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Generally speaking, these elevator weights are accepted by all parties in the merchandising o f this grain, and are also accepted by the railroad in assessing its freigh t charges, although it appears that in some instances railroads rely fo r their charges upon track-scale weights. E levator weights are usually accurate, and comparatively little complaint has been received from the handlers o f grain o f erroneous weights. In one or tw o instances complaints have been registered that the quantity o f grain weighed out o f the car does not correspond w ith the amount o f the invoice, which is also the amount upon which freigh t charges are assessed. F lou r and other grain products are usually shipped in packages containing a certain number o f pounds, and the w eight o f the con­tents o f the car is ascertained fo r the purpose o f assessment o f freigh t charges by counting the number o f packages.- I f there are instances where track-scale weights are used in assessing freigh t charges against grain products, that has not been brought to the attention o f the Commission. Generally speaking, at the present time, but little complaint exists as to the w eighing o f grain and grain products. COMPLAINT OP CHICAGO BOARD OP TRADE. Reference may be here made to a matter presented to the Commis­sion by the Chicago Board o f Trade. ' O w in g to the great extent o f the city o f Chicago and the location o f the different elevators w ithin jthat city, it is not feasible to receive all grain which is intended fo r city consumption from the elevators. A very large amount o f grain must be unloaded upon team tracks, and the present practice is to weigh this grain in the wagon upon platform scales. These scales are owned and operated by the railroad, and shippers allege that the weights so ascertained are not accurate. Th e reason fo r this was found by the witnesses in several circum­stances. I t was said that the grain in being unloaded from the car into the wagon was almost invariably spilled to a greater or less degree, so that a distinct loss in w eight occurred from this cause between the car and the scale. I t was also said that the scale was carelessly and im properly oper­ated by the railroad employee and that it was not properly tested and inspected. There was the still further allegation that proper supervision was not exercised by the weighmaster in observing whether the w agon - 281. 0. 0. 22 IN T E R S T A T E COM M ERCE C O M M IS S IO N REPORTS. contained the same number o f persons or the same person when weighed empty and light. Th e result o f all this has been that cars unloaded upon the team track and weighed in this manner invariably show a considerable shortage. Th e average amount did not appear. T h is in turn has created a prejudice against the team-track market, so that grain habitually sells fo r less, frequently fo r as much as 2 cents per bushel less, when fo r team-track delivery than when fo r elevator delivery. Those merchants in Chicago who operate' through the team-track delivery urge that these conditions are burdensome and should be removed. I t was stated in behalf o f the Chicago Board o f Trade that that organization was w illin g t o . take over the inspection and operation o f these scales, and the desire o f both shippers and commission men seemed to be that this arrangement should be made. The thought was expressed that under such an arrangement a close supervision could be exercised not only over the w eighing but over the unloading o f the grain itself. Th e railroads at the present time make a charge o f 10 cents per load fo r this w eighing service, and the board o f trade would expect i f it took over the operation o f these scales to make and retain this same charge. I t was stated that a considerable deficit would un­doubtedly occur to the board o f trade notwithstanding this arrange­ment, but that that organization was w illin g to undertake this task,- just as it now supervises the w eighing o f all grain handled through elevators in the city o f Chicago, inasmuch as certain members o f the board dealt in this team-track grain. I t is evident that there is usually a shortage in the w eight o f cars o f grain unloaded upon these team tracks, and this seems to be due partly to carelessness in the handling o f the grain and partly to im­proper scaling. F o r negligent unloading o f the grain the carrier is not responsible, but fo r the w eighing it is. I t occurs to us that the board o f trade m ight w ell be given jurisdiction over these platform scales^ which are extensively used fo r the purpose named, in the same manner that it has jurisdiction over all other scales by which grain Is weighed in that market. Th is certainly would relieve carriers from all criticism, and m ight incidentally enable the board o f trade to exercise some supervision over the handling as w ell as the w eigh­in g o f the grain in the interest o f its members. Something was said as to the reasonableness o f the charge imposed by the carriers fo r the weighing, but the- Commission can make no order touching that matter in this proceeding, and w ill not therefore express an opinion. 28 r. c. 0 . I N RE W E IG H IN G OP F R E IG H T B Y CARRIER. 23