Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-04-16
REPLY TO CANNON
ATTORNEY GENERAL REFUSES TO
FURNISH SPEAKER EVIL
pENcE CALLED FOR.
IN PRINT PAPER INQUIRY
Facts Secured Do Not Justify Legal
Proceedings AZ Yet But the In
vestlgatlOn 10 still In


Proceedings AZ Yet But the In
veStlgatlOn 10 still In
Progress.
Washington, Apr. 1.-THE attorney
general Monday sent to Speaker Can
non q letter in reply to the house reso-
luton asking what steps have been
taken by the government to investigate
the alleged combination Of wood
pulp or print paper manufacturers.
The attorney general says an investi-
cation is in progress, but no evidence
has yet been obtained to justify legal
proceedings. He says that when the
investigation and the report thereon
is completed he will submit them with
out delay If he can do 90 without af-
fecting the interests Of justice, but
that IL the investigation should lead
to civil or criminal proceedings it may
continue expedient to temporarily
withhold from the public the evidence
and information.
The attorney generals letter, in
part, follows:
''In response to resolution Of the
house Of Representatives No. 800, trans
mitted to me under date of April 8,
1908, have the honor to state that
several weeks ago all evidence and in
formation relating to its subject mat
ter in the possession Of this depart
ment 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, a thorough investigation of the
matters in question. The said United
States attorney was further instructed,
II SUFFICIENT evidence could be thus OBJ
tanned, to institute at once suitable
proceedings in the federal court having
Jurisdiction in the premises, with a
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 sufiicient to justify
the institution of legal proceedings,
either civil or criminal, against any
alleged combination Of wood pulp or
print paper manufacturers; the infor-
nation obtained, however, justines
further investigation OF the facts and
such investigation is in progress.
ct would be inexpedient at the
present stage of this investigation to
disclose to the public specifically what
steps have been taken, or what action
Is contemplated by this department
with respect to matters mentioned "A
the said resolution. As above stated,
these matters have been referred to q
United States attorney for further In
qulry and possible action in his ju-
diclal district and It would be, in my
opinion, Incompatible with the public
service to require him to suspend this
inquiry 80 that the papers in his pos
session might be transmitted to the
house Of Representatives, and inadvis'
able, IN the interest sf justice, to make
public at this time Tire precise infor'
anton In the possession Of said prose
cutting olaoer.
7 regret that the public interest
prevents ne from fully and promptly
oonpiying With Ne Request eontaihed
n tna etoTe me1tic111 nre1l1ti1n-
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