New-York tribune., 1908-04-14
THE PAPER INQUIRY.
Nothing Yet Found to Justify
Legal Proceedings.

Washington, April l3-Attorney General Bona
parte to-day sent to Speaker Cannon letter in
reply TO the House resolution asking what steps
have been taken by TIE government to investigate
the alleged combination of wood pulp print
paper manufacturers. The Attorney General says
investigation is in progress. but evidence has
yet been obtained to justify legal proceedings. He
says that when the investigation and the report
thereon are completed he will submit them without
delay if he do so without affecting the inter
ests Of Justice but if the investigation should lead
TO civil or criminal proceedings IT may be expedient
to withhold the evidence ana information from the
public temporarily. The letter follows
In Response to resolution Of the House Of Repre-
of April 5, 1905, / have The honor to state Ihat
several weeks ago all evidence and information
this department were referred to the United States
make or have made by rnd ry Ti nf f6e sa9
district a thorough Investigation Of the matters in
question The SAID United States attorney was fur
ther instructed. if sufficient evidence could be thus
obtained, 10 institute once suitable proceedings
~ IHe ieqeral court haVng jurisdiction IN the prem
lses, with view to Furnishing any offending par
this respect to the statute Of the United States
generally known as the Sherman antitrust law"
tained by the officers Of this department sufficient
j ~ {Sy m Ie OF legal procgeolnsS ehe1
Of OF wood pulp or print paper manufacturers. The
investigation of the facts. and such investigation
1t would be inexpedient at the present stage Of
this investigation to disclose to the public spe
ton is contemplated by this department with
spect 20 matters mentioned in the said resolution
AS above stated. these matters have been referred
70 United States attorney for further inquiry and
possible action in his judicial district and IL would
service to require him TO suspend this inquiry so
that the papers in his possession might be trans
mitted to the House Of Representatives and mad
Vlsable. IN the interest OF justice to make public
at this time the precise Information in the pos
session Of the said prosecuting officer
II is proper for to say in this eCtion that
certain alleged facts were submitted this de-
partment when the above mentioned investigation
apparently authorized
belief that serious and readily proven offences
against the laws Of the United States had been
committed in the premises, and immediate action
by the appropriate officer was thereupon promptly
ordered, but these orders disclosed that no legal
proof could be secured of the alleged offences,
the evidence relied upon to establish them turning
out TO be merely hearsay. and the complainant
| himself. who had furnished this information re
flising to give the name Of a witness supposed to
have personal knowledge Of the said facts. Be
law it has been the insa ring Tracfj"e of thjs de-
partment to thoroughly sft the allegations
Of such complaints and the considerable proper
! statute seems 10 justify this practice In this in
stance informatiOn. as aforesaid, furnished. when
siderable Increase In the prices of certain kinds
Of paDer, but that such increase was due to any
Of trade matter OF lecture and suspicion
only although II seemed probable that proof 10
establish this might be found through searching
regret that the public interest prevents me from
contained in the above mentioned resolution. When
this investEa tion has been completed and the re
the House of Representatives with the papers and
ing the interests of f,lstice and ! shall in such
case submit them without delav- II. however. the
'D., - ,+t -, .n,,7IIc
1 rarilv withhold from tho public evidence and in
forme ton now or aereafter obtained bearing npon
the si'uation until such proceedings shall have
been finally determined.