Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1902-02-13

sy the corporation. and to do any acts
Improve or enhance the value 81 any
such bonds or other securities or evil
dences of indebtedness, or stock
These poWers are as broad as language
can make them. and authorize the North
ern Securities Company not only to vote
the stock of the Great NORTHERN and
Northern Pacific. Railway companies, and
thus exercise all the powers and priv
ileges of ownership and control but spe-
cihcaly empower the corporation to do
any acts or things designed to enhance
the value Of the stock Of the companies
right to increase freight rates directly,
or to change the classification of freight
IL thai yas ra dfber states IN
addition to Minnesota would be affected
by this capitalization. and that the de-
PHaY o. q gHah states nra
( Visions was similar to that of our state.
iiI deemed It wise to call conference of
the states through which these lines Of
railway pass, IN order that such method
Of procedure might be adopted as would
e uniform TINS was held At
the governors and attorneys general not
only Of our state. but of Montana, South
Dakota and Idaho, and the attorney gen
last named state died just prior to the
conference and owing to this fact his
Gey MaBre nabe 5a
since. in a published interview called the
attention of the people, of his state to
the dangers threatened by the consolida-
ton of these two companies. The con-
| ference was harmonious throughout, and
that the official representatives of the
various va, IS states We're wholly in sympathy
termination ,s to oppose this consolidation,
which fIc was unanimously adopted:
threatened consolidation, of the Great
Northern, Northern Pacific and Burling-
ton Railway systems in the several states
competing lines is contrary to sound pub
lie policy, and also. with the exception
Of Idaho. is in violation of the consttu-
of the obligation which the law imposes
In such cases upon the officials of the
several states here represented, we here
dorsement to any Proper ana ai BE
proceeding which may be instituted in
any court having jurisdiction by the SOW
state affected thereby designated, de-
signed and intended to speedily and fin-
ally test and determine the validity Of
dalton: And further, we unanimously
protest against any combination or con-
solidation which restricts or stiles free
competition in the trade or commerce of
the country
1t was determined, owing to the import
ance OF the case, and for the purpose of
getting the matter disposed of at as early
a date as possible, to bring the suit in
supreme court of the United States in
the, first instance The question of orig
inal jurisdiction in in that court was argued
DOUGLAS and one of his associate coun-
Gil, Hon. M. D. Mum. The application
to file the bill was opposed by the North
ablest corporation lawyers in New York,
New Jersey and Pennsylvania appeared
in behalf of that corporation. If the SUI
ny or 1~t Jooc :o4s-
it is the intention Of the attorney gen
eral to at once bring suit in the State
courts, and every effort will be made to
speedily have the case reached in the
court of last resort. where it must finally
be disposed of. Neither this company,
nor any other company, combination, con-
Of our state if it can be prevented.
What the final decision will be it is
difficult to foretell but it does not seem
possible that New Jersey corporation,
permitted to violate the laws of the SOW
ereign state of Minnesota. /, If the final
decision should be against the state the
remedy that never fails and which is is
more supreme even than the supreme
court. I quote the words of Judge Brew
Of Yale College, in which he said speak
ing of trusts and the inability Of the
courts to crush them, appeal must be
oh the ere 2f pab oph
that court every man is counsel and
every man is judge"
It is a pleasure to commend Attorney
General Douglas for the able and etfi-
Gent manner in which he has endeavored
to vindicate our laws. ] learn from him
that the enactments upon our statute
books, and which are quoted above, are
ample and that no additional legislation
is required at this time, but if, during
your session, any further legislation
should be needed I will Immediately COM
municate such fact to you. While you
. have been called together solely for the
purpose Of considering the tax code, yet
in view of the extraordinary expenses at
tending this suit, and the great array of
legal talent in opposition, would suggest
that a sufficient sum of money be placed
at the disposal Of the legal department
to employ associate counsel to properly
continue the litigation and meet the ex-
penses necessarily connected Herewith.
Before closing I desire to congratulate
you upon the splendid record made dur
ing the last session You received, an(.
justly merited, the approval of the people
of the state. Your acts We're uniformly
in the interest of the commonwealth you
so Loyalty represent. I doubt not that
your deliberations and acts during this
session will be equally meritorious and
that you will again receive the approval
of a grateful public.