Show EVIDENCE NOT STRONG ENOUGH So Far F r Proceedings Have Not N t Been Commenced Against the Paper Trust BONAPARTE SENDS LETTER REPLY IN PART TO RESOLUTION OF SPEAKER CANNON Washington Y April IS nie attorney general today sent Rent to Speaker Cannon a letter In reply to the house resolution resolution tion Uon asking what steps have been taken by the government to investigate the alleged combination ol ot wood wod pulp or print paper manufacturers The at attorney attorney attorney torney general says an investigation Is In progress but no evidence has yet et been obtained to justify legal proceed proceedings proceedIngs ings ingi He says that when the Investigation gation gatlon and the report Thereon are com corn completed completed he will submit them without de delay delay delay lay It If he can do so without affecting the Interests of ot Justice but that If It the investigation should lead to civil or criminal proceedings it may be expedient ent nt to temporarily withhold from the public the evidence and Information Mr Letter The attorney generals letter fol tol follows lows lowe loweIn In response to a resolution of the house of representatives No trans transmitted transmitted to me under date of April 8 1908 I have the honor to state that several weeks ago all alt evidence and In Information Information Information formation relating to Us lt subject mat matter matter matter ter in the possession of ot this depart department department department ment were referred to the United States attorney of ot the appropriate district with orders to make or have made by bya b ba a grand Jury of the said district a thorough investigation of ot the matters in question The said United States attorney was further Instructed If It suf sufficient evidence could be thus obtain obtained ed to institute at once suitable pro proceedings proceedings In the federal court having jurisdiction in the premises with a aview aview view to punishing any offending par parties parties ties tits and to secure In future strict obe obedience e In thin respect to the statute of the United States generally known as the Sherman law lar Investigation Being Continued UD ID p to the present time no evidence could be obtained by b the officers of this department sufficient to justify the institution ot of legal proceedings either civil or criminal against any alleged combination of or wood wo d pulp or print paper manufacturers The Information Information mation matlon obtained however Justifies fur further further further ther Investigation of the facts and such investigation is in progress hIt It would be Inexpedient at the pres present present present ent stage of ot this investigation to disclose dis disclose close to the public specifically what steps have been taken or what action is contemplated by the department with respect to matters mentioned in the said paid resolution As above stated these matters have been referred ton to a Unit United United United ed States attorney for further Inquiry and possible action In his judicial dis lIa district distract tract and it would be In my opinion Incompatible with the public nubIle service to require him to suspend this inquiry so that the papers In his possession might be transmitted to tho the house of rep representatives representatives and inadvisable In hi the interest of ot Justice to make public at this thia time the precise information in the possession pf Ft of said prosecuting officer Certain Facts It is proper for me to say sar In this connection that certain alleged facts were submitted 1 to the department nt when the above mentioned Investigation was commenced which apparently author authorized authorIzed authorized the belief that serious s and read readily readIly readIly ily proved offenses against the laws of the United States had been committe In the promises and Immediate action by b the appropriate officer was thereon promptly ordered but these orders dis disclosed disclosed closed dosed that no legal proof could be se secured secured cured of ot the alleged offenses the evi eI evidence dence deuce relied upon to establish them turning out to be merely hearsay and the complainant himself who had fur furnished this Information refusing to give the name of ot a supposed to have personal knowledge knowledg of the said facts tact Before taking action under the ed antitrust law it has been lieen the un unvarying unvarying unvarying varying practice of this department to very er thoroughly sift the tho allegations of such complaints and the considerable proportion of ot successful prosecutions under the said statute s seems ems to Justify this practice Prices Were Boosted In ln this Instance information so as aforesaid furnished when so sifted showed an undoubted general and con considerable considerable increase in the prices pric s of ot certain certain tain tam kinds of paper but that such in increase Increase Increase crease was vas due to any contract com corn combination combination or conspiracy in restraint of ot trade was a matter of conjecture and suspicion though it seemed probable that proof to establish this might be found through a a searching and judi judicious cious clous inquiry I 1 regret that the public interest pre pro prevents prevents vents me from fully and promptly com corn comi i with the request contained Inthe in inthe inthe the above mentioned resolution hen this investigation has been completed and the report of the United States at attorney attorney torney torne entrusted therewith is i received I may ma be In a position to furnish the house of representatives with the pa papers papers papers pers and information called for with without without without out Injuriously affecting rc the interests of ot justice and I shall in such case submit them without delay If It however how ever the said Investigation should lead to civil or criminal proceedings it may ma continue expedient to temporarily with withhold withhold withhold hold from the public evidence and In Information formation now tiow or hereafter obtained Q bearing upon the situation until such proceedings shall have been finally de determined det determined t |