The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-17

blanket order. to correct evils, I don't
tne situation and so develop it that, if
needed power is evident. we shall be
able to tell what that power NAV be.
have a notion that the roads could
settle the trouble if they would. The
commission has the power to investi.
gate the management Of all roads, and
that IS the power under which we are
working
..5l .Y The Opening Session.
The opening session today was given
over to the hearing Of road men who
handled traffic gathered from all parts
Of the northwest.
James J. Hill will testify at this
hearing subpoena has been issued
Tor ms appearance, and it is announced
he will be at the hearing tomorrow.
With Commissioners F. K. Lane and
James s: Harlan on the bench the hear
Ing OF the interstate commerce commits.
sion began at 10 am. Attorney John
H.: Marble conducted the investigation.
In opening the hearing Mr.. Lane
stThis Investigation into the general
upon the initiative Of the Interstate
commerce commission itself, under the
general power vested in that body by
section IL of the act to regulate inter
said act. ...
@sThe,' inquiry here begun will be
prosecuted in other portions Of the
should open here. because it was
prompted by the facts which developed
at the hearing recently had in this city
concerning the relations Of the grain
elevators and the railroads, wherein It
appeared that a large number of line
elevators were at that time filed with
grain and had been closed, that the
grain buyers had in some cases posted
notice upon the elevators stating that
they could no longer buy grain because
the railroads had failed to move the
grain already on hand, and that as
result, many of the farmers Of the
rthWest. being unable to market their
crops, were without funds to meet their
obligations or provide against the de-
mands Of the oncoming weather.
f. Controversy Arose.
/, "A controversy arose at that hear
ing as to the responsibility for the de-
plorable conditions then prevailing. On
the part Of the railroads, James j. Hill
presented the assertion that the termi-
nal elevators were not Of sufficient ca
paclty for the needs Of the crop. This
view was controverted by Mr.. Heffel-
finger, representing the grain eleva-
tors, who cited figures showing that
terminal elevators were almost empty
and had been 50 thruout the grain re-
ceiving season.
ct is the purpose of the commission
at this time to enter fully into the
conditions and practices respecting the
movement Of freight which obtain in
the northwest and to search for the
reasons of causes which tend to Justify
or condemn the same We wish to
know whether the shipper or the con-
signee is in whole OF in part. to blame.
receiving freight; whether the fault
lies. with the carriers because of their
Indifference to public interest, their
lack of foresight in providing neces-
sary equipment and terminal facilities,
or their too great regard for interests
not wholly compatible with the most
efficient transported ton service
We wish to know how far whatever
delinquencies are apparent may be ex-
cused because Of an unparalleled and
unexpected crop and whether> all rea-
sonable effort was made to meet the
eyer::growing demands Of this section
OF the country.
GIVE wish to learn also how present
conditions may be promptly improved
and what steps have been taken to-
wards effecting such Improvement, and
it is the further design of the commits
sion to discover whether conditions, If
resulting from railroad methods, are
such as can be remedied by the carriers
themselves, and whether such is their
determination. as evidenced by poll
cies already adopted, or immedi-
ately contemplated, or if it shall be
necessary to advise legislation by the
congress which will insure, rs well as
may be-, against the recurrence Of such
public calamity as arises from so-called
car shortage.
Trained Investigators.
ttTo these ends the commission has
had corps of trained Investigators in
| this field for the nast two weeks and