Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-26
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The Northern Securities Compa-
ny Financiers Alarmed Over
Merger" Suits.
Federal Case Against the Com
bine Giving the Railway Mag
mates Much Anxiety.
Rumor That They Would Be
Glad to Compromise With
Government.

Washington, a priI 26.-Ihere are ru-
nors that the federal suits against the
Northern Securities Company, popu-
compromised. They can not be con-
firmed at the department of justice, and
if the compromise is finally made, as is
now indicated, there viii not be a def
rite compact or agreement, nor will
there be other evidence Of it than the
open proceedings in court. The finan-
ciers who organized the merger have
viewed with ill-concealed alarm the
movement on the part of the govern
ment to prosecute them for their al
legged Interference and restriction OF in
terstate commerce. Every effort was
made to change the form of the plan
for the merger so as to avoid violations
TALLY successful.
When the proposed action against
the company was first discussed there
were free predictions that there could
be no conviction and that eventually
the government would drop the prose-
cution. This was borne out to GER
tain extent by the action of the United
States supreme court in ruling out the
case. brought VI frcm the tate Of
Minnesota, out OF court because Of Il
lack OF Jurisdiction While the court
did rot go into The. merits of the case
involved, the managers of the merger
were much encouraged by tie action.
Then comes the state of Washington
with a similar case, which the attor-
Legs for the merger we're unable 20
have throw, olt of the court, and
which will he considered from present
indications ON its merits.
The federal case against the merger
has been much more carefully prepared
than any OF the others under consider
stion. Because of the care exercised
and the confidence of the officers Of the
department of justice that they have a
good case the officials OF the Security
company have become alarmed.' The
men most interested now are financiers
who care little or nothing about the
properties involved in the deal, but who
desire to deal in the stock of the big
company and the minor companies. AL
ready they have felt the adverse effect
of the steps which have been taken
against them. They seek settlement
with the government on this basis. In
return for an agree nemnot fid ?vopw
return for an agreement on their part
not to oppose the granting of a tenn
porary injunction which will restrain
them from actually pooling the roads
concerned they want to be unmolested
in their stock operations. The men
most concerned in the company now
will readily assent to any proposition
as to the different roads involved which
will not interfere with their stock OPP
erations. They will not object to the
prevention OF the pooling of the opera
ton of the roads at present If they arc
rot restrained from holding the stock
ging. 1t for the stock of the Northern
Securities Company.
Presiden. Mellen, OF the Great
Northern Company, was guest at the
white house, taking luncheon with the
president. Mr.. Knox, the attorney gen.
eral, also dined with him. While it is
not believed IN any quarter that he
even limited at the proposed compro-
mise to the president, there is reason
for believing that there was free in
terchange of views, and the railroad
president di not hesitate to make
known to the president of the United
States what he believed to be the feel
ing on the part of the railroad inter-
ests Of the country toward the admin
istratfon in its program thus far, with
tho nocS;hla s,IppaStiopS that thew