Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-14
IS LACKING
Attorney General 6onaparte
Unable to Find Way to Pros
ecute Paper Trust
AND AVOID TARIFF CHANGES
Replies to Cannon Resolution Saying
Public Policy Prevents Giving
Facts Full Publicity.

Washington, April 1.-THE paper
trust is being Investigated. The status
|of the inquiry is an Official secret. If
proof of unlawful conspiracy among
the makers of print paper and wood
pulp can be found the government
will take proper action in court OF
competent jurisdiction"
This is the, answer of Attorney
General Bonaparte to the Cannon res.
olution recently adopted by the house
demanding a report on the steps taken
by the department of justice to break
up the alleged combination
Hard to Find Proof.
In his letter the attorney general
hints at the difficulty of finding legal
proof to substantiate charges made
against the trust.
Several weeks ago all. evidence
and information relating to it's subject
matter in the possession of this de
partment were referred to the United
States attorney of the appropriate dis
trict, with orders to make, or have
made by grand jury of the said dis
trict, thorough investigation of the
matters in question: the letter from
the attorney general says.
'The attorney was further instruct
| ed. if sufficient evidence could be thus
obtained. to instigate at once suitable
proceedings in the federal court hav
ing jurisdiction in the premises, will
a view to Furnishing any offending
parties, and to secure in future stric
obedience in this respect to the stat
ute OF the United States general.
known as the Sherman antitrust law.
No Evidence Yet Obtained.
up to the present time no evidcnc;
has been obtained by the officers o
| this department sufficient to justif!
the institution of legal proceedings
either civil or criminal, against an.
alleged combination of wood pulp o
print paper manufacturers; the infor
nation obtained, however, justifie
| further investigation of the facts, an,
such investigation is in progress.
| s'It is proper for me to say in thi
connection that certain alleged fact
were submitted to this departmen
when the above mentioned investigs
tion was commenced which apparentl
authorized the belief that serious an
readily proven offenses against tn
laws of the United States had bee
committed in the premises and imm,
diate action by the appropriate Office
was thereupon promptly ordered, bt
these orders disclosed that no leg;
proof could be secured of the allege
4. offenses, the evidence relied upon I
establish them turning out to be mer,
ly hearsay, and the complainant hin
self, who had furnished this informs
} ton, refusing to give the name of
witness supposed to have person;
J knowledge of the said facts.
Practice to Sift Thoroughly.
Before taking action under the s
called antitrust law it has been til
. unvarying practice of this departmel
TO sift thoroughly the allegations
such, complaints, and the considerab
proportion of successful prosecution
I under the said statute seems to ju
tify this practice.
: in this instance information
: aforesaid furnished when SO siftt
3 showed an undoubted general ar
. considerable increase in the prices
Y certain kinds of paper, but that su,
v increase was due to any contract, col
: bination, or conspiracy in restraint
trade was a matter OF conjecture al
suspicion only. although it seem,
lprobable that proof to establish til
: might be found through searchil
8 and judicious inquiry.
i II regret that the public intere
S prevents me from fully and prompt
d complying with the request contain
n in the above mentioned resolution.
May Give More Later.
when this investigation has be
completed and the report of t
, United States attorney intrust
Herewith Is received, may be in
position to furnish the house of r,
= resentatives with the papers and
= formation called for without injurio
!. ~ affecting the interests of justi
:. and / shall. in such case, submit tn,
4 without delay.
a IF, however, the said Investigate
= should lead to civil or criminal p
ceedings, it may continue expedit
to temporarily withhold from the p
in lie evidence and Information, now
A. hereafter obtained. bearing npon
90 situation until such proceedings sh
of have been finally determined"