Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-06
AN EXTRA SESSION
OF Minnesota Legislature to Consider
Taxes and Railroad Merger.

st. Paul, Mimi, Feb. 15.-At 1890
O'Clock, before the session of the
Legislature, which had been assembled
in extra session to receive the report
of the tax commission and the meas
ures presented by that body for enact
ment, Gov. Van SAINT, today, read his
message.
The principal portion was devoted to
the recommendation Of the commission
to which he made some amendments
covering points which were suggested
by the commission but not approved
by him. After reciting the occasion
for the extra session to be the desire
to secure a revision of the somewhat
mixed tax laws OF the state he urged
that immediate action on the matter
be taken looking to the passage of laws
amendments as may be deemed wise.
He argued against and discrimination
in the laws, especially Speaking against
any laws that might make the poor
bear an unequal share Of the burdens
of taxation. He particularly endorsed
the suggestion of a permanent tax COM
mission, opposed any reduction in the
amount of property exempted from
taxation, suggested that the grain tax
be made to agree with those of neigh
boring states, urged protection of ves-
sci interests at the head of lakes, and
then leaves the entire matter with the
Legislature. The only other subject
is the so-called railroad merger, of
which he says:
AT this time 1 desire to inform the
Legislature of the suit brought by the
state of Minnesota against the
Northern Securities Co. of New Jersey.
Believing that this corporation was or
ganized for the purpose of evading and
violating the laws of Minnesota by con-
solidating the properties of the Great
Northern and Northern Pacific Cos.
which companies run parallel and COM
petiting lines of railway within the
state, l requested Attorney General
Douglass to bring suit in the name of
the state to prevent such consolida-
tion.'
He then quotes from the statutes COW
ering the case and continued:
''That the Northern Securities Co,
can, and if not prevented by the courts,
will merge or consolidate the lines and
the property of the two railroad COM
panies under one management is evil
denced by reference to Sections and
4 of the articles of incorporation Of the
Northern Securities Co.
"Those powers are broad as language
can make them and authorize the
Northern Securities Co., not only to
vote the stock of the Great Northern
and Northern Pacific Cos. and thus eX-
ercise all the powers and privileges of
ownership and control, but specifically
empowers the corporation to do any
acts to enchance the value of the stock
,, of the companies, which, of course in
cludes the right to increase freight
| rates.
The governor then read the resolu-
lions adopted at the governors confer
ence at Helena. He recited the argu-
ment before the United States supreme
court on Jan. q and added:
What the final decision will be it is
difficult to foretell, but It does not seem
possible that New Jersey corporation,
no matter what its capitalization, will
he permitted to violate the laws of the
sovereign state of Minnesota. If the
final decision should be against the
state the battle is not then lost, there
is one remedy that never fails and
which is more supreme even than the
supreme courts.
Il quote the words of Judge Brewer
in an address made at the bi-centennial
of Yale College in which he said in
speaking of trusts and the inability of
courts to crush them: Appeal must be
taken to the great court of public opin-
ion whose DEGREES are irresistible. In
that court every man is counsel and
every man is judge
eff during your session any further
legislation should be needed, I will i'm
mediately communicate that fact to
you. would suggest that sufficient
sum Of money be placed at the disposal
of the legal departments to employ as
sociate counsel to properly continue
the litigation and meet the expenses
necessary connected herewith