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nna | an em ee, -3- Mr. Dedds asked Mr. Conn for names of persons who would be in a position to aupply the Bureau and Department with facts relative to the assessment against the carloads of grapes and also reletive to the tribute exacted against each lug at the freight yards. Mr. Conn statedthat he wuld tglad to place the Agents of the Bureau in touch with a Mr. Mark Adamson, ons of the receivers of carload lotsa of grapes at Chicago, in oven canpetition with Charles Irrgang, the cam lainant, who had been to the Department the day defore. Mr. Conr stcted, however, that he was satisfied that Mr. Adamson would not give the Burcau Agents any information in the absence of hie, Mr. Conn's, help and insistence and he suggested that if the Agents might mest him at Chicago on Thursday morning of this week, he would put them in touch with Mr. Adamson and would urge Mr. Ademson to disclose such facte as were in his possession. Mr. Dodds ani Mr. Oseas agreed th:t this action at least might be taken and con- sequently it was arranged that Mr. Conn would advise My. Dodds om the writer on Wednesday morning, the 24th instant, of his reservation to Chicago, he ez- pecting to arrive in that city on Thursday morning, the 25th imatant. It waa further agreed that the Ruresu would arrange to assign 2 Agents to meet Mr. Comn on the train a short distance out of Chicago amd proceed with him to a point where they might interview Mr. Adamson. Mr. Conn is to be in Chicago between trains only 1s hours, consequently, it will be only possible for him to see Adamson for a short time, introduce the Agents to Adamson and do what he can to urge Adamson to disclose the facts, It was &lso agreed that the Chicago office of the Bureau would immediately assign Agente to interview Mr. Charles WW. Irrgang who had pre- fWiously called at the Department for the purpose of obtaining a compiste satate- ment fran him and also interview Mr. Godding and Mr. Mills who accompanied Mr, Irrgang to the Departme:t. The Chicago office was advised by telephone to have Irrgang interviewed on Monday morning and was also advised generally of the desire of the Bureau to h: ve 2 Agente meet Mr. Conn on Thursday morning. Further telephonic instructions will be issued to the Chicago office when Mr. Conn had advised of his train reservation. With regard to the situation at New York, it appears that the price on arafes is more or less controlled by an alleged conspiracy on the part of the kers Union, it appearing that the Union hes increased its price far trucking gapes fram 3¢ to 10g per lug during the past year. The 10¢ lug charge ie a prohibitive charge, apparently out of all reasm, and is really an assess- ment in another form. It was agreed that the New York situation might wait until we ascettain just what the facta are at Chicago. It was pointed out by Mr. Conn an: Mr. Merritt that there are only thres big markets for grapes in the East, the same being Chicago, New York and Pittsburgh, and that practically 90% of ell grapes shipped from California went into these markets and by fer the larger percentage to Chicago. The question of jursidiction of the Depart- ment in entering into the investigation at all was discussed at som length between Hr. Do.ds and Mr. QOseas and Mr. Oseas was of the opinion that the juris- diction sven at best is doubtful, however, he agreed that a preliminary inves- tigation should be made in an effort to determine the jurisdiction. The writer vigorously cbjected to any plan which might place Agents of the Bureau as ob- — eee eee ee ee ee