The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-08-15
DENY COMBINE
IN LOCAL MILLS

No Evidence Out.

(Continued from page ~
No Evidence Out.
In this connection. however. no evil
dence was produced to indicate the ex-
istence Of even an informal organtza-
ton Of local millers. J. B. Nicholson
of the Kaw Milling company, replying
to q question on this point. raised q
smile in the small assembly in Mr..
Robertson's office. To the query:
do the Topeka millers meet to
consider questions Of price OF their
the telephone. or in any other way?"
Nicholson answered:
mo. Topeka millers don't meet to
talk about anything: In fact some OF
them barely speak"
Billiard stated that while each mill
pursued the practice OF the others in
fixing the price at which he sold -four
they did SO independently of one an
other, and that at times their prices
were at considerable variance.
Competition Keeps Prices.
"But competition forces them back
to the same general level, 50 that the
price scale runs in nearly the same
proportion for different grades of
-four" he stated. otherwise the
Today Mr.. Robertson covered the
wheat market situation at Kansas City
in his questioning Of J. T. Nicholson.
He obtained from him cash prices paid
for wheat at Kansas City daily be-
tween July Is and August "A. In that
time the Kaw Milling company had
paid prices which huctuated between
IS and 97H cents a bushel. Flour which
On the former date had been selling at
$2.05 t. o. b. Kansas City and $40 on
the local market was advanced 10
cents a hundred pounds on August Il.
The difference between the Topeka
price and that for shipped flour, he
Justified by the difference in cost of
handling, collections and marketing. In
the past thirty days, he stated, cost OF
cotton bags have advanced 3 a thou
sand while burlap bags have gone up
almost 100 per cent. or from 5.S cents
each to 1915 each. Irvine used in tying
has advanced Is per cent.
Pnge and Hammatt.
This afternoon David Page Of the
Mid-Continent mills in North Topeka,
and D. C. Hammatt Of the Crosby mills
Of the Southwestern Milling company
were examined.
The investigation is informal. In
formation given is not under oath. All
questions are put by Mr.. Robertson,
and they with their answers are pre-
served for his reference by a short
hand reporter. Today's program calls
for the examination of millers and on
XAOludy tAc 1AtCSlle9dt1OA WILL Jake w
the wholesale trade.
Millers and wholesale men whose
presence had been requested by MT.
Robertson have almost uniformly
agreed to come in and tell why prices
of flour, sugar and many other staples
have advanced in the past ten days.
The inquisition is in no sense of a
criminal character. Similar investi.
cations are being conducted in other
states by representatives of the depart
ment of justice in the hope Of obtain
ing information which the United
ing back prices of commodities to their
normal position or near 1t.
On RObertsOn's Initiative.
While the local inquisition il in line
with work already instituted by the
department Of justice. it was started
on MI. Robertson's Initiative. yes
terday he asked for and received from
Washington special instructions to
proceed with an investigation of in
creasing prices quoted by mills, pack
ing houses and wholesale stores.
II am convinced OF the desirable
moral effect OF such a hearing" said
Mr.. Robertson today. IF the manu-
facturers and wholesalers whose prices
have gone up have a legitimate reason
for directing the advances which have
two weeks. they will appreciate an op-
portunity of demonstrating it Kansas
people have a right to understand the
true situation.
IT am proceeding on no theory of
my own. Under the general policy of
office to take the initiative in en-
deavoring to arrive at an understand
ing OF the present situation and I shall
earnestly solicit the cooperation of
the many able and experienced busi-
ness men whom have invited to take
part in doing so. Out Of their testi-
mony I hope that Kansas people may
come to a clear understanding Of the
facts. We shall proceed with GOODNESS
and elaboration and try to learn them
fairly"
Firms Are Called.
The firms which have thus far
been asked to send representatives in
clude millers, meat packers, whole
sale men and retail dealers. That
other names will be added to the list
are held in the office of the district
attorney for the present and will con-
tinue probably until Wednesday OF the
coming week. Those businesses al
ready summoned include the McCord-
Kistler Mercantile company. Davis
Grocery company. Topeka Packing
company, Chas. Wolff Packing COM
pany, Cudahy Packing company, ]. B.
Billiard, Thomas Page. Kaw Milling
company, Crosby Milling company,
Forbes Bros. Inter-Ocean Mills, Mid
continent Mills, Shawnee Milling COM
pany, Southwest Milling Company
Fritz Luenberger. Hindmans' Grocery
| (manager), William Green, J. Weiss
Dibble Grocery company (manager),
! william Wegele.
SLAP At PRIMARY.