The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-04-15
.Ar. KnoX's Letter Satisfac4
tory to House Com
n1ittee.
7HiYER'S APPEAL UHAVAILIN
No Necessity for the Adoption
of His Resolution.
INQUIRY ALREADY INSTITUTED
Efforts Under Way to Establish Whether
the Laws Of the Nation Are Being
Violated by the Packers and Other
Large Concerns.

{ 6dASC kV1LG4ES-
Representative Thayer Dem. Mass.Y
this morning appeared before the House
Committee OF Judiciary to urge action on
his resolution calling on the Attorney
| General for information relative to what
steps he has taken to investigate the So
called beef trust. He made an impas-
stoned appeal to the committee. begging
them not to remain supine while laws
were being violated and great trusts
thrOttling the people. The Republican
members of the committee by their ques-
tions iDtimated the belief that Mr. Thayer
was actuated by political motives, which
he denied. He argued that the Attorney
General ought to take notice OF newspaper
articles on the subject, although he inc
tended no criticism OF that official. Chair
man Ray, OF the committee, hinted that
the newspapers are at liberty 70 place
what information they have officially be-
fore the district attorney. who, no doubt,
would do his duty He did not believe that
the Attorney General was bound to inves-
tigate any and all crimes upon nothing
more tangible than newspaper reports.
The committee then went iato executive
session
After the executive session it was an
nounced that the committee had decided
to report the Thaycr resolution back to
the House with the recommendation that
it lie on the table This action was re-
ported to be unanimous
TIE following correspondence on the
subject was made public:
April z. 1862
Hon PhiIander c. Knox, Attorney Cen
eTaI. United states
Dear Sir: kindly inform ne: l. Has
your attention nas been called to the mat
ter alleged in House resolution 233. q copy
of which is annexed2 . Have you been
requested to take any official action IN the
matter2 9. Have you any evidence OF the
existence of such a combination?
Yours respectfully,
GEORGE ". RAY.
Chairman Committee on judiciary"
On the same day the Attorney General
replied as follows:
april u. 1902
Hon. George ". Ray, Chairman Commit
y =
sentauves:
Dear Sir: I have your letter Of this
date. inelosing a copy Of House resolution
No 203. with reference to an alleged com
bination of six OF the Iea4;ng meat pro-
ducers of this country. formeS for the pur-
pose Of restricting and controlling trade
and for raising the prices Of the prime ne
cessities of life. and asking me certain
questions which I here repeat and answer
in their order, not deeming such a course
incompatible with the public interests.
''First-'Has your attention been called
to this matter alleged il House resolution
2os. copy of which is here sAlexed?
ct has not, except so far as It is a
matter Of general notoriety-
Second-'Have you been requested %
take any official action in the matter?'
Il have not
.sThird-Have you any evidence Of the
existence Of such combination
None that could be classed as legal
evidence.
1t is proper. think. however. 10 add
that owing TO the positive, oft-repeatcd
and eircumstantiai nature of the alIega-
tions. that the law is being fagrantIy
violated I directed some time ago
thorough Investigation TO be made By one
of the district attorneys Of the United
States, for the purpose Of asceTtaining
! whether in fact such combination existed.
and whether, if so, its operations we're in
violation OF any statute. Very respectful
Iy yours,
P. c. KNOX. Attorney General
1t is apparent from this correspond
enee," the accompanying report says,
that there is no necessity for the adop-
tion of the resolution.
BY reason of the widespread notorfety
of the matter the Attorney General of the
United States has already ordered a thor
ough investigation. There is no doubt
lie Will perform his duty and prosecute
all offenders. if offenders there be.
1t is evident that he should not be re-
quired to give in detail the steps already
taken, as this would be to forewarn those
who are violating the law and enable
them TO conceal evidence.
at is also evident that this officer can
not state whether or not there has been
an infringement of the law. as 10 evf-
denee has been presented 10 him upon
which to base an opinion. and no inteIIi-
gent opinion can be given as to whether
, or not there has been an infringement OF
the law until the facts are fully ascer-
! tanned
at is also evident that TO legal steps
can be taken toward prosecution of the
parties violating the law until thorough
/ investigation has been made.
In short the letter of the Attorney
| General above quoted answers the reso
Iutions as well as they can be or ought
/ to be answered at this time"