The Minneapolis journal., 1903-03-21
The CONTROL |
OF The ROADS
Why Should New Jersey Give North.
ern Securities the Right to
Make Rates..
Argument Of Mr.. Watson for the
Government in the Merger
Case To-day.

st. Louis March 21.-Assistant Attorney
General Beck asked at the opening Of the
hearing Of the Northern Securities case
this morning, how much time would be
allowed to the attorneys for the govern
ment to file their briefs
) Il would like some information on this
matter" said 'ex- Attorney General Griggs.
'.Is it the printed copies Of the oral argu-
.ments that are to be fled or new NATTER"
Just the oral, arguments replied Mr.
Beck,
..You can have three days" said Judge
Caldwell, and / would not rely on the
government to get It out If were you,
Mr.. Beck" .aiT ~ st<s:.sS -. e
3 Mr.. Watson's Argument.
The matter of the briefs being settled,
Mr. Watson resumed his argument. which
was in progress at last nights adjourn
nlent. ~ ~ T1<s
: 1.-THE roads combined in New jersey"
said Mr.. Watson: why? What purpose
had they In New Jersey? To manufac-
ture? 10 make silk? Or to run rail-
read? They. wanted TO- run railroads in
Minnesota, and for these gentlemen TO
come. here and say they had any other
object Is ludicrous,"
Mr.. Watson declared that all railroad
business in the territory of the Great
Northern and Northern Pacific railways
was absolutely in control Of the Northern
Securities company, and it was the state
of New Jersey, 1000 miles. from where
these railroads start, that gives them the
power to establish rates and dictate poll J.
cies in Minnesota, Dakota, Montana and
|. other states, Such a. condition he de-
clared was out Of all equity and justice.
III the course Of the Northern Securities
| was upheld Mr.. Watson declared, there
is nothing to prevent an absorption OF all
other trans continental lines or indeed OF
Nan In
stife all competition and regulate all
| freight rates. This last, he said, was not
| a matter Of such great Importance. but II
was the power that would accrue to the
| corporation, and the loss of liberty to the
! individual citizen that formed the great
!, objection to the merger. r..N -. .,
| The contention OF the defendants, thai
the antitrust act did not apply to the
present case, because it did not apply di-
rectly to the control of commerce Tor the
reason that the roads were. operated
| through agents, was vigorously con1battec
! by Mr.. Watson; who claimed that 1t was
! in, point, and that the position OF the de-
! PENDANTS was so, excessively technical thai
| 1t amounted to nothing. :':..t
| "It is the question of control that de.
termines this case,'' he said. =: And 1t Is
utter nonsense for these gentlemen VINO
! own the stock to say that the act does
not apply to them. 1t is control, control
nothing but control that counts and these
men have it,
The argument Of Mr.. Bum that it was
| the states and not the government thai
has. that power to regulate the consolida-
ton Of railway companies was declared by
Mr.. Watson torsbe absurd. He claimed
that the Northern Securities company had
no right to ise6tff.4E Under the laws of New
'EsJersey a charter that would enable 1t to
violate the laws .af Minnesota and Wis,
constn. 9ffS sIi5 AJs3E o. arE 7fT2>% 2srr5sg.i
f. TheIfinalc arguments were;]concludedt al
HASA this afternoon and the case was left
with the federal court Of appeals Be.
cause of the enormous mass Of evidence
and the voluminous arguments it is doubt
1 full II a decision will be possible within
i two months. = :p..r.s' '"; :1..-s..,"> Cr,.T