The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-22
END OF ARGUMENTS
IN SECURITIES
CASE
MIR. Watson, for the Govern
ment, Has the Last Word
and the Judges Take the
Case for Rumination-No
Decision for Two Months
or More.

ST. LOUIS, Mo-, March 21-The final
arguments in the Great Northern Secu-
rites case were concluded at "a this
afternoon and the case was left with
the federal court of appeals. Because
of the enormous mass of evidence and
the voluminous arguments which the
Judges are called upon to consider, it is
doubtful if decision will be possible
within two months and the probabili-
ties are the time will be longer than
that
Assistant Attorney General Beck
asked at the opening how much time
would be allowed to the attorneys for
the government to file their briefs.
They must be in when the hearing
is closed" replied Judge Caldwell, after
a conference with his colleagues.
I'VE certainly have been under a
misapprehension If that is the case"
replied Mr.. Beck. 1--WE thought GER
tain amount of time would be granted
u.s."
Another conference between the
judges was held and it was then an
nounced that the government could
have three days to prepare and sub
NIT it's briefs
Il would like some information on
this matter" said ex-Attorney General
Grfggs. rs it the printed copies of the
oral arguments that are to be filed, or
new matters?'
Just the oral arguments" replied
Mr.. Beck
You can have three days." said
Judge Caldwell, "and I would not rely
on the government to get 1t out, If I
were you, Mr.. Beck"
Watson Concludes.
The matter of the briefs being set
tied, D. T. Watson resumed his argu-
ment which was in progress at last
nights adjournment. He insisted that
the position taken by the defendants,
that they had the right. under state
laws, to form a combination, was not
well taken, for the reason that behind
the sovereign power of a state was a
power still more sovereign, and this
latter power said that such a combi-
stif1e competition.
They combined in New Jersey"
said Mr.. Watson. why? What pur-
pose had they in New Jersey? To
manufacture? To make silk? Even to
III d Gill OdO HGy waited 10 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 rail-
road business in the territory of the
Great Northern and Northern Pacific
railways was absolutely in control
of the Northern Securities company,
and 1t was the state of New Jersey,
I
start, that gives them the power to
establish rates and dictate policies in
Minnesota, Dakota, Montana and other
states. Such a condition, he declared,
was out of all equity and justice
If the course of the Northern Secu-
ties company was upheld, Mr.. Watson
declared, there is nothing to prevent
an absorption of all other transconti-
mental lines, or, indeed, of all other
lines. It would enable them to stiffe
all competition and regulate all freight
rates. This last, he said, was not a
matter Of such great Importance, but
1t 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.
Question of Control.
The contention of the defendants
that the anti-trus act did not apply
to the present case because it did not
apply directly to the control Of COM
merce for the reason that the roads
were operated through agents, was
vigorously combatted by Mr.. Watson,
who claimed that 1t was in point, and
that the position Of the defendants
was so excessively technical that it
amounted to nothing.
TT is question Of control that de-
termines this case" he said, "and 1t is
utter nonsense for these gentlemen
who 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, of the