Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-12-17
GEN. KNOX MAKES
GOv'TS ARGUMENT
Northern Securities Case Still
Occupies Time OF the
Supreme Court.
VIZ. BLYTHE A LISTENER
Iowa Politician Declares That knox's
Presentation Was Strong Ex-
position of Governments
Side of the Case.

Washington, Dec. 17-The discussion
of the Northern Securities case WAS re-
sumed before the supreme court when
its session opened today. Attorney
General Knott, who began his argu-
ment last evening, continued this
morning.
In beginning Mir. Knox outlined the
attitude of the government towards the
case, saying chat it was one OF grave
concern. based upon its conviction that
u mischievous evasion of the law has
been attempted, as we'll as upon its
special interest and relations to one OF
the properties affected"
In order that the court might under
reviewed the principal facts connected
history of the Northern Pacific COM
pany, it's relations to the Great North
ern railroad ana other facts out of
which the questions in this case arise,
but without extended comment.
He remarked in passing that while
the United States created the Northern
Pacific and authorized it 10 construct
IL railroad, and for that purpose en-
dowed it with $4,000 acres of the public
domain, it WAS to secure to the govern
ment at all times the use and benefits
of the same for postal, military and
other purposes.
Government Has interests.
In other words, said Mr. Knox. con
gless gave the peoples land to the
Northern Pacific Railway company and
to no other company, and the United
States is directly interested in seeing
to it that TIE Northern Pacific COM
Il
ability to render the services which was
the consideration of the grant, unaf-
fected by the domination of other in
tereSts.
After reviewing the previous at
teinpts at harmony carried on by
Messrs. Hill, Morgan and others, the
attorney general took up the Securities
company matter. In concluding his
presentation Of the evolution of this
merger, he said These facts clear
ly establish that il is an Instrumental
ity created to control the Northern Pa
cilic aud Great Northern railroads,
and, through their ownership of The
Burlington, to control that road like
wise
The attorney general was able before
adjournment To announce only one
proposition by way of argument and
that was contained in the following
Was a combination in restraint of COM
merce among the states. and vas in
tended 50 TO be, ana with or without
Il proven intention it is Illegal as by
Virtue of The combination it is guilty
of the mischief which the law is de-
signed to prevent, namely, it brings
transportation ana trade throughout a
vast section of country under the con-
trolling influence of Il single body. and
destroys any possible advantages the
public might have through any COM
petition between the two lines
The Joint Traffic Gases.
Mr.. Knox today in resuming his ar
gument declared that by the union of
the Northern Pacific and Great North
ern roads two competing interstate
relations that their independence as
competitive factors in interstate COM
merce is destroyed. The thing that
has been done Was declared Illegal he
said, when brought about by the meth
DDS pursued in the joint traffic and
trans Missouri cases. Those were cases
OF contracts or agreements between in
dependent and competing lines of rail
read for the regulation of traffic
charges. The government charged that
these agreements restrained interstate
commerce.. and this court sustained
that contentious
Mr. Knox closed his argument at 1:4Oi
and WAS Immediately followed by.
George Il. Young, on behalf of the SCI
cuiitics company. AT 3:15 the argll-
llents Wer4 concluded.