The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-21

Northern Securities Case Sub
mitted to the Court.
An Opinion Is Not. Expected
Under Two Mouths.

st. Louis. March 21-The final argu-
ments in the great Northern Securities
case were concluded at 1884 this after
noon and the case was left with the fed
eral court OF appeals Because of the
enormous mass Of evidence and the
voluminous arguments which the judges
are called upon to consider, it is doubt
full il a decision VIII be possible within
two months and the proba abilities are the
time will be longer than that.
Assistant Attorney General Beck
asked, at the opening of the hearing
this morning. how much time would be
allowed to the attorneys for the gov
ernment to file their briefs
They must be in when the hearing is
closed replied Judge Caldwell, after a
short conference with his colleagues.
we certainly have been under a mis-
apprehension if that is the case replied
Mr. Beck. We thoughG a certain
amount OF time would be granted us
another conference followed between
the judges and it was then announced
that the government could have three
days to prepare and submit its briefs
I would like some information on this
matter, said ex-Attorney General
Griggs. rs it the printed copies of the
oral arguments that are to be filed or
new natter"
Just the oral arguments" replied Mr..
Reck.
you can have three days. said Judge
Caldwell. and I would not rely On the
government to get it out, if l We're you.
Mr.. Beck"
The matter of the briefs being settled
D. T. Watson resumed his argument
which was in progress at last nights
adjournment He insisted that the pO-
sition taken by the defendants. that
they had the right under state laws to
form combination, was not well taken
for the reason that behind the sovereign
power OF state was power still more
sovereign. and this latter power said
unar such a com mbinatiOn was not laws
ful and tended to stihe competition
They combined in New Jersey" said
ME- " atson Why, what purpose had
they ~ New Jersey2 To manufacture
70 make SILK Even to run railroad ?
Certainly not They wanted to run rain
roads in Minnesota. and for these gen
tlemen 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 North
ern Securities company, and 1t was the
sta te of New jersey 600 miles from
where these railroads start that gives
them the power to establish rates and
dictate policies Ia Minnesota Dakota
Montana and other states. Such a con-
dltlon, he declared was out of all jus
tice
If the course of the Northern Securi-
ties was upheld, Mr.. Watson declared
there is nothing to prevent an absorp-
tion of all other transcontinentaI lines.
or indeed of al other lines. 1t would
enable them to stife all competition and
regulate all freight rates. This last he
said. was not a matter of such great
| importance but it was the power that
would accrue 10 the cOrpOrati ton, and the
loss of liberty to the Individual citizen
that formed the great objection to the
merger.
The contention of the defendants that
the antitrust act did not apply to the
present case. because it did not apply
directly to the control of commerce for