The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-08
DOUGLAS FILES BILL.
Fight Against Merger of Pacific
 Railroads.

WdShingtons Jan. 1-Attorney-ieneraf Wallace R. Douglass of Minnesota filed today ln the United States Supreme Court the bill of complaint in the case of the State of Minnesota, complainant, against the Northern Securities Company. de- fendant.
 It Is a long document, about 10000 words, covering thirty-two pages of printed matter. The bill first points out that the State still owns more than 100000 acres of public lands, valued at more than s15oOO.OoO. and traversed in part by the lines of the Great Northern and Northern Pacific railroads. If the merger is effected. these roads will cease to build spira into these lands.
 Tho complainant alleges that the rate on the immense shipnients of wheat and other merchandise over the lines of the two companies have been lower than will be under any arrangement which contemplates unity of control.
 The Northern Securities Company, 1t is set forth. was organized by J. J. Hill, W. F. clough, J. P. Morgan and "other associates to the oratrix" to evade or avoid the laws of Minnesota to effect a consolidation of the Great Northern and Northern Pacific. The owners of a large majority of stock of the two systems has agreed beforehand to transfer to the new company 75 per cent. of the stock of the two systems on terms which are set forth in full and toyretire the pre- ferred stock of the Norkhern Pacific. It was agreed that pending the delivery of the stock to the Northern Securities Com pany, it should all be turned over to James j. Hill or be under his control The Northern Securities Company, as charged. does not intend to purchase this stock, but simply to use it's own stock in exchange therefore. The company is about to receive all the capital stock of the Great Northern and Northern Pa cific This, it is claimed. is part of a plan of Hill, Morgan and their associ- ates, whereby the two systems are to be consolidated and placed under the direction of one man or board of di- rectors, through the defendant company, and thus bring about and perpetuate a monopoly in railway traffic in Minneso- ta and a complete consolidation of the two systems.
 5 It is set up that the Northern Securi- ties Company is a railroad corporation within the meaning of the Minnesota laws and it's design is to evade, escape and violate the laws in such a way as to cause the State ''irreparable injury. |" It is not the owner of any other property or stock or securities and Is engaged in no other business save as that managed and under control of the Great Northern Pacific. Already it is so alleged, J. J. Hill, president of the Northern Securities Company, has dictated. changed and con- trolled the policy of the two constituent roads, and during December 1901, 1t is alleged. the general managing officers of the Great Northern took charge of large portion of the business of the Northern Pacific. The bill asks that the defendant should not be perpetually en- joined and restrained.
 First-From voting at any meeting of the stockholders of the Great North ern and Northern Pacific Railroads the capital of these companies and from at- tending in any manner such meeting
 Second-From aiding in the manage ment of the two systems.
 Third-From permitting any of its of- fcers from acting as representative in the same.
 Fourths-From making any arrange ments having for their object such joint control.
 Fifth-From holding any of the stock of either companies.
 Sixth-From receiving any more stock of the two companies in case 1t shall appear that the defendant company has not yet acquired a controlling interest in either.
 Seventh-The oratrix prays permission to amend the complaint, if necessary, and bring in other parties for the pur- pose of giving force and effect to any decree of the court, and asks the court to issue subpoena against the defeu- dant company and set a day for the hearing.