The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-26
ATTORNEY GENERAL DOUGLAS RE-
TURNS FROM HIS HUNTING
TRIP
HASN'T SEEN GOVERNOR YET
New Railroad Combinations, He Is
Inclined to Think, Is Not in
Violation of the
Law.
READY TO ASSIST VAN SAINT

Attorney General W. B. Douglas, whose
presence at the capitol has been so
earnestly desired by Gov. Van SAINT for
the past week, came out of the woods
Sunday, and arrived home yesterday af-
ternoon. Mr.. douglas has been on a
deer hunting trip to the north shore OF
Lake Superior for the past sixteen days,
and as he was encamped some miles back
from the shore no newspapers or mail
reached him, and he was not informed
of the attitude assumed by Gov. Van
SAINT in relation to the reported COM
blnation of railroads until Sunday night,
when he secured newspaper on the
steamboat. Former Representative Jo-
seph Wood, who left st. Paul last We'd
Eesday to search for Gen. Douglas was
taken Ill on the boat, and instead of dis
embarking at Kennedy's landing, con-
tinued on to Grand Marais. Therefore
Mr.. Douglas did not receive Gov. Van
SAINTS letter recalling him to st. Paul,
and did not hasten his return.
When seen last evening by The G o b q
Mr.. Douglas had not yet seen the gov
ernor and therefore knew nothing of the
latter's plans, except in general way,
as he had learned from what he had
read in the newspapers Asked as to
his position in the contemplated resist
ance against the combination of rail-
roads, he said:
Ready to Assist Van SAINT.
II shall earnestly cooperate with Gov,
Van SAINT in fighting any consolidation
which IS In violation of law. and will do
anything in my power to encourage fur
ther legislation of practical nature,
either state or national, which Is call
culated to preserve competition.
The organization of this great New
Jersey corporation for the purpose of
purchasing a controlling interest in the
stock Of rival railway companies-two OF
which cross and recross Minnesota-is a
clear violation of the spirit, although not
the letter, of the act of 1881, the validity
of which was sustained by the supreme
court of the United States in the Pear
shall case.
The Sherman act Is very direct In its
provisions as to any movement calculated
to stif1e trade or hamper competition IN
business and In my opinion is directly
applicable to the situation with which we
now find ourselves compelled to cope.
There may be some doubt as to tne
jurisdiction of the states, but | do not
think there can be any as to the ell
fcaey of the federal laws and the potency
OF the federal courts.
What Is the Remedy?
81 am not in position to discuss rem
edes, but am under the impression than
interference by the federal authorities,
based upon either the Sherman antitrust
act or the interstate commerce act, is
likely to bring about good results. fc
may be that litigation instituted by the
state looking to the cancellation of some
unused railway charters may be a slight
assistance. Other remedies at law which
l feel it inopportune to discuss may also
be of value.
cat this moment feel like calling at
tention to suggestion have repeatedly
made. 1t is that congress should pass
an act proposing for adoption by the
constitutional majority of the. various
states an amendment to the federal con-
stitution authorizing among other things
the taxation of nonopolies, on perhaps
both an income and property basis and IN
an increasing ratio. I predict that tho
vigorous exercise Of this power by con-
gress, with constitutional authority be-
hind 1t, will make the corporate monopoly
unpopular in any FORM"