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JOHN MDGAR HOOVER ¢ @) , D. &. Department of Justice Bureau of Investigation 1 Washington, g. 0. September 25, 1930. 2 a4 1$°3 MEMOPANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR 4 further conference was had with Mr. Oseas of Mr. O’Brian's Division this afternoon relative to the’grape growers' association case. Mr. Oseas stated that from the information received to date, he was unable to determine wether the Federal Government would have jurisdiction and whether there had actually been any restraint of interstate commerce. Inasmuch as I was awaiting word from the Chicago office of the Bureau relative to the interview with Mr. Conn this morning, I called Chicago by tele- phone and Agent Butterworth advised that he had met Mr. Conn at Ft. Wayne, Ind. ani had ample opportunity to talk with him and gst his point of view; that upon erriving at Chicago they had met Mr. Marx Adamson but had not gone into any de- tail on the case at that time, Adamson requesting that the interview be deferred util this afternoon at 2 o'clock, and Agent Butterworth was then awaiting a eall from Adamson, Agent Butterworth was instructed to immediately endeavort obtain de- tailed facts with regard to the shipment, movement and sale of the juice grapes in question, that is, to determine whether said carload lots of grapes were shipped on consignment or whether they were shipped on a straight order bill of leding, whether the cars subsequwntly sold by the brokers and auctioneers at Chic go had been ourchased outright by said brokers and auctioneers or whe- ther the brokers and auctioneers were acting for the shippers. Agent Butter- worth was also told to immediately ascertain just how the restraints were en- forced, how tue money was paid, the percentage of carload lots sold by auction as opposed to those received by the broker and sold privately; also, to endeavor to ascertain the reason for the imposition of an assessment of $20 against vload lots at certain freight yards and the imposition of a 5¢ to 30g lug rge against the grapes at other freight yards. -Mr. Oseas feels that if this information can be definitely obtained A and forwarded, he will then be in a position to determine whether there heve “ bpen any reatraintaysn jrterstate commerce. Respectfully, 42-2U/53 JT) TG a/b * SUOP INVESTIGATION v. ¥. Hughes. ' 27 +9 i BEOORUas | Se 27 x . OP PG yg pene SA me