The Minneapolis journal., 1901-11-18
THE GOVERNOR DECLARES
He Proposes to Stop Combination Ii
He Can.

What can the state of Minnesota do to
prevent the consolidation of parallel and
competing lines of railroad?
Prevailing opinion is that in the pres
ent instance the people are powerless
While there is a state law against con-
solidation, the Northern Securities COM
pany has been cleverly devised to get
around its provisions, and accomplish by
indirection and subterfuge what the spirit
of the law forbids.
Governor Van SAINT is determined to find
out whether the people are without re-
dress against this giant corporation. While
at home in Winona over Sunday, he gave
out the following statement:
The great railroad deal in New York having
for its object the uniting OF two great com
peting and parallel lines, the Northern Pa
cihe and Great Northern, is a matter of great
public interest
There is justly widespread opposition to ii
in our state.
do not know if it can be prevented; but
it is my intention to ask the attorney gen
eral, upon his return, to bring suit in the
name of the state to prevent, if possible, the
consolidation of the Great Northern and
Northern Pacific railway companies.
1t is clearly in open violation Of the plain
intent and purpose of the law.
II, under existing laws, said consolidation
cannot be prevented, l feel that l would be
justified in calling an extra session Of the
legislature to take the necessary steps to sue
cessfully resist 1t, if it could be accomplished
by this means.
believing to be my plain duty, shall leave
no stone unturned to prevent the contem-
plated consolidation.
Owing to the great interest of our state
and people, it should and will be fight to
a finish.
If the will Of the people of Minnesota can
be trampled upon in this manner the sooner
the fact is ascertained and understood the
better.
Attorney General Douglas is still away
on his vactton, hunting big game in Cook
county. What he will determine after a
careful examination of the question it is
impossible to predict with certainty, but
his views UPON a parallel case are well
known. Ou r l man talked with
him several months ago regarding the
purchase Of the two iron range roads by
the United States Steel company.
Mr.. Douglas felt deeply in the matter.
and said that If by any legal process the
consoldatlon could be stopped, he would
certainly act without delay. He did not
believe, however, that there was anything
to prevent an individual or corporation
outside the state of Minnesota from buy
Ing stock TO any amount in Minnesota
corporations, so long as there was no
overt act of consolidation. The companies
maintain separate sets of officers and
keep their accounts distinct and neither
dominates the other
Without question. if there is any pros
pect of beating the Northern Securities
company in it's game of devouring rail-
roads, the attorney general will proceed.
Prospects are rather dubious, however
So long as the new company sticks to its
avoWed function and does not interfere
with the management of the railroads in
any open way, there will be small ground
for the state to proceed upon.
1t is hard to see what could be accom-
plished by an extra session, to relieve
the present situation. The new concern
has been INCORPORATED, and the transac-
tion and requirement of the stocks will
probably be accomplished in a few days.
AT any rate. it could be done before an
extra session could get together and en-
act new legislation. After the deed is
once done, if it is legal according to exist
ing laws. it cannot be knocked out by
subsequent legislation. No law can have
ex post facto effect.
Members Of the railroad and warehouse
commission and Of the legislature, so far
as seen do not have very much hope Of
preventing the gigantic deal.