42 DEEP FURROWS 



Assiniboia, during two successive sessions introduced 

 Bills to regulate the shipping and transportation of 

 grain in Manitoba and the North-West Territories and 

 these were discussed in the House of Commons. A 

 Special Committee of the House was appointed finally 

 to investigate the merits of the case and as considerable 

 difference of opinion was expressed as to the actual 

 facts, the appointment of a Royal Commission to make 

 a full and impartial investigation of the whole subject 

 in the public interest was recommended. 



This Royal Commission accordingly was appointed 

 on October 7th, 1899, and consisted of three Manitoba 

 farmers W. F. Sirett, of Glendale; William Lothian, 

 of Pipestone, and Charles C. Castle, of Foxton with 



I His Honor E. J. Senkler, of St. Catharines, Ontario, as 

 Chairman; Charles N. Bell, of Winnipeg, acted as 

 Secretary. Owing to the illness and death of Judge 

 Senkler, Albert Elswood Kichards (afterwards the 

 late Hon. Mr. Justice Richards, of Winnipeg) , succeeded 

 as Chairman in February, 1900. 



Sittings were held at many places throughout Mani- 

 toba and the North-West Territories and much evidence 

 was taken as to the grievances complained of, these 

 being mainly: (1) That vendors of grain were being 



ft subjected to unfair and excessive dockage at the time 

 of sale; (2) That doubt existed as to the fairness of the 



\ weights allowed or used by owners of elevators; (3) 



f That the owners of elevators enjoyed a monopoly in 

 the purchase of grain by refusing to permit the erec- 

 tion of flat warehouses where standard elevators were 

 situated and were thus able to keep prices of grain 

 below true value to their own benefit and the disad- 

 vantage of the public generally as well as others who 

 were specially interested in the grain trade. 



