East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1922-02-06
Federal Inquiry Suggested
by H. H. Corey and Also by
UmatilIa County Farmers.
PORTLAND PRICE HELD
AS LOWEST IN COUNTRY
Public Service Commission
Member Thinks Farmers
Are Not Getting Justice.

That the department of agriculture
conduct q public hearing for the pur-
pose of investigating charges that the
prices paid for wheat by Portland ex-
porters are not what they should be is
being jointly called for by the Umatil-
In county faim bureau and by H. II.
Corey, public service commissioner
from Eastern Oregon. 1t is also sug-
gested that the inquiry deal with dis
counts and dockage charges and the
farm bureau has suggested that the
hearing be held preferably in Pendle-
ton.
1t is desired that the investigation
be conducted by the Federal grain in
speeijQn dppartmant and many would
like to see Assistant Secretary Morrill,
in charge Of the inquiry. He was in
charge Of the recent grain grading
hearing in Portland and proved at
that time that he had considerable
knowledge of the subject.
Under date of February 8 Mr.. Corey
write the following letter to the Port
land Oregonian, the letter not having
been published as yet by the Portland
paper.
Salem, Ore, Feb. 8, 1922.
To the Editor Morning Oregonian:
/ am pleased to accept the Orego-
MANS suggestion of January 2Sth that
public inquiry be had but as no
Oregon tribunal has jurisdiction over
the matters involved in our discussion
] suggest that the inquiry be held be-
fore the United States department OF
agriculture and that the investigation
be broadened SO as to cover the ques-
tion of discounts and dockages, which
is also mooted question between the
farmers and grain dealers, to the end
that the department of agriculture
may fix standards of discounts and
dockagcs II it is deemed advisable aft
or such investigation.
! assure you have no quarrel with
Portland. | merely state that appar'
emily certain business concerns ir
Portland have absorbed all. if any
benefits derived from down-river hau
rates, which benefit was promised tt
the farmers In 1919, and that l be
'lieyed other interests in Portland
would do likewise if the long and shor
haul applications now pending arr
granted. I have learned nothing from
our discussions that has caused me t.
change my opinion.
The fact that market quotations OF
any particular date Invariably shoV
that wheat brings a lower price II
Portland than at any other eSpor
point in the United States, as well a
many of the primary grain markets
leaves q question in my mind as to tn
reason for this difference.
Market quotations on comparabl
priced grain on January 2Sth, If an
correctly informed, were as follows
Galveston. and New Orleans $1.2O%
Chicago st.16%; Kansas City SLIT Il
st. Louis s1.19ts; Minneapolis, S1.2S
Omaha SLIP; San Francisco LII; Az
toria Sill; Tacoma, Sill; Seattl
Sill; Portland 800.
The farm bureau of Springfield, ii
inois advised on January 2Sth, thi
dealers there could pay &c more pt
bushel for soft wheat than for har
wheat, but could not get it. Por
lands quotation on same date, I y
under hard wheat quotations at Ch
cago. Freight rate per bushel, Bak'
and Pendleton to Chicago 40c. 1t
therefore, futile to suggest that fa
mers would ship to Chicago if thu
thought they were not getting all IL
wheat is worth in Portland.
Hoping may have the cooperate
of the Oregonian toward securing {
impartial investigation, I remain
Very respectfully,
H H. COEY.