Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-02-06
VAN SAINT REVIEWS
CORPORATIONFIGH
GOVERNOR OF MINNESOTA READS
MESSAGE AND ATTACKS
ROAD COMBINE.

ST. PAUL. Mimi. Feb. Sat 1880
o'clock. before the session of the Iegisla-
ture. which had&been assembled in extra
session. to receive the report of the tax
commission and the measures presented
by that body for enactment, Governor
Van SAINT today read his message.
After reciting the occasion for the extra
session to be the desire, TO secure re-
vision 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 suggested by the
commission. He argued against any dis
crirninatio I'm the laws, especially
against those which might make the poor
bear an unequal share of the burdens OF
taxation He endorsed a permanent tax
commission The only other subject dis
cussed is the so-called railroad merger
of which he says:
'sBelieving that the Northern Securi-
ties company corporation was organized
for the purpose of evading and violating
the laws of Minnesota. by consolidating
the properties Of the Great Northern and
Northern Pacific companies. which COM
panies run parallel and competing lines
of railway within the state, / requested
Attorney General Douglas to bring suit
In the name of the state to prevent such
consultations"
He then quotes from the statutes COW
ering the case and continues: =
That the Northern Securities compa-
ny can. and If not prevented by the
courts. will merge or consolidate the lines
and properties of the two railroad com
panies under one. management is evil
denced by reference to certain sections OF
the articles of Incorporation Of the North
ern Securities company.
''The Northern Securities company Is
authorized not only, to vote the stock of
the Great Northern and Northern Pacific
Railway companies, and thus exercise all
the powers and privileges Of ownership
and control but specifically empower the
corporation to do any acts or things de-
signed to enhance the value of the stock
of the companies mentioned, which, of
course. includes the right to increase
freight rates directly or to change the
classification Of freight so as TO increase
the rates.
KNOWING that several other states In
addition to Minnesota would be affected
by this consolidation. / deemed 1t wise
to call a conference OF the governors and
attorneys general Of the states through
which the lines of railway passed. in or
der that some uniform method Of proceed
ure might be adopted This conference
was held at Helena, Mont. There were
present the governors and attorneys gen.
eral not only of our state, but of Mon
tana South Dakota and Idaho and attor-
ney general Of Washington. Owing to
the death of the governor of the last
named state, Just prior to the confer
ence, his successor, Governor Mcbride,
was unable to attend. Governor Mcbride
has since called the attention of the peo-
pie of his state to the dangers threatened
by the consolidation of these two compa-'
MES The conference was harmonious
throughout and that the official represen-
tatives of the various states were wholly
in sympathy, with the action of this state
and it's determination to oppose this con-
solidation.
''It was decided to bring the suit in the
supreme court of the United States in the
first instance"
II the final decision should be against
the state, the governor declares, the case
will be decided by the court of public
opinion. which. he regards as above all
courts.
In conclusion the governor urges that
the legislature appropriate SUFFICIENT funds
to allow the legal department Of the state
to secure necessary assistance to meet the
expense of combating the consolidation