St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-12
GUESS ON THE REcEIvEasHIF
THE MOST ABSURD YET
MADE.
WHAT IT WOUND REALLY MEAN
If Supreme Conrt Justices Decided
That Judge Hanford Exercised
Primary Jurisdieticn.

preme court justices of the Second.
Seventh, Eighth and Ninth circuits.
Argument will be heard by them next
Tuesday at Washington. These just
ices are Peckham. Harlan, Brewer and
Field.
The above information was received
in st. Paul yesterday from New York,
and may safely be regarded as the be-
ginning of the end of the noted case.
the prevailing opinion is that the die
tuln of the supreme justices will be
announced within a week of their
hearing
Accompanying the New York dispatch
is forecast Of the action of the SUI
preme judges, which, while it occa-
sions little comment here in ST. Paul
among those interested in the case. is
still ingenious. Here it is:
1t is deemed certain that the ;,,ctices will
uphold Judge Hanford's exercise of primary
jurisdiction. The effect of this decision will
De dar.reacning. it viii render invalid the
appointment OF Receivers Bigelow and Nc
f1enry, by Judge jenkins. It will thus over
THROW completely all remnants of the VIZ
iard administration, which proved so disas-
trous Ior the railroad, and will place the COM
pany entirely under new conscientious
and able management, by which its Interests
VIII be well conserved. The practical and
actual result Of the expected decision will
also be to place the matter of the receivershin
IN the hands OF Judge Hanford with the GER
tainty OF the concurrence of all the other
t 1niteu states courts interested, including
those In New York, st. Paul and Milwaukee,
This will insure a harmonious receivership.
Whlch VIII be in accord with President Ives
ana the large bond and stockholding inter
est winch ne represents. 1t will necessarily
&c accepted by other interests All this will
insure unity, which has hitherto been lack
lag IN Northern Pacific affairs, and will pave
the way for a speedy reorganization thereby
imparting strong impulse to the growth and
prosperity Of the railway and the states with
which 1t is connected,
receiver McHenry was seen last
night. After reading the telegram, he
SAID to the q 10 be that the simple
statement in the beginning was in the
main correct, but that all further com
ment was Of necessity mere surmise
as to the step the supreme court JUS
tees would take in the matter. 1.-THE
personnel of receivers for the road ia
not the important question" he said.
nor is 1t that question which the JUS
tees OF the supreme court have to pass
upon, but the question of primary ju-
risdiction." 49,
Mr.. McHenry declined to express any
view as to the probable action Of the
judges.
AS the time for final action draws
near the view is expressed that ST.
Paul people, as a rule, do not realize
what would result from such action
as that forecasted in New York. In the
first place. the decision of the supreme
court judges is simply on a judicial
question as to where the primary juris-
diction shall be vested, and in no wise
have they anything to do with the num-
Der or personnel Of the receivers.
When their verdict is delivered 1t
will be that either Judge Jenkins In
Milwaukee or Judge Hanford in Seattle
has primary jurisdiction over the great
! Northern Pacific system. The people in
the West appear to be more keenly alive
to the Importance Of this decision If the
utterances of their citizens and the sto-
! ries in their papers may be taken as an
indication, than are the people here
where the general offices of the COM
pany are situated. Suppose, for exam
! pie, that Judge Hanford Is given pri-
mary jurisdiction. InStanter his ap-
| pointee has absolute authority over
| the entire Inc, while all other appoint
| ments previously made expire as mat
ter Of course, lacking his confirmation
! Supposing Judge Hanford should ap-
point Andrew f. Burleigh-which is
| quite likely in case the supreme court
makes decision in favor of the West
ern court Mr.. Burleigh would be alb
solute ruler. Messrs. Bigelow and Nc
! Henry would perfOrce cease to be re-
ceivers. It is quite likely that Mr.. Bur
! leigh would yield to the vigorous de-
| mand of his people to remove the gen.
! eral offices of the company to the state
! of Washington. Most,.if not all, of the
general officers of the road would prob
| ably seek new positions The 400 OF
/ more employees in the general Office
/ would no doubt be turned aOrift, ano
with the discrimination in passenger
! and freight rates which could easily be
1 exercised al the other end of the road
! ST Paul could, without the slightest
! difficulty, be turned into a way sta
! ton so far as the Northern Pacific Is
I concerned. There are vast interests al
stake and in the opinion of men who
/ have kept posted on the development
/ in the matter. the Western people would
/ not be slow to avail themselves of tht
| chance to take unto themselves the add
/ ed wealth and the added dignity.
This is not a fanciful picture. but
what might actually happen, for as al
! Official of the Northern Pacific put i
last night ssWio shall say what The
supreme judges win do?"
The prevailing sentiment, however, i:
/ that whatever step is taken will not bf
inimical to the best interests of St
Paul.
Nothing could be learned of the &C
! curacy of a statement sent out from
Milwaukee yesterday to the effect tha
the supreme court would probably
settle on Judge Csldwell's court in st
4 Paul, as the court Of primary jurisdic
! ton.
cpE.r SosruEt,N E,xrEysfGY.