Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-04
CONRAD ELEVATOR
PROBE INDICATES
CAR PREFERENCE:
Farmers Claim Large Profits
When Private Shipments
Are Made

Nb|A 40 1HS 'NS
grain from the farmers, held in this
city Friday afternoon, was largely at
tended. The hearing opened at /
O'Clock in the city hall, which was
packed with farmers, business men and
spectators and representative men
from adjoining counties. Attorney
General Rankin, who was assisted in
the hearing by J. N. Davis of the state
department of agriculture, opened he
proceedings by stating the purposes
of the investigation.
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 de
partment, that gross inequities were
being practiced by elevator men
throughout the state. and that hear
ings were being held in different To-
c~aIities TO determine the facts, with
the idea in mind of formulating remes
dial legislation to be submitted to the
Legislature this winter, and if the facts
warranted, to start prosecution unde
existing laws. Rankin invited those
present to feel free to ask questions
or submit information that would shed
light on the subject under inyestlga-
ti0n.
Car Shortage.
1t was brought out in his examina-
ton that the elevators had been gwen
the preference in car distribution, n
that track buyers and individual ship
pers had been unable to get cars most
of the time. 1t was also shown. Il
little later, that when individual snip
pers or track buyers could procure
cars, the grower netted from ~ to 10
cents per bushel more for his grain
than when it was handled by the ele-
vators. When questioned as to his
opinion of what caused the shortage,
Mr.. Staff replied that it might be
general business conditions or 1t might
be the strike
AT the conclusion of Staff exam-
Iination Attorney General RANKIN ex-
pressed the opinion that the position
of the railroads was i~nexcusabie, indie
fensible and reprehensible; that they
had known for months what cars would
be needed. and that as d public service
corporation it was their duty to provide
facilities for handling the crop. lie
also expressed the opinion that the
railroad companies might, or, at least,
should be held for damages to the ship
pers for this fragrant violation OF
their trust and duty"
1t was shown by Staff's examina-
ton that 100 cars have been shipped
and that at least 500 more will be
needed before the entire crop Is got
ten on the market.
When it was brought out that a
large number Of the farmers would
be unable to pay their taxes because
they could not market their grain,
Rankin suggested that the legislature
would no doubt pass some sort OF g
moratorium law, whereby the farmers
would at least be relieved Of paying
the penalty on their delinquent taxes
because of the situation existing.
Elevator Men Called.
Passing from the car situation 10
! the practices of the elevators, J.. L.
Dean, manager of the Equity Coop
c~ratiyc association was called to the
stand. Mir. Dean was questioned
about the method used in grading and
stated that most Of the grain market
here took the fancy grade, or l. IL
Ii cents above the card price. Attor-
ney-Genera1 Rankin then asked par
t~icularlv concerning the methods EN-
ployed i'll arriving ut the grade. II tht
witness did not make it altogether
clear lust how the so-called premium
grades were SET.
When confronted with a copy Of
The Great Falls Tribune. giving sew.
eral grades above dark northern No. /
he said he had no official knowledge
Of such grades. hut that he had beer
paying a premium for fancy, whicl
\ was practically 100 per cent perfec
{ kernels. with full gluten content. TIT
grades between fancy and No. 1 north
Cru. he said, were arrived at more Of
less arbitrarily. The witness state'
that it was his belief that the e!e
!, vators were taking too great q margl'
Of profit. and that he had insisted on
less margin for some time, but tina
the other elevators, particularly tn,
: 'old line houses" had opposed sucl
{ action. and he had been compelled Il
: line up Mr.. Dean had favored tn,
= investigation. and had lent his intiu
encc TO get the investigation held.
l Dwight K. Cresap. president OF tn
Montana Wheat Growers association
!. was present Mt the hearing, Towar'
the close of the session he was Gale,
, to the stand. He told how his organi
: %zation had grown from a melnbersih.
= of 1900 last year to a membership o
10000 this year and how their adven
- into the grain market had helped Ill
i, prices of grain,
The hearing lasted until about
o'clock in the evening. the farmers re
manning to the last and taking activ
part III the proceedings.-Conrad In
dependent.