Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1917-11-09
INTERPRETATION
OF OOCKAGt IN THE
GRAIN STANDARD ACT


- &c thoroughly analysed in the fol-
,owing important letter by Secretary
uouston to w. +. Brown, Byers,
Kans.;
aReference is made to a letter ad-
aressed by YOU under date. of Sep
amber II to the Hon. Jouett Shouse.
nombers Of congress, Seventh dis
.rict Kansas, in which you register
complaint against the United States
Grain standard act You do not spe-
.ifically protest against any particu-
lor provision or provisions Of the act,
nor do you complain against the Of
Hcial grain standards of the United
states established Hereunder.
ut is believed that the real cause
If any complaint which you may
have is not occasioned by the require
ments of the United States grain
standards act, nor the standards
fixed and established Hereunder, but
Is due primarily CD to a misunder-
standing on the part of farmers and
country grain dealers as to the re-
mirements of the act and the federal
standards for wheat, CD incorrect
and arbitrary application of the fed
eral standards on the part of coun-
try buyers, CD dissatisfaction on the
mart of the growers with the actual
price fixed and paid for the delivery
of wheat at term inal markets.
No Mandatory Assessment
1T has been brought to the atten-
ton of the United States Department
of Agriculture from several sources
that, in certain parts of the country
where this years crop of wheat is
now being moved, the country grain
dealers are assessing the farmers a
discount against all wheat pur-
chases, contending that such assess
ment is mandatory by reason OF the
official grain standards of the United
States for wheat under the United
States grain standards act. Appar-
emily the contention on the part of
the country grain dealers is based
upon the item dockage' contained
in the official standards. From in
formation received by the depart
ment it appears, however, that the
discount is an actual and arbitrary
assessm ent in the interest of the buy
ers, and is neither on the basis of
the official standards nor required
nor contemplated by the act or the
regulations hereunder.
DoCka9e system of Grading
The primary purposes in the es-
Enlistment of the official grain
standards of the United States were
to provide 4 basis whereby parties
to transactions involving the pur-
chase and sale of grain shipped and
delivered for shipment in Interstate
and foreign commerce might,
through being able to obtain a cor
rect application of such standards,
arrive at the actual value and make
settlement accordingly. These stand
ards for wheat do not provide for
any arbitrary assessment for dock
age. They do provide for the de-
termination of the mount of sand,
art, weed seeds, weed stems, and
certain other matter called dockage,
which actually may be present in a
lot OF wheat, the amount of which,
II equal to or in excess of one-half
OF | per cent by weight, is to be stat
Ell IN terms of the actual percentage
as part Of the grade designated of
the wheat. This is called the dock
age system of grading and has been
used for many years in the north
western states prior to the adoption
vi the Official standards. The trans
actions in question appear TO be
purely local, not involving interstate
commerce, and are perhaps conduct
gu IN way not within the prohibit
uohs OF the act. Nevertheless, the
department is investigating the mat
'er' and will be glad to have any
iacts which may be of value. 1t will
W everything in its power to bring
ABOUT the discontinuance of misrep-
ieSentations based on the act or the
standards hereunder.
opinion Regarding DOckage
IL must be borne in mind that
WIN the establishment of fixed prices
" De paid for wheat, competitive
Duyihg has been practically elimin-
"'ed' This injects a feature unpre-
,euehted in the history of grain mar
a''ihg' This fact, together with the
iact That the federal standards for
meat are comparatively new. hav-
'1s Deen in effect only a few weeks,
substitutes the cause of the agitation
confusion. 1t is believed that