The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-01
MR.. W|CKERSHAM
HAS BEEN ACTIVE
In the Conduct of Federal Pros
ecutions
SQUELCHING THE TRUSTS
Department Now Has sien in the Field
Investigating the Alleged Sugar
Trust-rhc Inytstiget-
Ing Squad
BY SYDNEY EsPEY

of President Taft sprung into the cal
cium of publicity through the activity OF
Attorney General George w. Wickersham
Although the department has, of course
been grinding out its work since it has
been a part of the government, it has
| been more in the nature of a direction OF
| the activity of its numerous assistant at
| torneys general station in districts
| throughout the country than actual feder-
al jurisdictions. Consequently the pub
| icity attending these suits was incident
to the locality where they were instituted
rather than the department.
| With the beginning of this administra-
ton, however, the work has not only been
directed from the department of justice
but it has been carried ON in various
parts of the country by assistant attor-
neys of the department in connection with
the federal district attorneys. Trust
prosecutions. Investigations of sugar Gus
TOMS and other Importation frauds, as
well as a number of civil suits for dsso-
luton of mergers, have been directed by
Attorney General Wckersham in person.
He has held numerous conferences with
Grated in this work by assigning members
of his personal staff to these cases when
they came to trial.
The fact that the cases have been
brought into court, tried and disposed of
only presents one phase of the situation,
which phase is in all probability familiar
10 every one. The other side is one which
very seldom comes to the publcs atten-
ion. 1t is the base work which the vari-
Gus lawyers connected with the depart
ment LAY their case 1t is ont per-
formed by high salaried officials, nor l.
it directed in the main by the Attorney
General 1t is undertaken by what has
been termed the investigating squad of
he department of justice.
Mr. Wickersham orders an investigation
TO be made, signs the necessary papers
that the work shall be performed, and
the squad to see that it is carried out.
These particular officials number about
200, and are assigned to secure evidence
in any cases which the department of JUS
-ice decides to prosecute. When the OFF,
Gals leave the department on their as
signments, all connection with the gov
eminent is completely severed. They shut
themselves off from all communication
With the departmet in this city and are
given carte blanche in order that their
work may be thorough and unhampered
by too much red tape.
The department of investigation is in
| charge of Stanley w. Finch who has at
his disposal a staff of seven clerks and
| directs the energies of about 800 men,
| who are constantly in the field investigat-
| ng various cases to which they are as
| signed. Notable among the cases that
| have been worked up by these men are
| the might rider and tobacco cases in
zlr af- Cnnta anc GO
which occupied the attention of more
| than 80 men of the department in New
York. Philadelphia, Baltimore, st. Louis,
| New Orleans and Washington, d. c.
| AT present the department has men in
| the field investigating sugar frauds in
New York. New Orleans, Pueblo, Col,
and also in Utah and California. The In
vestigation of these cases, while centered
| in the places named. have taken depart
ment of Justice operatives all over the
| United States, Cuba and other places in
| the West Indies, searching for the threads
| of evidence which make up a complete
case Men are also engaged investigat-
| ing the importation of mosquito netting
| in New Orleans, Galveston, and several
other southern seaports, as well as the
circumstances surrounding the filibuster-
ing expeditions which have left those
ports for Nicaragua to aid the rebel cause
| there.
In New York, London, and Paris in GER
| tain German, Italian and scandinavian
cities. one or more of the men are en-
gagged ferreting out evidence in connec-
| lion with the operation Of the Transact
lantic steamship pool. The operation of
| this pool while catering to American
trade. has come under the ban OF the
| sherman antitrust law the violation OF
which is classed as conspiracy in the CIV
ing of rebates to foreign shippers.
| AS the rehabilitation of the customs
service. having primarily the investiga-
/ ton of the sugar refinery industry OF the
| United States is one of the most I'M
| uortant prosecutions this administration
/ IS attempting to secure number OF
| these men have been detailed on the in
| vestigation which has been begun. All In
formation gathered by the customs Off
| Nails at points of entry Is furnished to the
| wo departments in Washington, and Their
sent to the men in the field for their in
| formation, No effort is being spared In
| the search for evidence against vioators
of the law even If the inquiry should
carry the operatives to the far East.
Within the past month Secretary Of
the Treasury Macveagh. Attorney Gen.
eral Wickersham, Collector of Customs
Loeb at New York and Assistant Secre.
tary of the Treasury Curtis have held
several important conferences with Presi
dent Taft concerning these matters. Mr.
MacVeagh and Mr.. Curtis are in daily
conference with customs lawyers who
have of late become frequent visitors al
the treasury department and the depart
ment of Justice. Just what these inter
views resulted In no one who know abou
them is willing to say. They evade ques
lions by saying that everything will b'
made public when the proper time ar
rives."
The business of the office Is held II
strict confidence in each case that come
before either the Attorney General or thu
Secretary of the Treasury and 1t Is no
until the law officers of the government
have fully prepared their case that tn
,, facts concerning it are made public.
The interviews held by both Secretar
MacVeagh and Attorney General Wick
erslam are partly due to the activities Q
. the agents of the investigating squad 0
the department of justice. When a case
prepared by them and submitted to MI
Finch he Immediately hands the evidenc
. collected by his men to Attorney Genera
Wickersham. who together with the as
/. sistant attorney general determin
: whether or not the government has
case to prosecute. When the question
determined the assistant attorney genera
in charge goes to the place where tn
prosecution is to be held, and after
; conference with the local district attorne
grand jury is empanelled and the cas-
investigated If indictments are returne
the accused. who have been unde
|. constant surveillance by the departmer
10 i,ctfce rnen are arrested The nr(