The San Francisco call., 1901-11-26
GOVERNMENT
|. FIGHTS UNION
OF RAILWAYS
Department Of Justice
to Move Against
Consolidation.
Kings Of Finance Fail to
Change Attitude of
Roosevelt.
Minnesota's Attorney General De-
clares He Will Back Governor
Van SAINT in Preventing
Traffic Trust.
Special Dispatch . The can.

NEW YORK, Nov. 25.-The World has
the following from washington: 1t is now
understood that there is a strong prob
ability that the Department of Justice
will take action against the copper trust,
the sugar trust and the new railroad
trust, under the Sherman antitrust law,
as combinations in restraint of trade, bas-
ing such action upon the decision of the
United States, Supreme Court in the
Trans Missouri Freight Association case.
The Department Of Justice officials have
reached the conclusion that the Sherman
law is adequate. but will take no action
until after the opening of Congress.
Great pressure is being brought to bear
upon the President to induce him to mod
ify his recommendations relative to trusts.
Leading representatives of railroad and
other affected interests are trying to head
off any drastic recommendations. Sew
eral men vitality interested, including j.
]. Hill, A B. Stickney, Thomas J. Lowery
and Clinton Morrison, already have been
here on such an errand. Colonel D. s.
Lamont came Saturday, but the President
was out of the city.
Burt Gets Little Satisfaction.
Horace NJ. Burt of Omaha, president Of
| the Union Pacific, called on President
Roosevelt to-day. He wanted to prevent
any direct reference in the Presidents
message to the Northern Securities Com
pany. 1t is said he inquired if it were
possible for the President to intimate to
Governor Van SAINT of Minnesota that it
would be well to delay his crusade until
the Department of Justice had time to do
/ Sonnafbioc Mr. I2,4r+ orof I;++le eatf-e~,4so
at the White House.
/ ST. PAUL, Mimi, Nov 25.-Attorney
General Douglas, who returned home this
evening, made the following statement
in regard to the attempt to be made to
prevent the proposed consolidation of the
Great Northern and Northern Pacific
Railway companies. through the medium
of the Northern Securities Company OF
| New Jersey:
Il shall earnestly cooperate with Gov
ernor Van SAINT in fighting any consolida-
ton which is in violation of law. and will
do anything in my power to encourage
further legislation of practical nature.
either State or national which is not cal
culated to preserve competition.
Hints at Proper Remedies.
'"The organization of this New Jersey
corporation for the purchase Of a control
ling interest in the stock of rival railway
companies-two of which cross and re-
cross Minnesota-is a clear violation OF
the spirit, although not Of the letter, OF
the act of 1881. the validity of which was
sustained by the Supreme Court of the
United States in the Pearsal case. I am
not in position to discuss the remedies
but am under the impression that inter-
ference by the Federal authorities. based
upon the Sherman antitrust act and the
Interstate commerce act, is likely to BRING
about good results. 1t may be thar n+f-
cation instituted by the State, seeking the
cancellation Of some unused railway fran
cnises. may be Of slight assistance. Other
proceedings Of law. which feel II in
opportune to discuss, may also be Of
value"