New-York tribune., 1912-03-06
/ S. STEEL DENIES PLOT
,,,ooration Says Destruction of
" paners Was in Good Faith.
ANSWER IS NOT FILED
.,r 70 Governments Petition
s'F'y hectares Injunction Is
Unnecessary.

" bh4-SN~-@-
,..,.Ad states steel Cooperation and
The SS.nts Ia made public yesterday an
Hnsl "a the governments petition for
ihs"e, i..nt injunction to prevent the oe-
pernaNe" =. hooks and papers which might
'ru'uo" s evidence in the investigation
be us'U 's,,irs of the steel Corporation. The
ths "'i ssnies the allegation Of the gov
snS"e ,ba+ papers If the American steel
sh'|vn ry-,.o company which were destroyed
ana ,.n would have shown that J. A.
As -ovv president Of the United states
tAi'i~ cornoration. aided or abetted in the
.r.tion OF the wire pool Tor Whlch many
0sSH 80 Of the wire trust were fined.
:. dlsolaims any attempt 20 suppress OF
"aI from the government any papers
''',s,t socuments bearing upon the conduct Oh
S.oel business, and declares absolutely
u -, ground the "imputauon to the
s.,, 49, that any Of the defendants are about
;. 5sstroy or are likely TO destroy PERU
..,, papers or that an injunction Is heces-
,.-v for their preservation.
or,nr 10 the recent death Of Judge
,.,ning. Of the United States Court IN
ysV Jersey where the case is IN haho'
.,d the refusal Of the court 10 near arsu-
,.snt in the matter without full oehch'
~. answer was not actually fled, but was
.,a.ed Yesterday in the hands OF Judse
,ncob NJ Dickinson. attorney for the gov
.-,roert. in Philadelphia. The answer was
..dA publc here later, and will be nled
.-bsn the federal court takes UP the pend
ing motion. ,...,.- 90
..nars relating TO the case Of the AmeM-
-, steel and Wire Company which oc-
cured. il is alleged, after all the papers
bad besn submitted to the grand jury and
wb,eb was due to ignorance OF the
oossibiJty that they would be wanted fur
thor by the government 1t was denied al
The time that there was any discussion IN
,hA nress or any int!mation that the United
s,ates would bring proceedings against the
United States steel Corporation under the
antitrust act.
These defendants deny" the answer
Gates that said papers thus destroyed
.nsed TO show that j \. Farrell, formerly
resident Of the United States Steel Prod
,cts Company and now president Ct the
United States Steel Corporation, aided or
lbetted in the operation or in the conduct
n said wire associations. or had any part
herein or anything to do herewith.
These defendants deny that there is i'm
ujnent danger or any danger whatever OF
he destruction Of any papers in the pos
ession Of the United States Steel Corpora
ion or In the possession of any Of its sub
adary companies that would be evidential
= any cause against the United States
Eeel Corporation or any Of its subsidiary
Dmpanes.
These defendants say that ever since the
rgansation of the United States Steel
Corporation II has pursued the utmost pub
betty with regard to its affairs and has
INSTANTLY year after year thrown open its
Doks and papers TO the representatives OF
be government, and that said representa-
ives have time after time made full, COM
fete and exhaustive examination Of said
seords and papers"
The sworn statements Of Charles Mac
FeAgh and Raynal c. Boiling. Of the cor
nrauon's counsel and Of Frank Baackes
Ind George A. Cragin, Of the American
Steel and Wire Company. are included In
he answer. 1t is stated that the destruc-
ton Of the wire company's papers was
made at the Offices Of the company at
Worcester. Mass. by the order Of Mr..
eaaekes. in entire good faith, without
sther Mr.. MacVeagh or Mr.. Boiling know
ag Of the destruction.
Philadelphia. March 5.-Until a successor
70 the late Circuit Judge Lanning is ap-
pointed by the President, the United States
District Court for the 90 Judicial District
vii not hear arguments on q rule granted
show cause why permanent injunction
should not be issued restraining the United
states Steel Corporation from destroying
books and papers which might be used as
evidence in the suit instituted by the gov
snrnent for the dissolution Of the corpora
uon For the same reason the court post
poncd appointing a master TO take testi-
nony In the suit against the steel corpora
hon which was instituted on the ground
atat the concern is a monopoly and is op-
Hating in restraint of trade in violation OF
he Sherman antitrust law. In the mean
aine the temporary injunction issued by
'uage Gray stands
"a making the announcement Judge Gray
sd that an act Of Congress provided that
eaa matters as were then before the court
ms1d be passed upon by three Circuit
VeuEt judges, and therefore a postponement
vas advisable. as tae question of the juris-
aeton Of the court might in the future be
nls4d if only two judges participated in
he Proceedings.
Ihe matter before the court was TO have
come up for argument in the United States
S"ert at Trenton. but, as Judges Gray and
eumrgton are sitting in Philadelphia, the
matter was transferred here and heard by
them.