The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-20

BNst0t9a0, Hdshan0ton.
Washington. Feb. 2o.-The officers of
the administration, including the attorney
general are not having much to say to-
day by way of comment on the announce
ment made public this morning that pro-
ceedings will be brought to test the legal
ity of the merger Of the Northern Pacific
and Great Northern railway systems
through the instrumentality Of the North
ern Securities company. The issuance OF
this announcement was purposely delayed
till after the close of the stock market
and to-day those concerned in it are add
ing little in explanation of their course,
which gives additional force to the an
nouncement.
At the department. of justice, The Jour
nal man was told that the attitude Of the
administration was not that OF special
pleader or aapartizan. The claim has been
made that the Northern Securities COM
pany Is in violation of the federal law and
the people Of several states are greatly
excited because of the attempt to combine
competing lines of railway.
"
The administration simply wants to
know whether, in the opinion of the
court, the Sherman law has been violated
in this attempted combination. In other
words. it wants the atmosphere cleared
so that the people, through congress, may
know whether the present. laws are suR-
cient to restrain. Industrial combinations
which may threaten to be public menace
| or whether new laws should be passed.
This statement explains the attorney gem
erals intention to bring suit In equity.
In addition, however, it Should be borne
in mind that the president regards the
question OF Industrial combinations as
one of momentous Importance. His mes
| sage to congress indicates that, as does
his attitude towards Attorney General
Douglas and associate counsel when they
were in Washington few weeks ago,
to institute a suit.
! It will be remembered that after an
| interview with M. D. Mum of st. Paul,
! at that time, the president sat down at
| the. long table in the cabinet room and
| wrote to the attorney general introduce
| Ing Mr. Mum and asking that he be given
every consideration and courtesy pos
| sible at the hands of the department, the
note winding up with the significant
statement that the president was great
| " Interested in the matter"
+ Mr.. Knox began his investigations OF
the question at about this time. The ex-
perts Of his department went to work,
| under his objection, and personally con-
Quoted several lines Of the inquiry.
sherman Law Violated.
AS result Of this scrutiny, which has
lasted several weeks, Mr.. Knox now an
nounces to the country In dictated
statement that In his judgment the Sher-
man law has been violated and says that
| he intends, on behalf of the, United States,
to institute proceedings against the
Northern Securities company. He says.
| in terms, that the president has requested
this action. and that a bill of equity Is
Enow being prepared.
There is no doubt that the administers
ton is sincere in believing that the Sher-
! man law has been violated. Mr.. Knox
would hardly stake his professional repu-
tation and that Of his associates in such
an interview as that made public this
morning unless he could make good
showing in the courts.
So, whether the supreme court assumes
| Jurisdiction in the case which is now be-
fore it or not, it is definitely settled that
there is to be final decision from it ulti-
mately on the question Of whether the
1 Northern Securities company is violating
existing laws, for any proceedings com
menced in Minnesota would in time reach
Washington.
What the State Gould Do.
| Should the supreme court refuse to take
jurisdiction, there would be no need fol
the state to begin proceedings in the
/ federal courts in Minnesota, for the ac-
tion proposed by Attorney General Knox
would take its place.
/ The state, however, could look
~: on, holding in reserve a proceed
\ Ing to revoke the charter Of the
Great Northern for violation Of *
] x state laws. "a:
II the supreme court should dissolve TIT
i Northern Securities company, friends O
1.-The merger maintain that they would no