Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-07-17
To PROBE elevators
and GRAIN TRAFFIC
INTERSTATE COMMERCE COM
MISSION WILL MAKE THOR
OUCH INVESTIGATION.
WILL THEN RECOMMEND
NECESSARY LEGISLATION
Circular Letter Sent to All Railroads
Asking for Information on Sub
ject-Action Taken Under Direc-
ton of the Senate.

Washington, July 14.-An investi-
cation is to be made by the interstate
commerce commission, by authority
of the United States senate. of the
elevator, grain buying and forward
ing business of the country to deter
mine to what extent special favors
have been granted to them by rail-
road companies; the influence which
the alleged monopolizing of this
branch of business has had upon the
market; the injury it has worked to
grain producers; the extent to which
railroads, their officers, directors,
stockholders and employees own or
control the grain buying and grain
forwarding companies; and the man
ner in which such holdings, If any,
were secured.
A few days prior to the adjourn
ment of congress the senate adopted a
resolution directing the interstate
commerce commission to make thor
ough inquiry along the lines indicated.
In the judgment of the commission
this investigation involves securing
Immediately items of information
from common carriers engaged in the
transportation Of grain as interstate
commerce.
Roads Asked for Information.
In pursuance OF the resolution,
therefore, the interstate commerce
commission has sent a circular letter
to every railroad corporation in the
United States, requesting its RESPONSE
Bile officials to furnish to the commits
sion as soon as practicable informa.
ton which will enable 1t to report tt
congress next December.
In brief, the commission desire.
railroad companies to supply 1t will
the name and location Of every grail
elevator along their lines, togethe
with the capacity Of the elevator ant
whether the elevators are used sole
ly by their operators; the name an,
address of each firm or corporation
operating the elevators; whether an,
of the elevators are located upon tn
lands of the railroad company an
whether such privilege Of location
open to other persons desiring to cree
elevators along the railroad lines
what, IL any, interest the railroa,
companies have in elevator proper
ties, and whether any allowance Il
money or otherwise Is made by tn
railroad companies for the elevatio
or transfer OF grain; the names an
who have been the largest shipper
of grain over the railroad lines sine
June, 1905; the extent II any to whic
each railroad company since Jun
1905, has been engaged In the buyin
or selling Of grain: the extent. s
far as may be known, to which an
officer or employe Of the railroad hi
been engaged in the operation Of ar
elevator; description Of all speci
facilities or privileges which the raj
road companies, during the thr
years last past, have provided und
stress Of competition or other cond
lions to maintain or increase the We
ume of grain traffic over the lines
railroads together with details of su,
special privileges or facilities; and
statement showing in detail the met
DDS of the railroad companies in di
tributing cars for the shipment
grain.
Probe to Be Thorough.
It is expected by the commissit
that it will require three or 70,
months to obtain the informatit
asked for in its circular letter, but j
special difficulty is anticipated ult
mately in obtaining it The invest
cation instituted by the commissit
will be thorough and sweeping al
the commission expects to be able,
the beginning Of the next session
congress. to lay before the sena
such information as may be Of vail
to it in the formulation of legislatit
regulating the interstate grain traf
Of the country.
Three to Share Contract.
Washington, July 14.-Secreta
Bonaparte announced Friday that Ca