The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-12-27
,c,uated by any other than fair mo.

actuated by any other than fair mo-
The evidence shows that practical.
" q horizontal dockage Of one pound
vators at Eldridgc during the past
season. While this is Al somewhat
unusual state OF affairs. inasmuch as
the commission itself knows that IA
much larger fdockage Is generally
taken, yet 1t mas hc TRUE that an N
cepttonal'y clean crop Of grain was
raised in this neishborhood during
the past season. At any rate there
Is nothing to Indicate that this dock
age was no. honestly arrived at. and
there was no testimony tending to
prove there was any agreement be-
tween any Of the elevators and any
of the farmers that amy other dock
age than Il just and honest dockage
should be taken.
Much the same might be said IN
regard to the grading of the grain.
While all OF the grain marketed at
Eadirdge was graded high. mostly be-
nothing to indicate In the evidence
that it was grain that should not
honestly be graded that high. ana
there was no evidence to indicate that
any collision vas resNrted to in FIX
ing the grade. OF that any arbitrary
methods We're used in DISCRIMINATING
what the grade should be. but sottars
as the evidence shows, at all the ele-
vators the grain sold there was tested
with a view to ascertain the condi-
ton of the grain. and not with q view
Of determining the price to be paid.
The commission is not unnAndful
Of the fact that many other influences
We're ut Work at Eldridge. The buyer
of the Farmers Elevator company was
a new man, a stranger among the
people. and seems to have been slow
IN gaining the confidence and attract
ing their business. On the other
tor company had been a resident OF
the town for several years. raj per-
;onally acquainted with all Of the
Farmers. and had won their conn
lence and gained their regard, and 1t
is evident that without using any un-
air or arbitrary or collusiVe methods.
ne was enabled to buy the grain from
the very members Of the Farmers
elevator company at the same price
laid by the farmers company.
OF course 1t Is hardly to be expect.
d that the patrons Of the elevators
who will profit by these fierce compe-
titative influences are going to testify
cry strongly against the parties to
whom they are indebted for these ad-
vantages, and as a fact all of the wit
nesseS subpoenaed by the complainant
testified that they sold their grain to
he Powers and Occident elevator
companies because they liked their
buyers. and because they liked their
methods of doing business, and for
other personal reasons. These Wit
nesses owned stock in the Farmers
Elevator company. but in such small
quantities that their loss Of profits by
reason Of diverting their own business
to other elevators was not appreciable.
In fact some Of the witnesses testified
they expected to make their profits
off the other customers of the eleva-
tor. While this may not show a very
patriotic spirit, yet from q business
point of view we are not prepared to
say that it Is not a good policy for
farmers to own stock in O farmers
elevator for. the moral effect it may
produce to have a farmers elevator
in the market buying grain, and at
the same time sell their W grain at
some other elevator in the same mar
ket. ~
The result Of the investigation. ana
the testimony OF the witnesses en-
amined. satisfied this commission that
the Farmers Elevator company at
Eldridge was forced 10 close it's ele-
vator by a Of fair and honest
comparative influences which it was
unable to meet, and not by reason OF
any violation of. the anti-discrimina-
ton act, and hence the complaint Will
be dismissed. However, the commits
sion is gratiied tt be able to make
an Investigation at this Kind. and 40
it in such a thorough and exhaustive
fetal assistance Of the attorney gen.
eral, and the state will no begrudge
the expense incurred for this purpose.
because we r convinced that the
moral effect Of this hearing will be
widespread, and that while it has not
developed in the discovery of a crime,
or the punishment, of a criminal, yet
1t has served to bring to light the va
rious methods of elevators and 9TH
ers engaged in the grain trade. and
to make the PUBLIC familiar with the
the claims of oppression under the
law against unfair competition. The
evidence has developed no state OF
facts calling for any censure of the
parties accused, and in speaking OF
the methods brought to light. We
do not mean to reflect upon any Of the
elevator companies involved. but
merely to refer to the fact that by a
hearing of this kind the public is
methods of handling the grain trade,
and it has been given an insight mo
the various Influences h Il control IN
the legitimate conduct Of the grain
business, and while perhaps the dis
closure of an illegal state Of affairs
might wen further satisfy the desire
Of the public for information regard
ing the methods %resorted to by the
grain trade, yet 1t is a matter worthy
80 <o1S1lko{i~~ <1ok ~@ u,,0tA r(t,,nk{~-
a disclosed.