The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1916-10-12
Federal Supervision of Grain.

| the new federal grades for shelled
corn will become effective. Inasmuch
as the bulk Of the grain business of
the country soon will be under govern
ment control the Minnesota Railroad
and Warehouse Commission suggests
that it may be advisable for all per-
sons interested in the business, and
particularly farmers, brokers and
elevator men, to familiarize them
selves with the government standards
and regulations, as there are some de-
partures from the present methods
which are of considerable Importance. |
Commissioner o. P. B. Jacobson, Of
the Minnesota Railroad and Ware
house Commission, who was in Wash
ington during the recent conference,
summoned by the bureau of plant in
dustries and market and rural organ
izations of the department of agricul-
ture, states that the government rules
as tentatively presented to the con-
ference will not interfere with any
grain in purely intrastate traffic.
However, all the state inspectors from
the chief down, will be required to take
out federal license, as much of their
work will be with grain in foreign and
interstate commerce..
While this matter was under dis
cussion in Washington, the question
, as to the status Of the members OF
the Minnesota Board Of Grain Appeals
under the federal act was raised. DR..
Charles J. Brand, chief of the bureau
r of markets and rural organization,
ruled informally that they must be
: licensed, as the United States grain
I standard act of August II, 1915, spe-
. officially provides that all persons in
Y speeding and certifying to grain
grades must be licensed by the gov
= eminent.
e "State inspectors will not be re-
quired to take civil service exami-
nation, as the department of agricul-
4 ture will reorganize and license, the
= spectors of the various state depart
: ments," explained Mr.. Jacobson. "1n
n Minnesota, we have one chief grain
q inspector, two chief deputies and six
assistant chief deputies, with thirty
J. three inspectors, nearly all Of whom
= are stationed at Minneapolis and Du-
luth."
- "Provision is made for licensing in
spectors employed by the grain deal
ers and also at country elevators.
!. These must take civil service exami-
" nation. How severe this may be, we
- have no means of knowing"
"We were informed that the new
grades on shelled corn will go into
~ effect on December list Of this year,
- and presumably the licenses for in
u spectors will be issued before that
l. date, but we have no information on
that point It was stated in Washing
ton that the work on establishing
grades for winter wheat is going on
and the bureau expects to promulgate
l. the new grades to become effective
s. June list, 1917"
l. zone Of the effects of the new order
le of things in the grain trade will be
IS to transfer all controversies over
III grades from the state field to the ma
n tional. In the future, the criticisms
r. instead of being made to the state
Or officials and the legislature must be
taken to the department of agriculture
n or congress. Whether this feature will
re meet with favor throughout the north.
Ill west is as yet unknown. The Mime
sofa grain department has been Sc.
verely criticised and persistently at
tackled by certain interests in NORTH
- Dakota and to some extent in our owl
state, and it now remains to be seer
" if they will obtain better satisfaction
"a through the federal authorities."
~ The new Grain Standards Act pro-
Ii. vides that grain inspectors be licensed
" ", by the government to inspect and GER
I'll tifcate the grades Of spring wheat
- hard winter wheat, soft winter wheat
- Pacific coast wheats, corn, oats, barley
10 rye, grain sorghum, rice and faxseed
~ any one Of them or all, whenever thu
- standards have been established
These licenses will be in force a yea
and may be renewed upon application
Provision also is made for appeals
from the grade of the primary inspec
of tors to federal supervising inspectors
!; of whom there will be three at the i'm
of portant grain markets, as for instance
n Minneapolis and Duluth, but only on
- at others. These supervisors will hav
bo duties corresponding to that Of tn
W. state boards of grain appeals, but will
not supersede them, a minimum fe
of $500 car is fixed for all reinspec
lions. When an appeal is taken t.
. only one federal supervisor and dis
satisfaction with the grade still exists