The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1910-12-16
Associated Press.

PAL report OF Attorney GenerdI WICK
n sham presented to congress today,
.Jne long story of frauds against the
Gsrpment.
trusts, so called and real, their al
k'ged conspiracies to defeat the law;
t1e internal revenue, rebates, bucket
Hops and fraudulent uses of the mails
lave made 1910 the most strenuous
tear in the history of the department
If Justice, Mr. Wickersham states that
rnly the earnest and enthusiastic work
81 the men of his force has made the
work successful.
"The salaries paid are small, he
Nays, "and the funds available for
4pecial counsel do not permit the pay
hent of fees which bear any compari-
kon with those offered by private in
terests. But Notwithstanding these
obstacles the department is fortunate
Nm having been able to secure the serv-
ices of earnest and competent lawyers
10 whose ability and industry are due
The very large measure of success that
has attended the management of the
Rgal business of the government dur
4 g the year
Prosecution for violation of the anti
trust law were foremost in the work
Ii the year. Actions, says the attor-
ley general, are now underway or
nding against the following trusts:
&sbacco Trust; Standard Oil Com
my Sugar Trust Hartman lines;
I'd Coal Trust; Powder Trust; Ter
nal Railway Association of st.
uis; Towing Trust, on the Great
Kes; James A. Patton and others
an alleged corner in cotton; Beef
Ilst; Wholesale Grocers Trust; But
r and Egg Trust; Brick Trust; Bath
sb Trust
The following convictions were Sc
red and fines imposed during the
Ear: Paper Trust, fined $4,000;
light Riders, fined $3,5OO; Window
lass Trust, fined 100000
ID After the attorney generals report
ame from the press, however, the
merican Naval Stores company,
Known as the Turpentine Trust, and
Il co-defendants were convicted of
Violation of the antitrust law Two of
e individual defendants sentenced to
three months each in Jail and fined
sgregating $17,50O were imposed
Prosecutions of the Sugar Trust for
frauds upon the government in the
Weighing of raw sugar recovered for
he government $3,135,363SS. Con-
ictions and sentences of individuals,
It'll fresh in the public mind, were
occurred.
Most extensive of all frauds against
&c government yet discovered, are
Aose of the under-valuations of i'm
prts into the United States. The ex-
mt of the treasury losses can only be
5njectured. Every step of the in
III stigation shows fresh leads.
There are now suits under way to
aecover 100000 of which the customs
venue is said to have been defraud-
on imports of cheese and figs from
fediteranian ports, indictments are
bending and some convictions have
s.sansecured A highly organized sys-
I'M to defraud the government has
en- disclosed.
More than 30 individual indictments
Ere pending against persons charged
with smuggling with sleeper trunks.
ffers of compromise and prayers for
Immunity are in the hands of the at
arney general from several firms of
Importers who have confessed to
Frauds in under-yaluations.
"The conditions disclosed seem to
Indicate very general practice of un.
.er-valuations, says the attorney gen
ral, "and a very lax administration
bf the customs laws in the past, which
As subjected the government to a
IldlCl ldl 4Ooo VI IGNCnuC. ~ SCI-
eral investigation into the subject of
Frauds by under-valuation has only
kommenced, and this branch of the
III iect will now be pressed vigorous
y."
The attorney general recommends
hat a general immunity statute, such
Is exists under the interstate com
nerce laws. should be enacted to apply
. criminal prosecutions generally, but
says such statute should only pro-
act a witness from the consequence
bf the testimony he is about to give.
twenty-five criminal indictments
Merging rebating and other illegal dis
- mo tiouc orn DendinO against rail