Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-07-19
ITO PROBE AGAIN.
Interstate Commerce Commission,
Under Authority Of Senate, Is
Cateehising the Railroads.
REGARDING GRAIN BUSINESS
They VIII Attempt to Determine to
What Extent Special FavOrS
Have Been Granted-TO Re-
port to Congress.

Washington, July 14.-An investiga-
ton is to be made by the Interstate
commerce commission by authority
of the United States senate, Of the
elevator, grain buying and forwarding
business of the country to determine
to what extent special favors nave
been granted to them by railroad COM
panies; the influence which the alleged
monopolizing Of this branch has upon
the market; the injury 1t has worked
to grain producers; the extent to
which railroads, their officers, direc-
tors, stockholders and employees own
or control the grain buying and grain
forwarding companies; and the man
ner in which such holdings, II any,
were secured.
The interstate commerce commits
sion has sent a circular to every rail-
road corporation in the United States,
requesting its responsible officials to
furnish to the commission as soon
as practicable, information which
will enable 1t to report to congress
next December.
In brief, the commission desires
railroad companies to supply 1t with
the name and location Of every grain
elevator along their lines, together
with the capacity Of the elevator and
whether the elevators are used solely
by their operators; the name and ad-
dress of each firm or corporation op-
Grating the elevators; whether any OF
the elevators are located upon the
lands of the railroad company and
whether such privilege Of location Is
open to other persons desiring TO
erec. elevators along the railroad
lines: what, II any, interest the rail-
road companies have In elevator pro-
perties and whether any allowance IN
money or otherwise Is made by the
railroad companies for the elevation
or transfer of grain; the names and
addresses Of the ten persons or firms
who have been the largest shippers
of grain over the railroad lines since
June, 1905; the extent, II any, to which
each railroad company since june
1905 has been engaged In the buying
or selling of grain; the extent 80 raj
as may be known. to which any otdeel
or employe Of the railroad has beer
engaged In the operation Of any Gle
vator; q description OF all special Ia
cilities or privilege which the rail
road companies, during the thre'
years last passed, have provided undel
stress Of competition or other condA
tons to maintain or increase tn
volume of grain traffic over the line'
Of railroads, together with details O
such special privileges or facilities
and a statement showing in detail tn
methods of the railroad companies IL
distributing the cars for the snip
ment of grain.
It is expected by the commission
/ that It will require three or fou
months to obtain the information
asked for in its circular letter but NJ
special difficulty is anticipated ulti
mately in obtaining it. The inVesti
cation instituted by the commission
will be thorough and sweeping an
the commission expects to be able q
the beginning of the next session
congress to lay before the senate sue
information as may be of value to 1t i
the formulation of Legislation regulat
ing the interstate grain traffic OF tn
country.