The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-11-22
: GOVERNOR WILL ACT.


that he would invoke the arm of the
law in the effort to prevent the appar-
ent consolidation of the Northern
Pacific, Great Northern and Burlington
roads under the Northern Securities
company, caused something of stir
in the stock market Monday, though
it in no way seriously effected the sta
bility of stocks in the roads interested.
1t was reported that the action of
the governor was more likely to effect
the new company in floating its bonds
than in any other way, and might
possibly hold up such operations The
governor further stated that if there
was no law by which the apparent
consolidation could be prevented he
would convene the legislature and have
it take action in the matter of protect
ing the peoples interests.
/; The move on the part of the COVER
nor shows, that as ever, he is alive to
the peoples interests, and if they are
being in any way interfered with, and
there is any power by which they can
be protected he will invoke the same.
The peoples interests are in good safe
hands and will be we'll looked after.
In the meantime the question natur-
ally arises, can anything be done in
the matter2 1t will be remembered that
several years ago, when an attempt
was made to combine the interests of
the Great Northern and Northern Pa
cifc, that it was thwarted by action
of the courts under the existing laws.
There has been in the meanting no
change in the law, nor in the charter
of the companies and the courts de-
cision is just as binding now as then.
But the case presents somewhat
different phase. 1t is not case of
one railroad company dominating an
iother, but of third company taking
Iup in somewhat indirect manner,
the management Of these great lines.
1t is a combination of lines. 1t prac
tically amounts to the same thing as
would a consolidation, but is gotten
a in somewhat different manner.
Whether anything can be done to pre-
vent the carrying out of this scheme,
! remains to be seen.
i Lawyers, who are doubtless inter
ested in the deal, say that the forma-
tion of the new company has been pro-
} ceeded with very carefully and that nc
move has been made that is not wholly
within the law and that nothing that
can be done will prevent the new ccm'
pany from going ahead. This may be
true. 1t may further be true as as
serted by an official in one of the COM
panies interested that the formation Of
the new company will not be detri-
r mental to the interests of the public.
In fact there is no question but that
the general result of its management
t would be beneficial to the public il
1 that it will cause a stability between
lines, which has not heretofore ex
listed. Nevertheless the wisdom of Gov
Van SAINT move cannot be question
ed If the law has in any way beer
violated it is his duty to find out t.
n what extent and take proper steps TO
punishment therefor. If the interest
of the public are not sufficiently pro
tected, then it is but right that n
should do as he says he will, conven
the legislature that it may take sucl
action as will properly protect them
' In any event Gov. Van SAINT may b
relied upon to stand by the people ant
see that their rights are properly care
for and protected That is all that
= wanted No needless war upon CAPT
q tai is called for, but the rights of bot
$ it and the people should be clearl
u defined and conserved.