New-York tribune., 1909-12-30
PLANS TO DIG DEEP
MR. M4CTEAGH HERE
ON FRAUD CASES.
Secretary Slips Azray after
Conference 7cith Mr.. WICK
ersham and Others.

treasury, was IN this city on tuesday u
attend dinner given by George w
Wickersham, the Attorney General. at
the Metropolitan Club. There were also
present Henry L. Stimson, special prose-
Cutor for the government in the sugar
and Morse cases; Henry A. Wise, United
States District Attorney, and William
Loeb, jr.. Collector of the Port. The
gathering, il was said yesterday, would
have a farreaching effect in the prose-
cution of the violators of the customs
laws and in the making of reforms at
this port
Mr.. Wickersham has been at the Bar
Association rooms for several days, but
in close touch with President Taft, who
Is preparing a message urging Congress
10 make certain changes in the antitrust
laws and favOring a federal corporation
act, as outlined in The Tribune yester-
day Mr.. MacVeagh it was said. made
the journey for the purpose of seeing the
Attorney General in regard to matters
pertaining to the Presidents recon-
mendation and to discuss the customs
situation. The Secretary of the Treas
ury returned to Washington yesterday
morning. Mr.. Loeb left the city for the
same place in the afternoon.
AS a result of the little dinner regard
ing which the closest secrecy was main
tained, the federal grand jury resumed
It's consideration of the sugar situation
Yesterday morning, hearing several wit
nesses whose testimony, it was expected,
would bring out evidence that would
warrant the most farreaching prosecu-
ton. Collector Loeb reported on the
customs situation as to smuggling and
short weighing other than in sugar
CLAUSE AIDS PROSECUTORS.
A section of the Wilson act No. 13,
which it was found had not been re-
pealed. received consideration. 1t was
believed that the provisions of this sec
tion would make it possible to strengthen
the charges of conspiracy which would
enable the government to tighten the net
being drawn around violators who
seemed to be outside the pale of the law.
The section reads:
That every combination. conspiracy.
trust agreement or contract is hereby
declared to be against public policy il
legal and void when the same is made
! by or between two or more persons or
corporations either of Whom is engaged
III importing any article from a foreign
| country into the United States. and
when such combination. conspiracy trust
or agreement is intended to operate in
restraint of lawful trade or free compe-
tftion in lawful trade or commerce, or
10 raise the price in any part of the
United States of any article imported or
intended to be imported
Any person violating this provision
he, ,fel.e ~ or -,
| $4,000 and Imprisonment of three TO
twelve months.
Under this section it was said. COM
plants of merchants against persons
who We're underselling in the market,
but against whom no technical charge
could be made could be acted upon The
power to undersell. it was held, would
show that the customs laws were be-
ing evaded This had been shown in
the past and had furnished valuable
ciews to the government, but in many
instances sufficient evidence to warrant
prosecution un1 other laws had not
been forthcoming.
The possibility of a Congressional in
vestigation of the Custom House and the
Appraisers department was talked over
Mr.. Loeb told of the reforms that had
been made and were still TO be instituted
as the result of the Investigations by
his spe ,ial commission. 1t came out
that an inquiry into short weighing Of
other than food importations in the past
had shown the prevalence of the practice
in general way.
WISE GETS NEW LOCKS
Mr.. Wise's investigation of the theft
of the letter sent TO him last June by
Mr.. Wickersham was outlined The
papers in the proceedings to be taken
are nearly ready. 1t was said that Mr.
Wise reported that he was in possession
of evidence as to the thief He has had
new locks put on the doors of all the
rooms in his office, and the custodian of
the Postoffice Building Will issue passes
10 employees only as listed by Mr. Wise
The latter has also had his public files
overhauled, and they have been placed
in a large room on the fourth floor of
the building, 10 which no one can obtain
access without special permission.
There was no sentiment expressed i'll
favor of Congressional investigation
of the port, it was said. Mr.. Stimson
haS DelleNeu all diOlB lildL II NOuI1 IN
| terfere with the successful prosecution
Of the sugar cases. Mr.. Loeb has be-
lieved the same regarding that and other
| cases. and Mr. Wise has been opposed
/ to an investigation on the same grounds
as expressed by Mr.. Stimscn.
| 1t was given out by person familiar
with the subjects discussed that while
! there had been harmony before this be-
/ tween the departments of Justice and
/ the Treasury in the house cleaning AT
| this and other ports, the little dinner at
/ the Metropolitan Club on Tuesday night
! resulted in more positive unity of effort
! to punish violators of the law and
! 10 safeguard the government against
! further fraud.
/ SIGNS OF GROWING ANARCHY.