Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1916-09-08
AMERICAN WHEAT

honest prices for his grain in both
nort and domestic trade. The agri-
,,,nral appropriations this year
sontained for the first time authority
:. establish standards in the grading
Nd inspection of grains. AS long
30 as 1907 the department was
-,ron its first appropriation to begin
Investigation of this subject which
has been in progress ever since.
about $1,000 has been spent in the
irvestigation, which has proved that
tbore was even greater necessity for
Capitalization than was supposed
at the outset.
There has never been any real or
Uniform standard of quality or con-
ation to which grains might be re-
ferred. Private inspection and grad
ing left everything to the individual
Judgment of the buyer. The only
thing that could be relied upon as
perfectly certain was that the buyer
would not rate grain too high when
he bought it, nor too low when he
sold 1t.
The tendency was to grade it too
low in buying and too high in selling
Il So the farmer was apt to get less
for his product than it was worth,
while the ultimate buyer was likely
to get poorer quality of grain than
he bargained for and therefore to
pay too much.
The demoralizing effect of this
situation has been particularly in evil
dence since the European war began.
Europe has been taking unusually
large quantities of our grain, and it
has been subjected to the rigid in
spection of government officers on
the other side. These have repeat
eddy informed their governments
that American grades were the most
unreliable in the world.
American grain certified as of a
particular grade was constantly
found to be inferior. On the other
hand, grain from Canada, Australia,
India, Egypt, or Argentina could be
relied upon to be just as it was certi-
fled Within the last few months in
sistent complaints have come to the
state department from the govern
ments of Great Britain, France and
Italy on this score.
1t Is not too much to say that if
Europe could have got along without
American grain during the last two
years, it would have given it's bust
ness to the other and more reliable
countries. 1t was therefore peculiar
ly necessary at this time to take
measures that would presently estab-
ilsh confidence. in American inspec-
ton and grading.
When the war is over, Europe will
once more be able to shop about in
buying its grains, and unless it be-
comes convinced of the good faith Of
american certification the foreign
market will be more than ever dis
posed to discriminate against the
United States.
1t has been necessary to devise
means and instruments for testing
grains that would determine with
unerring accuracy the amount of
moisture and the amountSof foreign
substance contained in them. 1t is
now believed that this very import
ant part of the work has been ac-
compllshed. At the same time a
pretty complete nationwide organi-
zation of inspectors and laboratories
mas been created.
Under the plan of federal inspec-
'ioh now authorized, the government
VIII issue licenses to inspectors at
market points, and they will be re-
quired to do their work under the
governmental regulations. The ma
'iohal treasury will not be compelled
70 pay their salaries, but whenever
'hey fail properly to enforce the fed
'ial methods their licenses will be
"ithorawn. This is practically the
same system that is employed in the
inspection of meats at the packing
'eneers In the meat inspection, ex-
periehce has proved the system sue
'essIul in operation and reliable in
results.
Inc Investigations have included
Inquiries into the methods of ship
ping' eleyating, storing and handling
eraln' cleaning and mixing it, as we'll
as transporting it across the ocean.
out OF all this will come regulations
u insure its final delivery in the best
condition.
secretary Houston expressed to the
oohgress committee his confidence
mat the subject is now so well under
STOOD that American grain may in
Tue near future be insured a square