Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-23
FRUIT MEN HEARD.
Attorney Gaines Presents Their Case
TO the Senate Committee.
CURB ASKED FOR EXPRESS LINES
Allegation Made Companies Are Doing
Commission Business.
BILL PROPOSES TO STOP IT
Decision on the Union Pacific Ele-
\ vator Allowance Case.
GRAIN MEN ALLOWED DAMAGES
Men Who File Complaint AlleRe Conn
petitors Were Given Advantage
Not Enjoyed by Them
selves.
Decision on the Union Pacific Ele'
\ vator Allowance Case.
GRAIN MEN ALLOWED DAMAGES
Crron a staff Correspondent

(From a staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Jan. 22.-(Special Tele-
pramD-Frank II. Gaines of Omaha coun-
sci for the Western Fruit Jobbers' assocla-
ton, in his statement made this morning
before the interstate commerce commit
tee. charged four of the five express COM
panies OF the United States with being
engaged in the commission business Hear
ing on the charges filed by the Western
Fruit Jobbers association was had by
subcommittee of the interstate commerce
committee consisting of Senator'S Crane,
Dolliver and Taylor including Senator
Keane of New Jersey, who was appointed
specially to conduct the hearing. Senator
Clam OF Minnesota and Senator Brown OF
Nebraska also attended the hearing In
addition to Mr. Gaines, who made the
principal argument against the express
companies, there were present: r. w.
! Goss. president OF the association; E., B.
Branch of Omaha, secretary; NJ. l.. Dolan'
Grand Island, Neb one of the largest
commission men in that state; s. E. Lux,
Topeka, Kan; c. F. Francis, Davenport
Ia; E. II. Roger of Des Moines and W.
w. Summers OF Chicago.
Senator Burkett opened the hearing by
a statement outlining the steps leading up
10 the meeting. He called the attention OF
the committee to his resolution OF March
2 1907, calling upon the Interstate Com
rneroe commission to Investigate the alleged
purchase and sale of commodities by the
express companies. and filed the report OF
the commission on the subject made In
MAY 1908
Mr. Gaines stated that the Wells-Fargo,
American. Pacific and United States Ex-
press companies recognized and encouraged
commission business on the part of their
agents. The Adams company, he stated.
I docs not permit It.
Before the hearing closed Senator Cullom.
another member of the Interstate commerce
committee, came in for the hearing. and
Congressman Hitchcock was present to
b hear the statements made by the Omaha
men present At the conclusion OF the oral
hearing. permission was granted for those
interested to file briefs and additional
papers within reasonable time This ad-
dtionaI paper will include Part Of the hear
inEs had before the Interstate Commerce
commission. which have not hitherto been
printed The bill Is stll in the hands Of the
A subcommittee. but 1t is hoped by members
of the Fruit Jobbers' association to get
action on It at this session.
Grain Elevation Case Decided.
The Union Pacific railroad is declared to
have been guilty OF unlawful discrtmina-
tlon in a decision announced today by the
Interstate Commerce commission in what
are known as the elevator allowance cases
in which the Nebraska Iowa Grain com
pany. Crowell Lumber and Grain company
I'pdike Grain company Cavers Elevator
company and Nye-s Schneider Fowler Grain
company sought reparation from, the road
for discrimination in the Union Pacific ele-
y vator allowances at Omaha and Council
Bluffs With reference to all the shipments
involved the tariff provisions requiring a
return to defendant of the car within forty
eight hours after delivery, condition pre-
cedent to the payment Of the allowance, Is
held unlawful. The commission says the
road. though declining to pay this 10 the
complainants, paid the allowance to their
competitors. Repsration aggregating N252
and interest is awarded
Mail CLERKS Petition.
senator Burkett today introduced In Tho
senate resolutions adopted by the Broker
Bow Commercial club urging an allowance
be madc TO railway mail clerks for eXpendi
lures made while on their routes away
from home.
New BnI Restricting Telegraph.
Following hearing had yesterday on thu
Blrkett bill to prevent the use OF the tele
graph IN Interstate gambling, Senator
Rurkett introduced a bill in enlarged form
estoday. The amended bill proposes In brief
v 10 extend the scope OF the proposed legisla
ton to be International as well as inter
state. The reform bureau, which is behin'
the bill hopes in this way TO curb tn
gambling In futures between nations AM
also to prevent betting on races in foreig'
countries
ConferInR on Insurance Laws
The American Bar associations standing
committee on insurance law has been u
session this week at the Raleigh hotel Tn
committee is composed Of Ralph w Breck
enridge, Omaha. Neb.; Robert A. Mercu'
ToUanda. Pa: William r. Vance, Washing
ton. ID. c.: Robert Dunlap. Chicago. Ill
and William II. Burgess Of ri Paso, Tex
an of whom except Mr.. Dunlap were pres
ent at the meeting.
The subject considered by the committe
was the initiation OF movement for tn
Improvement of the laws dealing with tn
/ regulation and control OF the insuranc
cnmnanies OF the country, and which shoul
also produce uniformity among the state
IN this regard. In view of the diversifie
. laws on insurance. no two states sgreein
ss 20 the code the committee reached IN
conclusion that II congress would pass
n,odel law providing for the regulation O
insurance companies within the District q
Columbia the various states might be In
duoed 10 follow the leadership OF congres
and thus secure uniformity in regulation
Minor Matters At Capital.
CONGRESSMAN Kinkaid today recommends
+ha anoointment of Herman o. Meyer a
yostmaster at Buffalo. Dawson county; ais
the establishment OF a post0ffiee to .
known as punWell in Hooker county WIT
John w. Wells as postmaster.
IN r. c. James of Falls city. county Al
torney for richardson county, is In Wasf
lngton to represent the case OF the stat
sex tel Farmers Elevator company
sttausvile against the Missouri Pacin
This company built an elevator al strau'
Vile but failed TO provide itself with
,continued on Third PaGe)