The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1901-12-31
GOVERNORS MEET IN HELENA
Van SAINT of Minnesota Outlines the
Anti-Merger Plans.


HELENA, Mont, Dec. 9O-No definite
action was taken to-day at the meeting
of the Governors and Attorneys Cen
eral of the Northwestern States
called to consider plans for oppos-
ing the proposed consolidation of the
Northern Pacific, the Great Northern and
the Burlington railway systems. From the
discussion at the meeting however, it is
considered probable that the plan of Gov
ernor Van SAINT of Minnesota will be in
dorsed by the executives of the other
States who were present, and that the
fight against the railroad consolidation
will be carried to a finish. What this plan
is Governor Van SAINT refused to say un-
til the meeting tomorrow morning shall
have taken action.
The meetings were held in Governor
Toole's private office and behind closed
doors. There were present besides Gov
ernOr TOole and Attorney General DonO-
van of Montana, Governor Van SAINT and
Governor Herreid and Attorney General
Pyle of South Dakota, Governor Hunt
and Attorney General Martin of Idaho
and Attorney General Stratton of Wash
ington, Governor Mcbride of that State
not being able to be present on account
of the death of Governor Rogers.
Governor White Of North Dakota was
expected to attend the conference, and, in
fact. had telegraphed to Governor Van
SAINT that he would be present. In a later
telegram, however, he said that it was
impossible for him to attend the meetings.
The meeting. was organized by the cleo
ton of Governor Van SAINT as chairman
and Attorney General Martin of Idaho as
secretary. After reading Governor
Whites communication stating that ne
would not be present Governor Van SAINT
made a brief speech in regard to the OBJ
jects of the meeting, giving history of
the proposed railroad consolidation and
the effect he believed it would have on
the States affected.
1.-The State of Minnesota" said the Gov
ernor, has had on her statute books for
more than twenty-five years laws prOhib-
iting the consolidation in any way of
parallel and competing lines of railway
1t has been the settled policy of our State
to maintain free, open and unrestricted
competition in freight and passenger
rates. The Great Northern and the North
ern Pacific railway companies operate
parallel and competing lines of railway
within the State. They are practically the
only roads which furnish any transporta-
ton facilities to the northern half of the
State, with the exception of the two
known as the iron ore roads,
ut has been recently announced that
Mr.. Hill and his assistants have obtained
the control of the Northern Pacific Rail-
road Company and Intend to operate the
same jointly with the Great Northern,
ane in effect bring about a consolidation
by removing all competition and all riV-
airy between these roads. To this end
the Northern Securities Company was or
ganized in New Jersey to acquire a con-
Northern and the Northern Pacific i cI rail-
road companies In exchange for it's own
stock, and 1t is through this company the
unity of management and control is to be
effected.
''As soon as this fact became known to
me / felt it my duty as Governor to do
everything in my official power to oppose
| the consolidation or amalgamation of
! these properties within the State of Min
nesota. If there is such q consolidation
contemplated-and that fact seems to be
practically conceded-it is an omen
violation of the law, as well as
the declared public policy of the
State of Minnesota, and l feel that
1 should be negligent of my duties as the
| quiescent under such circumstances 7
have been informed that the States which
| you gentlemen represent as Governors
and Attorneys General have constitution
al or statute laws similar in effect to
/ those of the State of Minnesota and thar
this was a question in which our STATE
was not alone interested. Acting upon
| for this conference of Governors and At
/ torneys General of the various States
| through which these two roads pass. be-
! Iieving that all such States were equally
| interested in maintaining the princiDla
| heretofore asserted in the State of Min
nesota and reasserted here in its obiec-
tion to this consolidation. I felt that the
J interests were so vast and at the sans
time so similar to those of our own State
are the official heads should be consuIted
and, If possible, such methods of proceed
ure adopted as would be uniform
1.-THE people of the State Of Minnesota
feeling certain that competition has bse1
the chief factor in her DEVELOPMENT and
equally certain that its destruction would
result In the greatest loss to both pro-