The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-04-14
Niews of Laymen
Weighing of Live Stock


Press: This communication is ad
dressed TO you with the purpose in
view of shedding some light on a
matter that touches directly on the
agricultural interests OF the state of
Minnesota The subject is one
has been given considerable publ
city the past few months and yet Is
little understood by the average cit
izen. This is state supervision of
stock yards at South St. Paul.
During the war along with other
governmental regulation the stock
yards at South St Paul came under
the direct supervision of the state
with authority vested of this regula
ton were the bonding OF commits
sion merchants and the weighing OF
live stock at the South st. Paul
stock Yards.
Prior 10 the Inauguration of state
control commission merchants at
this market maintained a system OF
bonding through their organization,
The Live Stock Exchange" for the
protection of clippers consignins
live stock to saembers of the Elk
change. The bonds were handled
by surety companies of national re
pute and absolute reliability. Under
state supervision at this market
State 10 insure proper conduct OF
their business and 10 safeguard pro-
ceeds of stock sold. However the
state requirements in the matter OF
bonds reduced the amount by half,
as compared TO the voluntary pro-
lection furnished by the commission
men before state regulation.
After the railroad and warehouse
commission took charge all weighing
was done by employees OF this body
and the shippers were charged a
fee to cover the cost of this ser
vice. AS a matter OF fact the
amount collected for this service
was far in excess of the proper
amount necessary TO perform this
work. Previously this service had
been performed by bonded employ
ees of the U. S. Yards company on
scales under the inspection Of the
state bureau OF weights and meas
ures and the cost of same was paic
as a part of a yardage charge by
the Yards company for their ser
vices The state in its regulation
did not cause this yardage charge
10 be reduced but placed the addi'
tional expense upon the shippers
pany of this responsibility and ex
pense. And this was done in the
name of economy. AS the mattel
now stands the producer who ship:
live stock TO South st. Paul is pay
ing premium for the privileges o
having his stock weighed by STATE
employees whereas previously thL
service was performed to the com
plete satisfaction of all parties con
cerned and at no cost to the shipper
Recent federal legislation pro
vided for uniform regulation of al
stock yards within the United State;
and the department of agriculture
was assigned this work. One Of thu
first changes made by the fedora
authorities was the doing away wit
OF state weighing and bonding as ex
ercised at South ST. Paul. The stat
railroad and warehouse commission
of this state has taken exception t
this order as encroaching upon thei
authority and are making a Vigor
GUS effort TO have the state continu
to oversee this work. There is a
present a bill before congress in
troduced by a Minnesota membe
which would amend the federal leg
islation and give the state Of Min
nesota jurisdiction in these matters
This matter. on its face, appears t
be a fine measure. But taking int
consideration the foregoing facts
becomes a useless price of legisla
ton and descends to the plane @
governmental meddling.
Why should Minnesota requir
thesg special regulations when all G
the other principal markets of tn
country are able to operate effic
iently and economically under fed
eral control? A good part of the lly
stock shipping business OF tn
Northwest is interstate business an
it places our market at South S
Paul at a disvantage as compared I
Chicago and other large marke
points.
would be glad to hear expires
sions of opinion on this matter.-E
p. Macbeth.