The Red Cloud chief., 1906-11-02
OMAHA INQUIRY ENDS
INTERSTATE COMMERCE HEAR.
ING REVEALS QUEER METHODS.
One Witness Expresses the Opinion
That a "Gentleman's Agreement" to
Maintain Prices Exists in Nebraska.
Business pooled" in Iowa.

Omaha, Oct. 26.-The hearing on
grain trade conditions before Inter.
state Commerce Commissioners Clark
and Lane was concluded here.
e. p. Peck, an Omaha grain dealer,
told Of the methods of arranging
prices a year or two ago, during the
life Of the Nebraska Grain Dealers
association, but said no agreement of
that kind now exists. He said he re-
garded shovel houses" as unfair
competition and used all means to
drive them u of business.
c. G.. Crittenden of the Central
Grain company, Lincoln, Neb,, said
his company operated elevators on
the Burlington line. They received
from that road an allowance to ~
cents a hundred pounds to cover ele-
walton charges until last summer,
when it was discontinued. He knew
of no shovel houses" in his territory.
+. M. Ferry, a general merchant of
Little Sioux. Ia, who operates a
shovel house." said he was formerly
Disseminated against by the North
western railway. For the last two
years he has had no reason for com
plant. The Missouri Valley mills at
Missouri Valley, Ia, he said, refuses
to buy his grain, giving as a reason
that the Updike Grain company of
Omaha would not sell them grain if
they did and would bid up the price so
that they could not buy from farmers,
Millers at Marshalltown, Ia, also re
fused to buy his grain, he said, be-
cause he had no elevator and was not
a member Of the Iowa Grain Dealers
association. Mr.. Ferry said he re
ceived a letter from President Wells
of the Iowa Grain Dealers associa
tion some time ago, from which he
learned that the association fixes
prices paid for grain and provides
for pooling by its members.
ID. j. Gates of Albion, Neb.. an OF
ficer of the Albion Elevator company
a farmers organization, said that hi!
company in the three years it ha!
been operating has caused an increase
of 4 cents in the prices paid for grair
and still does business at a profit
The penalty clause has been abolished
from the company's bylaws. At frs
he had much trouble in selling grain
Letters were introduced from grail
buyers in Denver, Colorado Spring
and other points to show that tn,
Nebraska Grain Dealers association
then in existence, tried to proven
their buying from his company.
Lumber Dealers Association Object.
Letters were also introduced t
show that the Nebraska Lumber Dea
ers' association objected to his CON
pany handling lumber and n fror
the Union Pacific Coal company. RI
fusing to quote wholesale prices o
coal. Lately he has had no troubl
in the grain business, His compan
ships by the Union Pacific compan
only, At first 1t was refused an ell
vator site and was called by a Unto
Pacific official a blackmailing, bus
ness'destroying concern.
: Later the requests we're granite,
Witness knew of several other point
n where farmers elevators had simila
difficulties.
n A. b., Jaquith of the Exchane
n Grain company, but formerly for thi
y @ years manager OF the Oman
d Elevator company. spoke Of the man
d hindrances and a%nnOyanses to whic
t grain men are subjected by railroad
4 and said that tsstlmc@k At thes