Show VAN SANT STANDS PAT Sends Warm Message to Legislature on Merger St. St Paul Feb 5 Gov Van Sant to today today to- to day read his message to the Legisla Legisla- ture After reciting the occasion for forthe forthe forthe the extra session to be the desire to to- tose secure secure secure se se- se- se cure a revision of oC the somewhat mixed tax laws of the State he urged that Immediate Immediate Immediate Im Im- Im- Im mediate action b be taken looking to the passage of laws suggested ted by the commissions commissions com corn missions with such amendments as may maybe maybe maybe be deemed wise wisa Of the so-called so railroad railroad railroad rail rail- road merger the Governor said RAILROAD MERGER At this time I desire to Inform the legislature of the suit brought by the State of Minnesota against the Northern Securities company of oC New l' Jersey Believing Believing Be De- lieving that this corporation was organIzed organized organized organ organ- for the purpose of evading and violating violating violating vio vio- vio- vio lating the laws Jaws of Minnesota by consolidating consolidating consoli consoli- dating the properties of the Great Northern North North- em ern and Northern P Pacific c companies ser la which companies m run n parallel and competing corn com lines of railway wa within the State I requested General Attorney Douglass to toI bring suit in the name of ot the State to I prevent such consolidations POWERS ARE AnE BROAD He quotes the articles of incorporation of the Northern Securities company and says Those powers are as broad as language can make them and authorize the Northern Securities company not only to vote the stock of the Great Northern North North- em ern and Northern Pacific railway companies companies com com- panics and thus exercise all the powers and privileges of ot ownership and control but specifically empower the corporation to do any acts or things designed to enhance enhance en en- hance hence the value of the stock of the companies companies com corn panics mentioned which of course Includes in includes includes In- In the tho right to increase freight rates directly or to change the classification of freight so as to increase the rates CONFERENCE OF GOVERNORS I deemed deemed It wise to to call a a. conference of the Governors and General Attorneys-General of the tho States through which the lines linos of railway pass In order that such method of procedure might be adopted as would be uniform This conference was held at Hel Helena Helna na Mont 1 There were present the Governors and General Attorneys-General not only of our State but of ot Montana South Dakota and Idaho and the Attorney- Attorney General of Washington The Governor of the last State died Just prior to the conference conference conference con con- ference and owing to this fact his successor successor suc sue cessor Gov Goy McBride was unable to at at- tend Gov McBride has since however in hi a published interview called the attention attention attention atten atten- tion of the people of his State to the dangers threatened b by the consolidation of these two companies CONFERENCE HARMONIOUS The conference was throughout and that the official reports of the various States were whollY In sympathy sympathy sympathy sym sym- pathy with the action of ot this State and andt its determination t to oppose this consolidation consolidation consoli consoli- dation is shown Oa by the resolutions which iS were unanimously adopted It was determined determined de de- de- de owing to the importance of the case and for the purpose of getting the matt matter r disposed of at as early a date as possible to bring the suit in the Supreme court of the United States in the first Instance ARGUMENT BEFORE COURT lIe He recited the argument before that court on January and added What the final decision will be it is difficult to foretell but it does not seem possible that a New Jersey corporation no matter what its capitalization will be permitted to violate the laws of the sovereign State of Minnesota l If the final decision should be against the State the battle Is not then lost there is one remedy that never falls fails and which Is more supreme even than the Supreme court I quote the words of Judge Brewer in an address made at the centennial bi of Yale college in which he said in speaking speaking-of of trusts and the inability of the courts to crush them Appeal must be taken to t the great court of public bl opinion o whose decrees r are f Irresistible r is In on that court o te every mart man nal is counsel and every man Is Judge COMMENDS GEN DOUGLAS It is a pleasure to commend Douglass for the able and efficient manner manner man man- ner ncr in which he has endeavored to vindicate vindicate vin yin our laws I learned from him that the enactments upon statute books are ample and that no additional legislation is required at this time But If during your session any further legislation should be needed I will Immediately communicate communicate com corn that fact to you White While you have be been n cal called ed together solely for the purpose of considering the tax code y yet t tin in view of the extraordinary expenses at attending attending attending at- at tending this suit and the great array of legal talent In opposition I would suggest that a sufficient sum of mone money be bo placed at the disposal of the legal departments to employ assistant t counsel to properly continue the litigation and meet the expenses expenses ex ex- necessarily connected therewith The Governor said further on the thern rn merger If the Supreme court does not take Jurisdiction it Is the Intention of the General Attorney to at once bring suit in the State courts and every effort Will be made speedily to have the case reached in the court of last resort where it must finally be disposed of Neither this company nor any other company combination consolidation or trust shall violate the laws of our State if It it can be prevented |