Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-26

get the Union Pacific 70 let him have Eite
for an elevator. There were two elevators
At Wood River. one known 81 the Conrad
elevator and the other as the Omaha
Elevator company's elevator. Witness had !
about 1900 invested in the business a.
Wood River. in his once and scales. Aside /
from this he had about $500 or 5000 In 4
terests invested IN that place. Continuing
the witness said.
Previous to my going into business for |
myself I ran the Omaha Elevator COM !
pany's elevator for that company at Wood
River. The Conrad elevator was there
then, but was IN reality owned by the
Omaha Elevator company and the two
elevators bid against each other IN order
to scare away any competition. The Conrad
elevator was originally bought from parties
who had built It through their being driven
out % business by the Omaha Elevator
company The elevator was bought for
1900 or $500"
Mr.. Peck Of the Omaha Elevator com
pauy here asked Mr McMurray If the price
paid for the elevator was not $500
Forced to cnt Him out.
The witness told OF Denver customers
being compelled TO decline contracts with
him because he was a shovel house man,
and how Charley Lane, assistant general
freight agent OF the Union Pacific. declined
to let him have adequate cars. because the
elevator men were forcing his hand TO
keep him from furnishing me ears
IN speaking OF the irresponeibility Of
scoop shovelers, the witness said: Il own
more property at Wood River than the
Omaha Elevator company does. and within
the twenty years past every leading ele-
vator man in Omaha has been scoop
shoveler including the Omaha Elevator
company and Updike."
The witness was OF the opinion that it
wss possible for the farmers elevator CON-
panies to so into combine with the line
elevators against the SCOOP shovelers.
| J, A. ElIiss Of Omaha. general agent Of
the Chicago Great Western. introduced in
evidence the tariff sheets OF that road OBJ
/ erstiee IN this LEGALITY and as applied to
elevator charges. The switching charges
to ana from the elevator to South Omaha
were g per car in either direction. The
witness was not acquainted with the
methods Of absorption charges. as he had
been In the city but few days.
Commissioner Isane--It does not seem
that there is anybody here that knows any
thing about your company
| A. 3. Jaquith OF Omaha testified that
he was in the grain business. doing COM
mission business in buying and selling
! grain. He did not now discriminate be-
tween shovel men. farmers elevators and
line elevators
Changes His Opinion.
He admitted. however. that there was a
time when be held a different opinion,
through the agitation caused by the Ne
braska Grain Dealers association, Now
he would accept grain from anyone, even
from a farmer. who sought to make up
car Of grain from among his neighbors
and would accept a consignment OF grain
from anyone. He said; II have never lost
dollar by shovel man, but have Lost
from regular dealers. I was manager Of
the Omaha Elevator company for fifteer
years and resigned on account OF my
health. was afterwards solicited by Mr.
Wells. Mr. Montgomery and Mr.. Georg,
Peavey to take charge OF the company.
did not leave the company from any othei
cause than my own volitioh. and solely OF
account OF poor health. There was rumo
that / was asked TO quit. This "a untrue
: for the records OF the company viii show
that resolution was adopted by It com
mending my management. which was &C
companied by a check for $500. after
wards became a member ans director o
the Omaha Grain exchange. Its interes
was 20 advance Omaha as market center
. do AZ much business az any other com
, mission firm in Omaha. I think the switch
, ing charge OF from 50 20 81 made by tn
, railroads is for the purpose OF dlscrimina
ton against Omaha, and from the EVIL
dence produced at this present hearing
understand that It is restored back to tn
elevator ring. have heard It stated her
that deTnurrags charges are laid agains
{ shippers but IN my opinion the elevator
! are not charged with demurrage.
: Has His Troubles.
Wa have our troubles as commission mel
: chants. and I recall, recent instance wher
I the Union Pacific required seven days
! transfer a car for me to Council Bluffs.
! think this trouble comes through the inte
i ference OF the elevator ring. A commits
= OF the Grain exchange expects to tab
= these matters up and investigate them II
railroads were IA the past antasonistic
\, track buyers, but are not 20 now. thin
= that the elevators would like to see matter
y better eGualiSed. but the elevators do n,
care to be the leaders. In any movemel
. against The railroads. There was en- effo
made to boycott me in Chicago. I receiv,
this information IN ChlcaRo while thel
and was told that Mr. Cowgirl and M
Updike were in Chicago at the time
influence the J. Rosenbaum Grain oompau
to cease buying from me. I saw thei
men in Chicago at the time and believe
they we're there for that purpose then. A
OF the leading grain dealers now in Oman
were within the last twenty years scoc
shovel houses I think the IL cents pai
by the railroads to the elevators Is dor
TO protect business out along their lines.
do think that there Is an agreement no
prevailing 10 hold down prices among Il
elevator men in order that they may mai
and Z cents margin on, corn aud oai
and about a scent margin on wheat.
know that for sixteen years no transf,
charges were paid IN Omaha. II transf,
charges have to be paid the elevator
should pay for il. I think that the elsa,
ing rate at the Great Western elevator
y cent per busheL II would be d,
cidedly beneficial 10 Omaha II the ALLOW
ance charges were cut on. The crops coul
be handled without the big elevators. II
biggest corn crop ever known in Nebrash
was some years ago, when the productic
was So0,oooOOO bushels and Il was ver
comfortably handled without the aid OF b
elevators"
Association Turned ca Worran.
Thomas ID. WornIl land dealer az
farmer Of lincoln, told that ne left a
. grain business In February last He sail
j II left il because Il was not profitable
y me / had been in the grain business sin,
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