COAL AND OTHER FUEL RESOURCES.

The Trans-Mississippi Commercial Congress joins the American Mining Congress in commending the efforts of the President in behalf of the wise and just disposition of the remaining public lands in the interest of the actual settler and the bona fide miner, and also his effort of a wise conservation of the natural resources of this country, and urges the Federal Congress to pass such legislation relative to the coals and other fuel resources still owned by the Government, as while continuing this ownership will encourage their development by providing conditions favorable for modern mining operations.

INTERSTATE COMMERCE.

It is urged that no increase of interstate rate or discontinuance of rate affecting an increase should be permitted without opportunity to protest being afforded, and upon hearing and determination as to the reasonableness when objection is made in advance of the new rate becoming effective.

SEGREGATED COAL LANDS.

As Congress has segregated from allotment over one-half million acres of land in Oklahoma as a coal segregation so that no farmer can enter thereon to till the soil, and inasmuch as many cities and towns are located in the heart of this district and several entire counties rendered almost helpless in the support of State and county government now thrust upon them by statehood; we recommend that Congress pass such legislation as will separate the surface from the mineral rights, and that the surface of this segregation be immediately sold to actual settlers in tracts not exceeding 80 acres of average-grade land.

ALASKA-YUKON-PACIFIC EXPOSITION.

We give our cordial indorsement to the aims and purpose of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, and recommend to the Congress of the United States that appropriate preparation be made for the participation of the United States at said exposition and for exhibits in behalf of Alaska, Hawaii, and the Philippine Islands.

CATTLE-FEVER TICK.

It is the sense of this Congress that the Federal appropriations for the eradication of cattle-fever tick during the next fiscal year should be ample and sufficient.

GOOD ROADS.

This Congress believes in the encouragement and promotion of the good roads movement. The construction of waterways and improved facilities for transportation can be made commensurate with the country's needs only by concurrent improvement of the common roads, therefore we recommend that the Congress of the United States liberally and materially second the action already taken under the auspices

of Department of Agriculture with ample aid, both in money and scientific engineering assistance; and further we urge that the respective state governments establish and maintain effective measures for country transportation both State and interstate.

PREVAILING FINANCIAL STRINGENCY.

We commend the action of the President and the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States in authorizing and directing the issue of $100,000,000 of United States one-year 3 per cent certificates of indebtedness to relieve the prevailing financial stringency. And we note with gratification that the proceeds of the sale of such certificates will be deposited where most needed throughout the country, especially through the West and South, for movement of the bounti ful crops grown in those sections, and in view of these facts we recommend to the people of the Trans-Mississippi section, as well as to the people of the entire country, that they subscribe to such certificates, which are unquestionably safe.

DUTIES OF COMMON CARRIERS.

We urgently insist that the Congress of the United States enact a law defining the duties of common carriers to deliver to shippers, at the point of shipment, in reasonable time, cars for shipment of freight as interstate commerce, and carry and deliver the same to the connecting lines in reasonable time, or to destination, fixing penalties for such failure of duty; and to deliver in reasonable time after demand to their freight as is delivered loaded for shipment by the connecting line demanding such cars, fixing penalties for such failure of duty, and making the carriers each liable to shippers who may be damaged by the failure of such carriers to demand or deliver such cars in pursuance thereof.

CAREY ACT.

It is urged that the provisions of the irrigation law, usually called the Carey Act, should be made to apply to the Territories as well as States.

FORESTRY SERVICE.

We indorse the work and policy of the United States Forestry Service in protecting not only the timber resources of the country, but the watershed of our western rivers, to the end that they may regain and retain their original depth and constant flow, thus making them valuable both for irrigation and navigation.

THE THREE RESERVE METALS.

We recommend that Congress provide by statute for the prospecting, location, and working of the three reserved metals, gold, silver, and quicksilver, in Spanish and Mexican land grants, confirmed by the United States Court of Private Land Claims.

POSTAL SAVINGS BANK.

The Trans-Mississippi Commercial Congress demands the creation of a national postal savings department.

BEET-SUGAR INDUSTRY.

We favor the beet-sugar industry, and recommend to the United States Congress that no legislation antagonistic to its future developments be enacted.

DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND MINING.

The Trans-Mississippi Commercial Congress has for many years been urging the establisnment of a national department of mines and mining, and it none the less now believes that this great basic industry of the country deserves and needs such public recognition, and while urging the Congress of the United States to establish an independent Bureau of Mines at its forthcoming session, emphatically reaffirms its former recommendations for a department of mines, believing that this industry will not receive adequate recognition until such department is established coordinate with the Department of Agriculture.

This is to certify that the above is a true copy of the recommendations passed at the eighteenth annual session of the Trans-Mississippi Commercial Congress held in Muscogee, Okla., November 19-22, 1907. H. D. LOVELAND,

President, San Francisco, Cal.
ARTHUR F. FRANCIS,

Secretary of the Congress, Denver, Colo.

In connection with the above action of the Trans-Mississippi Commercial Congress, the executive committee most respectfully directs your attention to the following recommendations adopted at the Kansas City session, legislation upon which is still pending. These recommendations are:

To promote trade relations with the Latin Republics by encouraging our merchant marine, and for increasing our intercourse with South America with adequate mail facilities.

Advising the two parties in Congress to consider the creation of an American merchant marine as a nonpartisan issue.

Requesting the Congress of the United States to enact into law the Executive order affecting our consular service.

Indorsing the drainage investigation and surveys now being carried on by the United States Department of Agriculture and urge their extension.

Favoring the establishment by action of Congress of a national department of mines and mining.

Urging the admission of the Territory of Arizona into the Federal Union as a sovereign State.

Respectfully submitted.

J. B. CASE,

ARTHUR F. FRANCIS,

Chairman of Executive Committee, Abilene, Kans.

Secretary of the Congress, Denver, Colo.

1st

No. 116.

GRAIN GRADING AND INSPECTION AND INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE IN GRAINS.

Mr. McCUMBER presented the following:

MATTERS RELATING TO GRAIN GRADING AND INSPECTION AND FOREIGN COMMERCE IN GRAINS.

DECEMBER 18, 1907.-Ordered to be printed as a document.

The early grain trade of the United States was conducted entirely by personal inspection of the grain by the purchaser, or by the exhibition of samples by the producer or dealer, and the price was determined by the demand and the peculiar fitness of the grain for a given purpose. Under such conditions there was no stability of market, and at times the price of a given quality varied greatly at different terminal markets. In cases where it was impossible to submit samples or make personal inspection the grain dealer made a statement or form of certificate as to the general quality or condition of a particular quantity of grain he was offering for sale. As the volume of business increased, the use of these statements or certificates became more necessary, and it was found that the practice of individual dealers issuing their own certificates was not satisfactory. The matter was taken up by trade organizations, and certificates were issued by officers selected by these bodies, and a system of dividing the different varieties of grain into several different grades was devised. This system was adopted by nearly all the boards of trade and chambers of commerce in the country, and the certificates issued were to a great extent accepted in interstate and international trade, though some trading was done and still continues to be done by submitting samples. In 1885 the State of Minnesota adopted a plan of having inspection and grading of grain made by State officials elected or appointed by the Government, and this plan has been adopted by several other States. Under this system devised by the grain dealers and boards of trade the price of grain was fixed by the grade given, and almost as soon as the system was established protests were made by producers all over the country, and the matter was taken up by the farmers' organizations, such as the Farmers' Alliance, etc., and Congress was petitioned to enact legislation to provide for standard inspection that would make equal grades in all the markets of the country.