The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-08-31

up an elevator, and then the trouble
getting its share of the grain and that
began. After some months the Omaha
Elevator company claimed 1t was not
unless Johnson would agree to main
tain a uniform price that company
would jump in with higher price and
run him out of business. Representa-
tives of the three companies then met
and signed contract to make re-
port to each other every week, to
divide the grain equally and to main
tain uniform prices. To bind the
agreement each deposited check for
500 with Secretary Bewscher and the
contract was carried out to the letter,
each receiving every day from the
price fixing committee the price to be
paid for grain the next day.
Forced to Pay Forfeit
The witness said at that time he
was getting the bulk of the grain and
on one or two occasions he had to
pay money to the Omaha Elevator
company. He told of one settlement
he made with that company in which
he paid it ST in cash, besides for
feiting his 500 check and $500 bushels
of grain he had handled.
The witness then said there was a
tacit understanding that no member
of the association was to buy grain
from an irregular dealer. Irregular
dealers he described as farmers who
sold their own grain and loaded it into
the cars themselves.
The second year Johnson refused to
divide the grain bought, though he
maintained the uniform prices sent
out from Omaha. He refused, he said,
because the contract was only for one
year, while the Omaha Elevator COM
pany interpreted it to continue in
definitely.
he contemplated buying some grain
from his old customers, but he could
not sell it, as members of the associa-
tion objected SO strenuously.
Johnson testified that he knew by
hearsay from the man who bought
him out that the grain association
had been working along the lines he
had discussed during the last sixty
days.
Reasonable Profit on Grain
Under cross-examinatlon by Mr..
Kennedy, Johnson said his dealings
with the Omaha Elevator company
had been with Mr.. Jaquith and to him
he had given the 500 check, which
was deposited with Bewscher. At
torney Smith brought out of him that
he had made agreements with other
dealers in his home town before the
association was organized. Mr.. Hall
elected the information that the pro-
fits made under the card system were
not excessive, but were fair. John
son testified that a fair profit would
be 2 cents on corn, and from 3 to 5
cents on wheat This would be the
price he would sell grain for over
what he paid for it. Out of the profit
would have to come his expenses.
Fixed Prices in Lincoln
C. Y. Long of Lincoln, who was
bookkeeper for the Nebraska Elevator
during the time Tom Worrall
was president, said he had worked for
the company from December 8, 1900,
until July 81, 1904. Mr.. Long said as
bookkeeper he kept track of the grain
bought at the various stations in this
district and received reports and made
reports to agents of the company at
the various stations in the district and
also received reports from competitors
In this district. The Nebraska Eleva-
tor company and the Central Gran
aries company, he said made the
prices for the district each afternoon
md mailed cards out to the apenfc Of [