The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-29
HILL s VISIT TO
WASHINGTON
The Attorney General S Activ-
ity Begins to Annoy the
Merger Folk.
An Attempt to Settle the
Matter Out of Court
Suggested.

From, Tho Jour,,as B4reau, Room. rs, Post
Building, Washis,0to,s
Washington, April 29.--Some OF those
who talked with James ). Hill yesterday
and to-day say that the sole purpose of his
visit to Washington has to do with the
Chinese exclusion bill. He did not want
the clause forbidding the employment Of
Chinese on American vessels adopted be-
cause he said that 1t would force him to
transfer his vessels on the Pacific trade 10
some other flag. He was positive that
he could not compete with vessels sailing
under other flags II he were forbidden to
employ Chinese sailors. Mr.. Hill won
out. as the bill fixed upon in conference
and adopted in both houses does not carry
the seamen provision.
The Chinese bill may have had some
thing to do with bringing Mr.. Hill to
Washington, but that was not ALL It is
generally believed to-day that his princi-
pal purpose in coming was to see what
could be done to have the government and
the railway corporations, which are now
coming into court at the governments
behest, get together on some common and
satisfactory ground Of procedure. Either
in person or by proxy, he proposes to
confer with the attorney general and the
president regarding the pending suits
against the Northern Securities company.
If it is possible he propose to amend
the Northern Securities scheme SO as to
make 1t harmonic with the administra-
ton idea, but whether this will be pos
sible or not he wants to discuss the
question with the administration so as to
be the better prepared to act.
It is said that the Northern Securities
officials are beginning to realize that the
attorney general has very strong case
against them, and that conviction is al
most certain.
This is a radical change from the view
originally entertained in railway circles
regarding the prosecution. In New York
it is said that railway sentiment is quite
agreed that the attorney general is more
than likely to make his case good In the
courts. The way in which he has gone
after the beef trust displays an energy
and ability that the big corporations did
not suppose him possessed of. Inquiry
by Wall street magnates has revealed that
the merger casesis even stronger than
the beef trust case It is very probable
that governments ~ Ill W h7th Of them
and{ that convict iahs wifi be followed by
enforced changes; ef9 a radical character
in railway and trust policy - sSF
Mr. Hill Is beginning to realize that
the situation Is no Sunday school picnic
affair, and SO for the first time since the
merger agitation began he is in Wash
ington as suppHant at the administra-
ton doors. He wants to know just what
the attorney general proposes to do fol-
lowing successful trial Of the merger
suit. He wants to talk the whole case
over with him carefully and without re-
serve.
If it is possible to settle the ma tier out
of court, Mr.. Hill will be willing TO do
So, for he breads the precedent that a
successful prosecution would set up. He
will be willing to strain every point in
the direction of amendment of the North
ern Securities scheme. if such ar amend
ment will stcc the threatened disaster of
Il successful prosecution.
What Mr.. Hill may learn in Washington
cannot be foreknown. The administra-
ton, however, is standing very firm and
Mr.. Hills alleged personal abuse Of the
president and his threats against him,
should he be a candidate for return to
the White House, are not likely to help
his present mission. ~
The net effect Of the Hill performance
is the impression that the merger folks
are growing anxious and realize that their
way is not nearly as clear as they
thought it was in the winter. Mr.. Hill
had talk with Senator Hanna yesterday
withthe idea of feeling out his way lit
tie.
w w Jermane