The Dickinson press., 1902-01-04
TO DEFEAT MERGER
Definite PLAN OF ACTION De.
CIDED ON At THE HELENA
CONFERENCE.
Legal Action Will Be Instituted I'm.
mediately In Minnesota courts-Res.
oirtions adopted condemning the
Proposed Consolidation and Calling
on conoress to Investigate the Sub.

Proposed Consolidation and Calling
on Congress to Investigate the Sub.
Iect-Van SAINT Pleased.
Helena, Mon, Jan. IA definite
plan Of action to defeat the proposed
consolidation of the Northern Pacific,
Great Northern and Burlington rail-
way systems has been unanimously
agreed upon by the governors and at
.orney generals of seven Northwest.
ern states in which those roads have
mileage. Legal action will be insti-
;uted Immediately in Minnesota courts
with this object in view. To quote
Attorney General DouglA of Mime
sofa, "the thing will be fought to
hnish."
Just how, when anu where these
suits will be brought, neither Governor
Van SAINT of Minnesota or Attorney
General Douglas would state. The
conference adjourned after adopting
resolutions condemning the proposed
merger as contrary to sound public
policy and pledging support to any
proper legal action which may be
brought to test it's validity. Other
resolutions adopted call on congress
to investigate the subject and favor
the granting Of power to the interstate
commerce commission to fix maximum
rates upon interstate business. The
arst resolution is as follows:
I'm our opinion the consolidation or
threatened consolidation of the Great
Northern, Northern Pacific and Bur-
lington railway systems in the several
states through which they run as
parallel and competing lines is con.
trary to sound public policy, and also,
with the exception of Idaho, is in vio-
lation of the constitution and bylaws
Of said states, and mindful Of the OBJ
:Hgation which the law imposes In such
cases upon the officials Of the several
states here represented, we hereby
give our, unqualified approval and en-
'dorsement to any suitable proceedings
which. may be Instituted in any court
having jurisdiction by the sovereign
state Of Minnesota or any other state
affected thereby, designed and intend
ed to speedily and finally test and
Determine the Validity
Of such consolidation or threatened
consolidation, and to that end we
hereby pledge our earnest co-opera-
ton; and, further, we unanimously
protest against any combination or
consolidation which restricts or stiles
tree competition in the trade or COM
merce of the country"
=, This resolution was unanimously
adopted. Governor Herried of South
Dakota left for his home before action
was taken, but rough drafts of the
resolutions were presented to him be-
fore he left, and it Is understood he
favored them. The second resolution,
which was a substitute for the one
offered by Governor Hunt of Idaho
along the same lines, was as follows:
Whereas, A consolidation of the
great transcontinental railway lines
has been accomplished, or threatened,
which, in the opinion of the members
Of this conference, Is inimical to the
public welfare. therefore, be it ..
Resolved, First, That the congress
requested to investigate the general
ouUJSCI duu ldhS SuNUdUl0 dCLlOu
on; second, that power should be
granted to the interstate commerce
commission to fix maximum rates upon
interstate traffic and to regulate the
same; third, that copy of these reso.
lutions be forwarded to the senators
and representatives in congress of the
states here represented"
Governor Van SAINT and most of the
other state officials who have been
present at the conference have left
for their homes. Governor Van SAINT
expressed himself as much gratified
over the result of the meeting, which
had been requested by him.
$50 far as am concerned" said he
after the meeting had adjourned, 81
ann thoroughly satisfied with the work
of the meeting. It accomplished all
that could be desired. I am very
much pleased"
Governors Hunt and Toole also ex.
pressed qualification at the result ol
the conference.