St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-04-08
burned or destroyed otherwise by such
The UnhoIy Combine.

burned or destroyed otherwise by such
companies.
The UnhoIY Combine.
When the attention of the committee
was first called to the existence of
combination or conspiracy designed to
control the wheat markets of the state
it was represented that certain testi-
mony was produceable tending to show
that such markets are governed by
prices arbitrarily established by some
person or persons, associations or cor
porations, and evidenced by the tele
grams and other combinations sent to
numerous correspondents by Frank IL.
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 eX-
pressed terms of the statute from which
its authority to act was derived. The
subject. however, was finally deemed OF
so much gravity as to warrant an III
vestigation as to the charge, and it was
thereupon conducted with great thor
oughness 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 existence, in fact, of any
such combination or conspiracy.
nor is there anything in the record
touching this phase of the Investigation
initiating against the good name of the
said Irons. IL 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 Min
neapoliS, and that while SO employed he
did furnish TO certain correspondents,
both by telegram and through the mails,
information touching the current prices
OF wheat. 1t does not appear, however,
that he ever received any instructions
from his said employers. or any OF them,
to furnish this information to any per-
son whomsoeYer. Itappears to have been
the practice of the person who had pre-
viously been employed by such COM
panies to advise local buyers, upon So
licitation, as to the daily prices ruling
at the principal wheat markets OF the
country; which said practices was OBJ
served and continued by Mir. Irons.
There appears to have been no dis
elimination by him as to whom this
Information should be furnished; for, if
he is to be believed, it was sent to
whomSoever made application therefor
to him.
IRONS List.
Instead of the prices furnished by
Mr.. Irons having been arbitrarily eS-
tablished by himself, or by any other
person or persons. the committee finds
that they were in the main obtained
from the chamber of commerce. Mime
apolis. The prices so sent by Mr.. Irons
to his correspondents were based upon
the reports of a committee established
by the chamber Of commerce i'll said
city, whose duty is to ascertain the
closing price of the market.
Evidence was introduced with view
of showing that combination existed
between the elevator and railroad COM
panies of the state Tor the sole purpose
of maintaining a uniform system of
prices, and it is doubtless true that
some parts of such testimony uneK
planned tends to establish that fact.
The strongest evidence of this charac-
ter 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 gen.
eral traffic manager of said COM
pany; and certain other COM
munieationS which were likewise
made part Of the record.
Evidence was introduced OH the part
of such company tending to show that
the Shelby letter was wholly unauthor-
lied and written during the absence of
Mr.. Shelby, who promptly repudiated
the same as soon as his attention had
been called to its existence. Whatever
may have been the real facts as to the
influence of these corporations IN main
tai mi nxxyh 10 10 tnrtnnd lief nrinnc If
cannot be said in view of the records
that the fact has been established by
such weight of evidence as would war
rant this committee in reporting as one
of its findings. The record would seem
to establish concession by the
Great Northern Railway company
that its influence is at times
exerted with view to maintaining uni
formity of prices at competitive points;
and IFS action in this respect is claimed
to be justified as means of securing
its legitimate proportion of business as
a common carrier. 1t was also insisted
OH 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 diversion of business properly
tributary to its own line. Further than
this, the said company disclaim any
attempt to interfere with prices obtain
ing at any of these markets. There is
some evidence tending to show that the
said company has attempted ito coerce
compliance with its requirements in the
matter of prices by threats to embarraSS
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. i'll fact embarrassed the
local shipper in his business or eyincei
any hostility to him.
Victims Of Manipulators.
The committee find that the produc-
ing interests of the state are at this
time, as they have been for Il long time
in the past, the victims of graiu manip-
ulatorS throughout the country. Well
devised and ably executed manipula-
tons on the part Of Chicago spectators
haye undoubtedly resulted i'll greatly
depressed prices. This implies tinan-
cial loss to the farmers in this state OF
many millions. The committee will
hereinafter suggest an appropriate rec
ommendation to the legislature to
meet this menacing evil. The pro
ducers of wheat should be untranl-
meled in placing their crops upon the
markets of the world. They should
stand on an equal footing of the most
powerful in this regard AS they can
not in justice ask for others than rea-
sonable facilities they should at all
times enjoy nothing less.
The committee feel called upon to
recommend the legislature the passage
of appropriate legislation tending to
greater protection to the producing and
shipping interests of the state, and the
greater efficiency of the present grain
and warehouse law. Its suggestions in
this regard are made as follows:
FirSt-All railroad companies of, and
II