Northern Securities Co. v. US

US Supreme Court decision of 1904 dealing with the right of the federal government to restrict monopolistic business practices. Two competitors, the Great Northern and the Northern Pacific Railroad companies, joined finances to form the Northern Securities holding company. Convicted under the Sherman Antitrust Act 1890, the holding company appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that the financial merger was not illegal because it was not intended for the restraint of trade. The Court voted 5 to 4 to uphold the conviction, rejuvenating federal authority under the antitrust laws.