Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-24
INTERSTATE HEARING TODAY
CONTINUED from First Page)

at New Orleans through the Illinois Cen
trail elevator in that city. They placed an
embargo Of 81 cents bushel on our
shipment for running the wheat"
Mr.. Beall had, ne said, protested vigor-
ously to the ofieials Of the Illinois Cen
trail railroad, both at New Orleans and
at Chicago and the charges were consider
ably reduced.
Continuing. Mr. Bean said that their
grain on this particular shipment was all
short in weight in the elevator from 1000
to 1000 pounds 10 the car.
Mr. Beall declared that he did not con-
slider II safe for his company to put its
grain through any elevator operated by
persons interested in the Kansas City
Board Of Trade.
Mr. Beali said that he had been a nnehi-
her Off the Kansas. City Board OF Trade
up to d year ago. 'e H".
was e1ere at that time" asked John
II. Marble. attorney for the Interstate
Commerce commission, "any combina ton
in existence to agree upon the price TO be
paid by the members Of the Kansas City
Board Of Trade for wheat?'
Yes replied Mr.. Beall. such COM
binaton existed in 1884,
Combination Formed Two Years Aen.
MT bedll Salu NnaL the elevator COM
panies in Kansas City were IN this COM
bination and he named half dozen lead
ing local grain firms and individual grain
men who were members Of Il. Among
them. he said was the Southwestern grain
elevator, owned by Armour.
Attorney Marble handed Mr. Beall
price card issued to members Of the al
legged combine November 2S, 1904, and wit
ness recognized II as being similar to one
he had received
Mr., Bsall said that the combine was
formed In the ONCE of one of the proml-
nent members of the Kansas City Board
Of Trade in April 1904 He was a party
10 it one day only and then withdrew
because he did not like the agreement.
Prices Fixed Daily.
All the principal elevator men in the
city, Mr.. Beall said, were members OF
the combine, which fixed its prices every
morning Grain generally was bought at
the price which was fixed arbitrarily It
was determined on the basis OF the Chi
cago option and a margin SUFFICIENT to in
sure a profit TO members OF the combine
was agreed to-
Mr.. Beall was asked IL he knew OF any
Kansas City grain men ever having been
notified by the grain dealers associations
OF oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa or Nebraska
not TO buy grain OF Irregular shippers so
called.
MIR. Bean said that such notifications
had been receivefd up to within two or
three years ago The Kansas Grain Deal
ere association, it was generally UNDER
stood at that Time he said. would boycott
any one buying such prescribed grain
Kansas City grain members generally. he
said. had followed the wishes Of the Kan
sas grain dealers in this matter. not taking
grain from the Irregular dealers or from
farmers direct.
board On Blacklist.
Witness said he had heard that several
roads had refused to set cars for the regu-
lars. but he knew OF no actual case OF
this kind.
Mr.. Beall explained that the National
Board of Trade had headquarters I'm KAN
sas City. II had twenty-five active mem
bers here and about 400 IN other cities. 1t
had no exchange outside OF Kansas City
In reply to a direct question. Mr.. Bean
declared that the members OF the National
Board OF Trade we're blackllsted by the
Chicago, Minneapolis and Kansas city
boards OF trade and that the Kansas City
Board OF Trade interfered with all ship
ments OF grain belonging to the National
that passed Through Kansas City The
board. he said, insisted upon Weighing
all the Nationals grain, claiming the right
10 weigh all grain coming into Kansas
City.
Mr. Beall, In reply to a question from
Commissioner Lane, named ten members
OF the Kansas City Board of Trade whom
he asserted had refused 10 buy grain from
his company, giving as an excuse that
they feared expulsion from their board.
G. M. Boynton, elevator agent for the
Santa Fe system. testified that IN Sep
TENDER the Santa Re issued circular
Offering free elevator service. This cir
cular he said. was withdrawn October 10
or y. He said this offer was made 10
secure greater tonnage, and was necessary.
as other roads we're adopting the same
plan.
what Is the difference between such a
proceeding and giving rebate?' Conn
missioner Lane asked.