East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1922-01-17
euse Of Wheat Samples by Buy
ers Both Uneconomic and H.
legal; Must be Discontinued.
RULING By SECRETARY
RECEIVED BY BENNION
Exporters Required to Buy and
Sell on Federal Grades in
Future Under New Ruling.

THE Secretary of Agricultures rul-
ing on the Portland Chamber Of Com
merce type Of wheat samples Is that
their use is uneconomic and illegal
and that their use must be discon-
tinued July l." So reads q telegram
received yesterday from b. w. Whit
lock, in charge of federal grain super
vision on the coast, by Fred Bennion,
county agent.
The decision. which is favorable to
Umatilla county farmers and other
wheat growers of the Northwest, is an
outgrowth of the recent grain discount
controversy between dealers and
growers which arose when Sealers of
Portland, Seattle and Tacoma refused
to accept the Oregon and Washington
laws requiring that there be a fixed
discount of IS Of one percent for each
pound or fraction thereof below IS
pounds, and similar premium for
each pound or fraction above 81
pounds. Following the refusal of
dealers to accept the law, which was
introduced by Senator Roy w. Ritner
of this county, the question OF type
samples arose and after a hearing in
Portland November 8, the question
was referred to the Secretary of Agri-
culture. ' "a aA fT Il,
Means Much TO Growers
While the decision does not mean
than the grainediscount law 'isseffec-
tive, the ruling is of great Importance
TO the growers, says Mr. Bennion, be
cause It will mean that exporters will
sell wheat on the same basis as 1t Is
bought. In the past, Mr.. Bennion
says. there was chance for a big
margin in the exporters favor, as
grain was bought on a high scale sam
pie and sold on a low one. The sys-
tenn which goes into the discard July
], permitted of the sending Of type
samples. collected by Northwestern
grain dealers, to Portland, Seattle and
Tacoma. These samples were put to-
gether, and growers declare that II
the exporter thought the type was too
high, mixtures were added. p.
Sent to Liverpool
The samples were sent to Liverpool
IA a fair average sample of Pacific
Northwest wheat. but growers say
that the samples were inferior, that
the test weight was low and that the
wheat was badly mixed. Farmers aver
that exporters bought wheat on this
basis, but used the federal grades AS
q means of dockage, while the best
wheat, which graded too high for ex-
port trade, was sold to niillers at
premium. The exporters, therefore,
bought wheat on federal grades and
} exported on type samples. The diff
ferential between the fixed grades was
three cents, which. with the drop Of
high prices worked hardship on the
grower. ~
Future Plan Outlined
With the new ruling, federal grade
samples will be submitted to the for.
eign buyers. They will become fami-
liar with the same samples which are
used when wheat is bought from the
farmers. Northwestern wheat, with
the exception of the grain sold by the
Northwestern Wheat Growers Associa'
ton, is the only wheat in the United
States which has not been sold under
federal grades in the past. For this
reason, Northwestern wheat compared
uufavoraibly with wheat from othel
districts because of the low sample.
Members of the Umatilla count!
Farm Bureau are much pleased at thu
decision and feel repayed for their eff
forts and those of the Walla Wall;
bureau in promoting the investigation