The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-04

properly maintain the same. I desire
also to call your attention to the fact
that an act, passed by the last legisla-
ture, authorized the forestry board to
purchase land adapted for forestry at
not exceeding $3.50 an acre, and to take
steps to maintain forests. thereon, ac-
@oneV was as p pD for the purpose.
recommend that liberal appropriation
be made to carry the law referred to
into effect.
I have the. honor to report that since
the last session of this body the fight
instituted against the consolidation of
the Northern Pacific and Great North
ern railroad companies has practically
terminated, the supreme court Of the
luton of the Northern Securities com
pany. The contest had it's origin In this
state, which. was most vitality affected
and whose interests would have been
most seriously jeopardized had the con-
solidation been permitted.
The decree orders return of the
stock. Of the railway companies, and
them by the Northern Securities COM
pany.. Of course, this, when the decree
is enforced. makes dead institution Of
the Northern Securities company, so far
as the two railways are concerned.
In 1908 the legislature passed Chap
ter SO, which prohibited the control Of
parallel and competing lines of railway
by stock ownership. In case any eff
fort is made to control the Great
Northern and Northern Pacific railway
companies thru a stock ownership in
individuals, or under any agreement so
that free and open competition is in
terfered with, the state should take ac-
ton under that law, so as to prevent
any such control or unity Of interest.
The present administration has taken
no action to prevent the control Of these
two railway companies by stock owner
ship, as provided in the law of 1908, be-
cause no distribution has yet been made
of the stock so as to enable the state to
proceed; but should the distribution of
their stock be made in such a way as to
tion between the two companies, then
sincerely trust the incoming admins
tration and the state will proceed
against any such control.
| Legislation is needed which will en-
able the state to secure jurisdiction
over foreign corporations like the
Northern Securities company, which arc
seeking to evade or violate the laws of
this state, by remaining outside the
jurisdiction of the state, but acquiring
the stock Of domestic corporations, anC
exercising all the powers of such stocl
ownership outside the borders of the
state.
AS soon as the Northern Securitie
company was organized, one Of thes'
two railway companies, created by thu
laws Of this state, Immediately amended
/ it's bylaws SO as to hold it's annua
meetings outside Of Minnesota, SO a
to enable the Northern Securities com
pany to vote the stock held by it out
side Of the state, and thus avoid com
ing within our borders, and subjectin
itself to the jurisdiction Of our court.
sincerely hope some legislation wi
be passed at this session, which will Ell
, able this state to preserve and Wind
cate its laws against any such attemr
to evade and violate their provisions.
RATE REGULATION.
While it is true that there will be n
more open ."mergers' (the suprem
: court having decided that for all time
:. vet this decision does not prevent raj
d road magnates and the heads Of til
{ various transportation lines from NEE
Q ing and agreeing upon rates detriment;
] to the public, and most favorable
6 themselves. By this MEANS. compel
y GlOu, IOIAoA1y q SdIOS uo1u 10 ~ oSt
n cally destroyed; unreasonable freigl
9 rates and determinations result. I
J remedy these evils, additional pow,
q should be given to the interstate cor
1nerce commission. When it is, reme1
= bered that "a freight charge is a t.
!. on everything which enters into the Ii
Z, and commerce Of the country it CT
= be readily understood that this is
y question of vital interest.
d | would urge your honorable bod
10 by Joint resolution, to memorialize co
Re gress to pass a. measure along the lin
Is Suggested by the president, and that
lie copy be sent to each Of our senate
is and representatives at Washington.
n Under our laws. the railroad a.
ia warehouse commission has similar pc
ID ers. Tt should be granted still mo,
al [ call your attention to a measure
r-I troduced two years ago which fail
to to pass. This bill forbade the railro