Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-03-14
ANTI-COMBINE MEN.
The Texas Bill Against
Trusts" Adopted.
THE TERN CLEARLY DEFINED.
Heavy Penalty to be Exacted of Any
Corporation COntravening the
Enactment.
Associated Press Dispatohes to the HnnA1pl

Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD
ST. LOUIS, March 13.-At 5 O'Clock this
afternoon, the Cattle Convention was
called to order and the committee on res.
olutions submitted a report recommend
ing that all resolutions referred to vester.
day be laid on the table, which was
done. The committee also begged leave
to suggest that, as the conference was
called in reference to the beef and pork
combine" or "trust" as it is desig-
mated in the Kansas resolution, that is
all there is for the convention to consider
and in tn opinion Of the committee, the
only effective way to reach it is by legis-
lation, if the same can be done without
encroaching upon the organic law of the
land. The report was adopted. The
committee on needed legislation pre-
sented, ss a desirable measure, the bill
submitted by the Texas delegation, which
will probably become a law in Texas.
This bill deals with the definition of
ttrusts" and the penalties to be
inflicted for the violation OF the
act. The section defining trusts is
as follows: "To make or enter or carry
out any contract or agreement of any
kind or description by which they shall
b nd or have bound themselves not to
sell, dispose of or transport any article or
commodity or article of trade, use, mer-
chandise, commerce or consumption, be-
low the common standard figures, or by
which they shall agree, in any manner,
to keep the price of said articles, COM
modify or transportation, at fixed or
graduated figure, or by which they shall
in any manner establish or settle the
price of any article or commodity, or
transportation between them or them
selves or others, to preclude free and un-
restricted competition among themselves
or others, or by which they shall agree
to pool, combine, or unite any interest
they may have in connection with the
eale or transportation of any such article
or commodity, go that it's price might, in
any manner, be affected.
The clause concerning the infiction OF
punishment provides that any corpora
ton violating any of the provisions OF
the act shall forfeit its charter and fran
chises, and it's corporate existence shall
cease. Any foreign corporations, under
similar conditions, shall be denied the
right to do business in the State. Any
violation is also declared conspiracy
against trade, and upon conviction
carries a fine and imprisonment, the
maximum being $5 900 and ten years.
After few slight changes the bill
was adopted by the following vote:
Yeas-Colorado s, Iowa s, Illinois s,
Indiana s, Kansas s, Minnesota s, Mis-
souri, 6 2-5. Nebraska 4, Texas s. Nays
Missouri / 3-5, Nebraska A. The vari-
GUS delegations were pledged to recon-
mend the bill to their Legislatures.
The second bill introduced by the
Committee on Needed Legislation, was
practically the Nebraska bill providing
for the appointment of local inspectors,
and the inspection of all cattle, sheep or
swine, twenty-four hours before slaugh-
tering. Penalties are prescribed for
evasions of inspection or the sale
of meat taken from animals not
inspected. 1t does not apply to canned,
smoked, cured or salt meats. A warm
debate ensued, resulting in an adjourn
ment till p. NJ. in order that the bill
might be printed. The Texas men
claimed that the adoption of the pream-
| BILE would be a fatal mistake as, if the
Convention should announce to the world
the necessity of legislating to protect
home consumers against the sale of dis
eased meat, in would result in shutting
American meats out OF all the foreign
markets and be a severe blow to the
producers. There was lively discussion
of the bill by sections at the evening ses-
sion.
After a prolonged debate, lasting until
after midnight, in which the Texas and
Illinois delegates were bitterly opposed
to the meas ure, the bill was adopted by
vote of 46 4 5 to 251a, and the convention
adjourned SINE die.