The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1902-02-01
Entered at the p~ostofice ut Wash
burn, N. D.. as second class matter.

Entered at the p~ostofice ut Wash
burn. N. d.. as second class matter.
The Merger Question Again.
The question of the proposed
merger of the Northern Pacific
and Great Northern roads came up
again at Washington this week,
when Attorney General Douglass
of Minnesota and Attorney Guth-
RE for the Northern Securities
company made their arguments
before the court for and against
the the hearing Of the case fled by
che attorney general Of Minnesota.
Mr.. Douglas made his argument
for the hearing of the case by the
supreme court and attorney Guth-
RE answered is for the Northern
Securities company. The latter
had not proceeded far in his at
tempt to show that the Northern
Securities company was simply a
private corporation formed for in
vestment purposes when he was
interrupted by Justice Brown, who
asked:
"Would it not be possible, with
the acquisition of a majority of
the stock of each company inter-
ested for the Northern Securities
company to run both these roads
under a common management"
Il admit that is possible" re-
piled Guthrie.
"Then is it not possible, in ex-
tension of this plan, to bring all
the railroads in the country under
one management"
1T is. Sir, but there would prob
ably be national and state legisla-
ton to prevent the sconsummation
of such a PLAN"
Guthrie then adroitly attempted
to change the trend of the exam
ination by calling the courts at
tention to the fact that the ques-
ton at issue was whether the
courts jurisdiction extended to an
alleged violation of laws of Min
nesota by New Jersey corpora
ton.
That the Northern Securitie s
company and Mr.. Hill are by no
means confident of the outcome of
this case is evident from the fact
that they have employed the best
counsel and are prepared to make
a bitter fight at every step, against
Governor Van SAINT of Minnesota,
Attorney General Douglass and
the rights Of the people to full and
free competition between the two
roa1s.
From the brief of Attorney Gen
eral Douglass is taken the follow
ing summary of the case, which
applies as well to the interests of
North Dakota as to Minnesota:
The situation can thus he sum-
married.. The holders of a large
majority of the capital stock of
two railroad corporations author
lied to construct and maintain
lines within the limits of the state
of Minnesota have organized a cor
! poration IN another state for the
: purpose of consolidating the rail
way lines and property of such
companies and evading and viola
ting one of the laws of the state of
Minnesota, which bears directly
upon and gives the state and its
citizens certain rights and privi-
leges in connection with the prop
erty owned and controlled by the
railroads thus sought to be consol-
idated
The only way in which the state
can reach such an evasion of its
laws and enforce its rights is to
bring an action in this court
against the instrument or means
by which such consolidation is
sought to be accomplished. 1.-THE
state of Minnesota cannot avail
itself of the original jurisdiction Of
this court to enforce its right, il
cannot go into the state Of New
Jersey and ask the courts of that
state to enforce its rights. because
the same reason urged against the
Jurisdiction of this court could be
urged with equal force before the
courts Of New Jersey.
The bill discloses that this con-
Observation-Disclosures about 1900
miles Of railroad, furnishing near
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