The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-14
Not Certain Whether or Not
There Is Paper Trust.
HEREPORTS PROGRESS
His Assistants Are Busy With
an Investigation.
He May Have Information to
lmpart at Later Date.

SAAS ~ 0pcdh6T cannon Il
ietter In reply to the house resolution
asking what steps have been taken by
'he government to investigate the
alieged combination of wood pulp or
print paper manufacturers. The attor-
ney general says an Investigation is in
progress but no evidence has vet been
9Dtalned to justify legal proceedings.
ne says that when the investigation
ana the report thereon is completed he
VIII submit them without delay If he
can DO SO without affecting the interest
OF Justice but that if the Investigation
should lead to civil or criminal nro-
ceeolnss 1t may continue expedient to
temporarily withhold from the public
the evidence and information.
Inc attorney generals letter follows:
In response to a resolution of the
mouse of representatives No. 800. trans
mItted to me under date of April 8.
ISoo, nave the honor to state that sew
eral weeks ago all evidence and infor-
nation relating to its subject matter
IN the possession of this department
We're referred to the U. S. attorney of
the appropriate district with orders to
make or have made by a grand i,,rv
or the said district a thorough investi-
cation of the matters in question. The
said q. S. attorney was further in
structed, if sufficient evidence could be
thus obtained to institute at once suit
able proceedings in the federal court
navlng jurisdiction in the premises,
with view to Furnishing any offending
parties and to secure in future strict
obedience in this respect to the statute
OF the United States generally known
as the Sherman antitrust law.
UP to the present time no evidence
has been obtained by the officers of
this department sufficient to Justify
of
either civil or criminal against any al
legged combination of wood pulp or
print paper manufacturers. the infor-
nation obtained, however. justif1es fur
ther investigation of the facts and such
investigation is in progress.
1t would be inexpedient at the pres
ent stage Of this Investigation to dis
close to the public specifically what
steps have been taken or what action
is contemplated by this department
with respect to matters mentioned in
the said resolution. AS above stated,
these matters have been referred to a
United States attorney for further in
quiry and possible action in his judic-
ial district and it would be, in my opin-
ion incompatible with the public SER
vice to require him to suspend this in
quiry SO that the papers in his posses
sion might be transmitted to the house
and inadvisable in the interest of jus
tice, to make public at this time the
precise information in the possession Of
said prosecuting officer.
''It is proper for me to say in this
connection that certain alleged facts
were submitted to this department
when the above mentioned investiga-
ton was commenced which apparent
ly authorized the belief that serious
the laws of the United States had
been committed in the premises and
immediate action by the appropriate
officer was thereupOn promptly or
dered; but these orders disclosed that
no legal proof could be secured of the
alleged offenses, the evidence relied
upon to establish them turning out
to be merely hearsay, and the COM
plainant himself, who had furnished
this information refusing to give the
name of a witness supposed to have
personal knowledge Of the said facts.
Before taking action under the So
called antitrust law it has been the
unvarying practice or TINS depart
ment to very thoroughly sift the
allegations of such complaints and
the considerable proportion of sue
cessful prosecutions under the said
statute seems to justify this practice.
In this instance information as afore-
said furnished, when so sifted.
showed an undoubted general and
considerable increase in the prices of
certain kinds of paper, but that such
increase was due to any contract,
combination or conspiracy, in re-
straint of trade, was a matter of
conjecture and suspicion only, al
though it seemed probable that proof
to establish this might be found
through a searching and judicious
inquiry.
"I regret that the public interest
prevents me from fully and promptly
complying with the request contained
in the above mentioned resolution.
When this investigation has been
completed and the report of the
United States attorney entrusted
Herewith is received 1 may be in a
position to furnish the house of repre-
sentatives with the papers and in
formation called for without in
juriously affecting the interests of
justice and I shall, in such case, sub
NIT them without delay.
eff however, the said investigation
should lead to civil or criminal pro-
ceedings it may continue expedient
to temporarily withhold from the
public evidence and information, now
or hereafter obtained, bearing upon
the situation until such proceedings
shall have been finally determined"