The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1901-11-28
TO BLOCK THE CONSOLIDATION
HILL AND HARTMAN MAY RETIRE
FROM NORTHERN PACIFIC
DIRECTORATE. LIZ
NEW YORK LAWYER DROPS A
BOMB IN THE RANKS OF THE
TRUsTMAkERs.

st. Paul, Nov. "a - Gov. Van SAINT
yesterday sent out to the governors of
North Dakota, Montana, Idaho and
Washington letters stating the facts so
far as he has ascertained them with re-
gard to the attempted consolidation Of
the Northern Pacific and Great North
ern railroads, and asking for their
opinion as to what action should be
undertaken.
The governor declined to give out the
text or the letter, and declined to
state anything more than it's general
purrort, as given above. Should the
other governors be favorable to united
action, 1t is probable that conference
will be called for an early date. and IL
will very likely be held in st. Paul. al
though 1T is possible that it might be
called at Helena, since that is about
halfway between this city and Olym-
pia or Boise.
1t is not improbable that the consoi-
idation may first be attacked in the
federal court. There are several ways
in which this could be done and 1t re-
mains for the attorney general to in
vestigate and Determine which is the
most likely TO be successful. The mode
of procedure win not be determined
until ample consideration has been
given the subject by the legal authori-
ties of the state.
Hill May Retire From Northern Pa
cihc Directorate.
A New York telegram says:
Az,
believed to be based on good authori-
ty, certain changes i'm the Northern
Pacific directorate are TO re made III
view Of the agitation in Minnesota
against the joint operation OF the
Northern Pacific and Great Northern
railroads. Influential interests in the
organization of the Northern Securities
company said that. while they believed
that the comparys plans for controll-
Ing the Northarn Pacific and Great
Northern railroads could not be upset
through legal roceedings. based on
allegations that they conflicted with
MISREPRESENTATION laws of the different
states. some changes might be forced.
II was held by these interests that
there was question as to whether
President Hill OF the Great Northern
railway, under strict Interpretation
OF the present law, had an unques-
toned right to be a member of the
board of directors OF the Northern
Pacific railroad The same doubt ex-
listed as to the right of +. II. Harli-
man, chairman Of the Union Pacific \
10 be a member of the Northern Pa
cifc board. II was asserted that IL was
not impossible that both officers might
retire from the Northern Pacific
board"
Keceivership May BE Asked.
4 srecial telegram from New York to
the Minneapolis Times says:
Nothing has ever stirred the fnan-
cial depths Of this city as the pub
lished announcement that Gov. Van
SAINT would make a strong stand
against the big railway merger in be-
half of the shippers and producers OF
the Northwest. Under the outward
calm Of Wall street there existed
greater alarm in the private offices OF
The giant trust managers than has
been felt there since the frightful stock
panic of last May
"A way was found az last by the en-
emies of the Northern Securities to
smash the railroad trust just organ
lied in the Northwest with so much
care. ]. p Morgcn's gigantic strength
was put 10 the test yesterday to pre-
vent a break in stock prices.
Eminent counsel was consulted by
banker allied with one OF the big
syndicates. His lawyer told him that
the Northern Securities as company
was absolutely irnpregnable.
But said the lawyer. any citizen
Of the State OF Minnesota may apply.
through the attorney general of his
state. to have receivers appointed for
The Great Northern and for the North
ern Pacific companies on the ground
hat their controlling stockholders have
entered into a conspiracy to violate the
laws under which the roads are
Chartered. Visible evidence of this
conspiracy Is seen In the Northern Sc
curities company. a court of inquiry
would be forced to al on such prop
ositiCn. Receivers would take charge
OF the property OF the two roads and
manage for the benent of stockholders.
The citizen nee1 rot be "a stakeholder
This OPINION fell like bomb in the
Ma