The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-04-19
Government Begins q Grand
Jury Inquiry In This
City.
WHEAT May GET IT'S TURN


Hayus ana Rrswn Are Specifically Manned
a. Amang Defendants IN tlae Casa
Against the nun Peel n Cotton
Cotton Exchange startssa ~ she
Novelty s6 tn Pr~ceaare- aaF. tHayue
says Ne Thhnks the neass IN Csstsa
are the PesOse Whs Called TN a..
ss~ney-GsaerAls Asteaaasa 60 Inn
Csse-AAso That TsS as Lawful fes
aslm 60 mmy m fss Tbem 20 son
WASHINGTON. April Is.-Ths announces
ment by the DepaFtmsnt of Justice thia
afternoon that 10 intends TO investiGats
the cotton poOl vi.h vis~ n bringing
criminal prosecutions against those con-
cerned marks q new departure by the
Attorney General In applying the shsr-
man antitrust law to alleged monopolios
and conspiracies In restraint of trade.
A plain intimation h contained in ths
Department statement that proceedings
will he begun against other pools and
corners In commodities 10 conditions
seem to warrant such action. Here IN the
statement issued by the Department,
In connection with the discussion over
the prevalent high prices Of food and
other commodities the attention % the
Attorney General has been directed 10
the alleged existence Of certain pools and
combinations OpsrStiug corners In war;
Ous commodities and their effect upon
intsrstats. commercs. Information has
been laid before him indicating the tASe
that q combination has been formed be-
tween a number OF operators 20 buy mp
all oG the remaining unused raw cotton
produced in the United States during
the crop year 81 Is0e-IO. and that ~
the result Of the operations og this pool
the price Of this cotton has already been
advanced 20 largely in excess OF the nor
NAL price that the cotton manufacturers
have greatly reduced their manufactures
rather than buy nc this exorbitant price.
throwing out % employment upward %
Is per cent. of the cotton mill operatives
Of the United States. thus resulting In
the monopolization OF the entire visible
supply % raw cotton in the market and
the diminution in the commerce of cotton
goods. The Attorney General thereupon
gave instructions tn have the matter
investigated by the Grand Jury in tho
Southern District OF New York. and sub
po.nas were issued to-day which mark
the commencement 81 thorough invee-
tiRation 10y the Government Of the al
legged pool. IL is anticipated that inter
esting disclosures will he made 81 the
composition and management % this
CONFEDERATION
The news % the Attorney Generals
decision To =tigate the cotton poOi
caused a stir here this evening. The
Attorney General himself war ont oT town.
and the Department Of Justice declined TO
commeut On IL further than cont aimed In
the oficial statement II was made
known. however. that subprnas were
issued in New York to-day for men con-
cerned In the pool and that the issuance
u these stIbybdpnns has followed a Grand
Jury investigation.
Mr.. Wickersham has already shown q
good deal % originality In applying exist
ing laws in new ways He recently
indicted several Of the Kentucky night
riders under the sherman antitrust law
and IL was only a few weeks ago that
through the arm of the Federal law he
dealt blow at the bucket shop business
Of the country II IL understood that the
Attorney General hopes 10 be able through
the application Of the Sherman anti-trust
Law to prevent great pools and corners
In commodities
The DEPARTMENT Of Justice 10 engaged
nov in an Investigation OF the so-oAlisd
butter trust az Elgin. III. and IL an
announced a few days ago that IL would
begin proceedings also against soft coal
combinations. These are only q few
evidences Of the intention Of the Depart
msnt Of Justice to push prosecutions
under the sherman antitrust iaw.
The Department has been waiting for
a decision In the Standard Oh and Tobacco
trust cases. but nov that these decisions
have been postponed for probably . year
II IL likely that the Department will move
without further delay against conbina-
tions which 70 feels certain are violating
49, Ian