Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-11-25
Special to The Tribune.

Conrad, Nov. 24.--Charges that ele.
vator companies have been exacting too
great a margin of profit from farmers
in the purchase of wheat were virtual
ly admitted here Friday by elevator
men called to the witness stand by
Attorney General Wellington D. Ran
kin, who has been conducting a probe
of alleged mispractices attributed to
elevators. Grain quotations published
in The Great Falls Tribune were used
by theys state in showing that the mar
ket acknowledged grades of wheat high
err than those considered by the elevat-
ers.
The hearing opened at / O'Clock p. m.
in the city hall, which was packed
with farmers. business men and spec
tators and representative men from ad-
Joining counties. Attorney General
Rankin, who was assisted in the hear
ing by ]. NJ. Davis Of the state de-
partment of agriculture, opened the
proceedings by stating the purposes
of the investigation.
Mr.. Rankin said that it had been re-
peatedly called to the attention Of not
only the agricultural department of the
state. but also the legal department,
that gross inequities were being prac-
hced by elevator men throughout the
state, and hat hearings were being
held in different localities to determine
the facts. with the idea in mind of
formulating remedial legislation to be
submitted to the legislature this winter,
and if the facts warranted, to start
prosecution under existing laws. Mr..
Rankin invited those present to feel
free to ask questions or submit infor-
nation that would shed light on the
subject under investigation.
Mr.. Davis followed Mr.. Rankin in a
brief statement, substantiating every
thing the attorney general had said, and
urging a full and complete showing of
all facts relating to hte marketing of
grain.
Car Shortage Discussed
With these opening statement the
hearing started. and rather u~nexpect-
edly the present car shortage was the
first question brought up. After some
preliminary remarks. George STAFF.
Great Northern agent here, was called
TO the witness stand and sworn. He
was questioned relative to the car sit
uation. and said in substance that an
acute shortage of cars existed. and had
all fall. He stated that it had been
more than two weeks since any cars
had been available for shipping out
wheat except a few that had brought
in merchandise and coal.
1t was brought out in his examina-
ton that the elevators had been given
the preference in car distribution. and
that track buyers and individual ship
pers had been unable to get cars most
of the time. 1t was also shown. a
little later. that when individual ship
pers or track buyers could procure
cars. the grower Melted from 10 to ID
cents per bushel more for his grain
than when it was handled by the ele-
When questioned as to his
opinion Of what caused the shortage.
Staaf replied that it might be general
business conditions, or it might be the
At the conclusion of Staaf's exami-
nation Attorney General Rankin ex-
pressed the opinion. with much en-
phasis, hat the position Of the rail
roads in this situation was repre-.
lensible and indefensible. that they
for months what cars would be
and that as a public service cor
poration it al their duty to provide
facilities for handling the crop. He
also expressed the opinion that the
company might be. or at least should
be, held for damages to the shippers
this fragrant violation Of their
trust and duty
1t was shown by Staaf's examina-
ton that 100 cars have been shipped
Of here, and that there will prob
ably be Il demand for 500 more. He
was not advised of any immediate
in sight, and the elevators are
all full and have been for two weeks.
being able to receive d bushel Of
grain from the farmers.
Legislation Suggested
When it was brought out that a
number Of the farmers would be
to pay their taxes because they
could not market their grain, Rankin
suggested that the legislature would
40 doubt pass some kind of a mora
torium law, whereby the farmers
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