St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-08-07
HE EXPRESSED HIMSELF BRIEF
LY ABOUT NORTHERN Pa
CHIC AFFAIRS
ON HIS RETURN YESTERDAY.
HE LAUGHS TO sCORN THE SILLY
THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN
PUBLISHED
WITH REFERENCE TO THE DEAL
He Says No One on the Outside
Knows Anything About It
Idle Speculation.

James J. Hill, president of the
Great Northern railway, arrived
home in the same transformations
manner as he departed, and was at
his office in the companys general
building the greater part of yester-
day. He appeared a little more
bronzed for the trip, and his general
health was of the best. But his
manner was rather more nervous
than usual when accosted by
G l o b e reporter and asked for an
interview in relation to the all-ab-
sorbing topic of the day, the con-
solidation schemes, so called, of the
two tranScontinental lines.
At the offices the usual and very
generous statement was given to the
reporters that "Mr. Hill was very
busy and had absolutely nothing to
say for publication" That is at least
what his private secretary deigned
to furnish to the newspaper men.
But in the afternoon Mr.. Hill was
met by G o b e reporter as he was
returning to his Office, and, after a
short greeting, the question was put
to him directly: "Have you anything
new to tell of the Northern Pacific
matter? And have your negotiations
succeeded on this last trip?''
To this Mr.. Hill did not vouchsafe
a direct answer He said: There
were no negotiations. This matter
has gone beyond the stage of nego-
tiations entirely. OF course this is a
deal of great magnitude, and will
take time, especially when the in
terested parties are scattered all
over the face Of the earth. Wait a
few months and then we will be able
to know more"
But what of the legal status of
the case?"
ooh, that will be all right" said
Mr.. Hill, with a twinkle of the eye.
s'The legal status will be taken care
of, if the deal is carried through
But there was a strong infection
on the 'if," and this infection told
more plainly than words that the re-
ports of the G 10 b e on the matter
of the consolidation seem to be
nearer the truth than all the idle
vaporings that have been INDUCED
in by an evening paper.
Mr.. Hill said further:
1.-THE Northern Pacific people will
have to arrive at some conclusion
and reorganize their road upon bus
mess principles. In this matter the
GIL o B E HAS BEEN CORRECT.
81 wish to see every line, and espe-
cially a competing one, on a sound
footing. Then competition will go on
on proper basis. Much of what has
been published on the subject is the
veriest rot. No one on the outside
| knows anything about the subject
| and it is idle to indulge in specula-
| tons"
What about the rumored removal
of the present receivers of the North
ern Pacific, which it is said would
be attempted by certain elements?'
con that score l am free to speak,
and will say that the receivers will
not be removed. When they are re-
moved it will be when the road shall
have been properly reorganized and
! receivers will no longer be a neces-
| sity. There are no grounds for re-
moval, and any attempt to secure it
will fall
/ Mr.. Hills attention was then
| called to the story of an evening
| paper in which it was staed that
Crawford Livingston was to be the
nominal head of the Northern Pacific
as soon as Mr.. Hill should obtain
1
| and said:
There is absolutely no foundation
to this story. It is devoid of all rea-
son, and there is nothing which
| could have started such a rumor.
Mr.. Livingston holds some Northern
Pacific securities, but I do not know
to what extent he is interested in the
line. Mr. Livingston is not interest
ed in the proceedings either for a
| consolidation, so called, or in the
reorganiza ton itself beyond the fact
that he would like to see his securi-
ties on a proper and remuneraltive
| basis
This is about all that the railway
magnate had to tell for publication.
| 1t was useless to urge a direct an
| swer to the much mooted question
of whether he had made any head
way towards securing the Northern
Pacific or not. All differences must
remain as they have been, and as
they are borne out by the general
| ituation-namely, that he is as far
| from having the road in his hands to-
day as he was when the matter was
| first bro2ched.