Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-02-13
News
SHOWS INTEREST
IN SPUD GRADES
Johnson Writes Burtness
Regarding Possible Fed
eral Supervision.

Bismarck, N. D., Feb. l3.-Bcliev-
ing that alleged abuses in potato grad
ing at the big marketing centers
might be overcome somewhat by
federal supervision of grading in so
far as supervision might be applied
within the limits of the powers Of
the interstate commission. States At
torney Sveinbjorn Johnson recently
addressed a letter to CONGRESSMAN o.,
B. Burtness Of the First dissrich and
received a reply. The letters follow:
Mr.. Johnson's Letter:
II have a mater to which 1 have for
some time wanted to direct your at
tention. and that is the marketing sit
uation at the primary market, I mean
the market in the commercial centers
like Minneapolis. Chicako. Kansas
City. ETC.. with respect to the market
ing of potatoes. This practice has
grown up. and is as follows. and con-
%stitutes a very serious grievance, I be-
agree to take a car load of potatoes
and it will be graded when it is load
ed. but before the car arrives at the
terminal or primary market the price
drops or the bottom drops out Of the
market. Therefore. the commission
house, in order to protect it's markin
of profit. will upon one pretext or an
oNAiSA Sl"uC AlS polASoCS oClo" " \
grade. and in this way avoid. or seek
to avoid. a loss. There is no question
but there is a real grievance on &C
count of this practice. and I believe
Congress ought to amend. If neces-
sary, the grain standard act of 1916,
and provide not only for inspectors at
the so called primary marketing point
OF potatoes. but to make or create a
system of inspection at the smaller
marketing point. thereby making it
possible for the shipper to make a
contract with the commission house
to accept the goods upon the inspec-
ton made at the point Of shipment.
1t has occurred to me that it
would be practicable either to amend
vide for deputies at these country
points. or else to induce the depart
ment of agriculture. If it has the pow
er under the existing law. to arrange
for such deputies. These deputies
could be stationed in the larger cities
with power to appoint others or go
themselves. when called. to certain
local people pay the expenses, and
there make the inspection of the cars.
Knows of Grievances
I know personally that there are a
great many grievances up in this ter
ritory on account Of this practice OF
the commission houses outside of the
state. I believe you could lender, a
great service to the potato raisers Of
the Northwest If you could find some
way to assist them in obtaining an
honest and fair inspection at the point
of shipment. SO as to enable them to
make arrangements with the commits
sion houses for the inspection of sue
points. which would ordinarily be
final unless an appeal be taken as
provided ~taAhe regulations of the De-
partment."
Mr.. BuFtncss' Answer:
referring first to the matter of
potato inspection. let me say hat
before receiving your letter I had
given fairly careful consideration
thereto. n I am no wworking with
appropriations committee with a view
of changing the legislation which has
heretofore been carried in the law
and and which has limited the use of
the money for the purpose. In this
/ have the cooperation of the agricul-
tural department itself: You under
stand. of course. that in the first in
no control over the product except
such portion OF it as is part Of inter-
state commerce. Heretofore one Of
the greatest difficulties has been that
inspectors have been stationed at only
a few principal markets n not at
points of shipment. etc. and under
the terms of the law is has been I'M
possible for the department to send
out an inspector away from the desig-
mated points. If we can get the law
changed as now suggested. an inspec-
tor may 20 out and inspect potatoes
at other points within a reasonable
radius from his headquarters. This
can be done very cheaply. and OF
course much cheaper than it would
cost a shipper to divert a car so as to
get it to one Of the regular inspection
points. 1t is also possible that with a
change in the law we will be able to
get an Inspector stationed at a couple
of points within North Dakota at least
for the principal part Of the potato
shipping season. am inclined to
tt nix this will remedy the conditions
yLL have in mind. for if a commits
sion house at some point tries to get
the best of a shipper AMI if there is
o a government inspector at that
place. arrangements can generally nc
made to get a government inspector
from one of the nearest principal
market points. Heretofore that has
been impossible"