The Washington times., 1903-09-06
Case Dismissed on Techni-
Calfp TO Be RenSfafed
Without P1gudIce 10 Unit
ed States Interests.
Tmbez- Grabbing Corpoea-
fIonS Changed WHh De-
Uasfafion Netting SeUeraI
Million Dollars.

A legal battle of truly gigantic pro-
portions. and one on which the attention
of the entire Northwest is centered. is
now waging between the United States
Government. on the one hand. and the
Amalgamated Copper Company. of Mon
tana. on the other Suit was recently
begun by the Department of Justice TO
force this company. which is built upon
the DAILY interests. TO disgorge 81, coo. 900
alleged to have been realized out of
timber depredations of vast extent in
western Montana Technically. the sui.
was dismissed, but preparations have
been made for its reinstatement with
out prejudice TO the status of the prose
cution
Hundreds of square miles OF valuable
timber land are declared to have been
devastated In all the long list of
depredations committed by timber
thieves against the Government. none
has compared with these, if the charges
made in the bill OF complaint filed by
the Government are true. For years the
denuding OF the Government property
went on, and not until recently did IL
seem possible to bring those responsible
to account
Status of Prosecution
Even now, it is charged. the action
against the Amalgamated Copper inter-
ests. which was begun early last sum-
mer in the Circuit Court of the United
States for the District of Montana. has
been dropped on account of a technical
fty- Here in Washington. however. IL is
vigorously denied that the prosecution
for the timber depredations is to halt
At the Interior Department, where the
Investigations of the timber robberies
were first begun. it is asserted by high
officials that the prosecutions are be-
ing urged with all possible energy.
While the Interior Department has
turned the matter over to the Depart
ment OF Justice. the officials of the
former department are still in close
touch with the case, and they say the
progress the Department of Justice is
making is satisfactory.
The suit against the Amalgamated
Copper interests is not the only one of
this kind in which the Government is in
terested in Montana. There is also an
action pending against Senator w A
Clark. the Montana millionaire. and
William Cobban. who are accused Of
fraudulent entry on large tracts OF tim
Der land.
In the action against the Amalgamated
Copper interests, the defendants named
are the Bitter Root Development Com
pany. the Anaconda Mining Company.
Margaret F. DAILY. as executrix OF the
last Will and testament of Marcus DAILY:
John r. Toole. William w. Dixon. VIII
liam Scallon. and Daniel J. Hennessey.
The suit was instituted by Attorney
General Knox. following complaints and
investigation by the Interior Depart
mtnt. or which shrewd and painstaking
Secret Service officers made careful re-
search into the colossal inroads on the
forests or the Government in western
Montana. and especially in Missoula and
RaValH counties.
President Takes a Hand
II Is believed President Roosevelt
himself has strongly sanctioned the
prosecutions or the timber destroyers.
and he is as ft4lly bent on stopping the
system by which the Government tim
bered property is despoiled. as he is on
the merger crusade.
Nearly two years ago, w. B. Rodgers
who was United States attorney IN Mon
tana. brought the first suits TO recoy-
er for the timber destroyed in western
Montana. Laxity on the part OF Rodgers
has been freely charged. and IL has been
said he was at least lukewarm towari
the Amalgamated Copper Company. At
any rate the suits were not brought to
a prosecution while Rodgers was in Of
fee rand he has since become an attOr-
ney for the company.
Special United States Attorney Fred
A Maynard has been detailed by the De
partment OF Justice TO prosecute the
Amalgamated Copper case, and the case
against Clark and Cobban. with United
States Attorney Carl Rasch OF Montana,
acting In an advisory capacity. Ii was
through the efforts OF Maynard that the
suit against the Amalgamated Copper
Company for two millions was recently
be gun. On going 10 Montana he declared
he was there. without fear or favor. to
have justice done, and said the President
lContinued on Fifth PaRel