could be mentioned, and the
need Of an extension of this examina-
ton work has been demonstrated be-
You'd question.
Happily the few failures in the
grain business il this state indicates
that a large majority of our elevators
are fairly well managed, but this
does not argue for the sad lack or
intimate supervision or uniformity of
system, Or against the desirabi1ity of
a knowledge on the part Of STOCKHOLM
ers generally as to the exact con-
dition of their investment, the safe.
ty to the farmers who have stored.
grain in these houses or who sell
them grain AID take checks in pay
ment thereof. With annual examine
tons Of grain companies end power
ito make immediate examination up.
on adequately supported complaint}tc
the railroad ccmlnission, there is fits
To doubt, but that the rates charged.
for surety bonds would be reduces,
and many4ecOnomies effected and the
entire grain 5business put upon a high.
ser plane Of efficiency.
Gin suggesting these REFORMS in the
elevator business" concluded Mr.
lCushiag, ss..the eofnrlissipn is not actus
ated ny any desire 70 i1creas,s cost
.of operation or to iipnfliicl any other
hardship lpr the companies. but it.
would: be recrBant TO ats duty if it did
not call attention tofeyils, brought to,
its knowledge Through six years OF,
Misunderstanding study Of Lhe situation,
and A making Its Recommendations
to the legislature the commission is
satisfied it is supported by a very
large majority of the. grain buyers
spd especially by those Of them WHO.
have taken the pains to find nut just
what conditions are generally ana.