The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-04-15


erous correspondents by Frank H. Irons,
Of Minneapolis.
1t was not without great hesitation
that the committee undertook to con-
duct an investigation on the line of such
charge, in view of the clearly expressed
terms of the statute from which its au-
thority to act was derived. The subject,
however, was finally deemed of so much
gravity as to warrant an investigation
as to the charge, and it was thereupon
conducted with great thoroughness by
the committee. Whatever differences
may be properly deducible from the
record in support of the charge, the
committee is Of the opinion that there
is not the slightest proof of the exist
ence in fact of any such combination or
conspiracy, nor is there anything in the
record touching this phase of the inves-
tigation initiating against the good
name of said Irons.
No Discrimination in Reporting Daily
Prices.
It is an admitted fact that Frank II.
Irons has been for period of about two
years in the employ of large number
of elevator companies at Minneapolis,
and that while so employed he did fur
nish to certain correspondents, both by
telegram and through the mails, infer
nation touching the current prices of
wheat 1t does not appear, hewever,
that he received any instructions from
his said employers, or any of them, to
furnish this information to any person
whomsoever. 1t appears to have been
the practice of the person who had been
previously employed by such companies
to advise local buyers. upon solicitation,
as to the daily prices ruling at the prin-
cipal wheat markets of the country;
which said practice was observed ard
continued by Mr.. Irons. There appears
to have been no discrimination by him
as TO whom this information should Sc
furnished; for, if he is to be believed. it
was sent to whomsoever made applica-
ton therefor to him.
Instead of the prices furnished by Mr..
Irons having been arbitrarily estab-
lished by himself, or by any other per-
son or persons, the committee find that
they were in the main obtained from
the chamber of commerce, Minneapolis.
The prices SO sent by Mr.. Irons to his
correspondents were based upon the re-
ports of a committee established by the
chamber of commerce in said city whose
duty is to ascertain the closing price of
the market.
What Railroads Have to Do About Prices
Evidence was introduced with view
OF showing that combination existed
between the elevator and railroad COM
panies of the state for the sole purpose
of maintaining uniform system of
prices and it is doubtless true that some
parts of such testimony unexplained
tends to establish that fact. The strong
est evidence of this character is no
doubt a letter written by one Sommers.
a clerk in the employ of the Great
Northern Railroad company, over the
signature of Mr.. Shelby, the general
traffic manager of said company; and
certain other communications which
were likewise made part of the rec
ord. Evidence was introduced on the
part of such company tending to show
that the Shelby letter was wholly I'M
authorized and written during the alb
sence of Mr.. Shelby, who promptly re-
pudiated the same as soon as his atten-
ton had been called to it's existence.
Whatever may have been the real facts
as to the influence of these corporations
in maintaining what is termed list
prices, it cannot be said in view of the
records that the fact has been estab-
lished by such weight of evidence as
would warrant this committee in re-
porting as one of its findings
A Point Against the Great Northern.
The record would seem to establish
a concession by the Great Northern
Railway company that its influence is
at times exerted, with view to main
tanning uniformity of prices at COMPETE
tive points; and its action in this respect
is claimed to be justified as a means of
securing its legitimate proportion of
business as common carrier. It was
insisted on the part of said company
that it frequently caused prices to be
raised among buyers along its own lines
at such competitive points so as to
accord with the prices being paid along
the lines of competitive roads, and thus
to prevent the diversion of business
properly tributary to it's own line,
Further than this, the said company
disclaim any attempt to interfere with
prices obtaining at any of those mar
kets. There is some evidence tending
to show that the said company has at
tempted to coerce compliance with it's
requirements in the matter of prices by
threats to embarass the business of local
buyers; but there is no evidence which
shows, or tends to show, that in any of
such instances the said company in fact
embarrassed the local shipper in his
business or evinced any hostility to
him.
Spectators Have Injured Farmers.
The committee further finds that the
charge Of shipment of $4,000 bushels
from the same elevators without inspec-
ton or weighing was substantially true.
the fact being admitted by the elevator
companies. The companies claim. how
ever, that the amount so shipped was
an average which was on hand at the
time they began to do business under
the inspection law. This wheat. the
committee believes, the elevator com.