Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-03-21
THE BEEF CONVENTION.

The Real work OF the Interstate Beef
Combine Conference Transacted on the
Second Day y What the Conference
Agreed Upon.
ST. LOUIS, March 14.-Iu the beef COM
bne legislative convention yesterday
morning the time was devoted to the pre-
sentation and consideration of various
bills and resolutions, but nothing definite
was accomplished and recess was taken
until the afternoon.
The afternoon session opened with the
report of the committee en- resolutions,
which was as follows:
Your committee would respectfully report
the resolutions referred to the committee back
with the recommendation that they lie on the
table. and beg leave to suggest as the confer
ence was called IN reference TO the beef and
pork combine, or trust as designated in the
Kansas resolutions, is all that there is for the
convention TO consider, and in the opinion of
your committee the only effective way 10 reach
it is by legislation. If the same can be done
without encroachment upon the organic law of
our land b. KELLEY, Chairman
The report was unanimously adopted.
The committee on needed legislation pre-
sented substitute bill for all those intro
duced, defining trusts and combines,
which was the Texas bill in full. Upon
vote being taken, the convention by a vote
of 66 3-5 for and 2-5 against recon-
mended the bill to the various StateLegis-
latures. The bill in full is as follows:
Section /. Be it enacted by the Legislature
of the State Of -, that trust is a COM
bination of capital. skill or acts by two or more
persons. firms, corporations or associations of
persons, or of either two or more of them, for
either any OF all of the following purposes:
First-To create or carry out restrictions in
trade.
Second-To limit or reduce the production,
o. increase or reduce the price Of merchandise,
products or commodities.
Third-To prevent competition in manufact-
ure, making transportations sale or purchase of
merchandise, produce or commodities.
Fourth-To fix at any standard or figure
whereby its price to the public shall be in any
manner controlled or established any article
or commodity of merchandise, produce or COM
merce intended for sale, use or consumption in
this State.
Fifth-To make, or enter into, or execute, or
carry out any contract, obligation or agreement
of any kind or description. by which they shall
bind or have bound themselves not to SELL dis
pose Of or transport, any article or commodity
or article of trade, use, merchandise, commerce
or consumption, below a common standard
figure, by which they shall agree, in any man
ner, TO keep the price of said article. commodity
or transportation, at a 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 themselves and others,
TO preclude free and unrestricted competition
among themselves or others in the sale or
transportation OF any such article or commodity,
or by which they shall agree to pool, combine
or unite any interest they may have in connec-
ton with the sale or transportation of any such
article or commodity, that its price might in
any manner be affected.
Sec. ?. That any corporation holding q char
ter under the laws of the State of - which
shall violate any of the provisions of this act,
shall thereby forfeit its charter and franchise,
and its corporate existence shall cease and ter
inmate.
Sec 3. For a violation of any of the provisions
of this act by any corporation mentioned herein,
it shall be the duty of the Attorney-Gener or
district or county attorney, or either of them,
upon his own motion. and without leave or
der OF any court or judge, to institute suit or
quo warranto proceedings in - county at
- or at the county seat Of any county in the
State where such corporation exists does bust
ness or may have q domicile. for the forfeiture
of its charter, rights and franchise, and the dis
solution OF Its corporate existence.
Sec. T. Every foreign corporation violating
any OF the provisions OF this act is hereby de-
MED the right and prohibited from doing any
business within the State and it shall be the
business Of the Attorney General 10 enforce this
provision by injunction or other proper proceed
inss in the district court of - county, in the
name Of the State of
Sec. 5. Any violation Of either or all the pro-
visions OF this act shall De and :, hereby de-
clared a conspiracy against trade, and any per
son who may be or may become engaged in any
such conspiracy or take part therein, aid or ad-
wise in its commission, who shall, as principal
manager, director, agent, servant or employe,
or in any other capacity, knowingly carry out
any of the stipulations, purposes, prices, rates
or orders hereunder, or in pursuance there
Of shall be punished by a fine OF not less than
$50 nor more than 5000 and by imprisonme Mt
IN the penitentiary not less than one nor more
than ten years, or by either such fine or i'm
prisonment. Each day during violation OF
this provision shall constitute a separate Of
fense.
Sec. g. In any indictment for any ofense
named in this act it is sufficient to state the
purpose effect of the trust or combination,
and that the accused was member of, acted
with or in pursuance o. it, without giving its
name or description, or how, when or where it
was created.
Sec. I. In prosecutions under this act it
shall be sufficient to prove that a trust or COM
bnation as herein described existed and that
the defendant belonged to it or acted for or
connection with it without proving all the
members belonging to, or providing or pro
ducing any article of agreement or any written
instrument on which it may have been based,
or that it was evidenced by any written instru-
ment at ALL The character OF the trust or COM
pinatiOn alleged shall be established by proof
of ita general reputation as such
SEQ. s. Persons out OF the State may commit
and be liable to indictment and conviction for
committing any OF the ofenses enumerated in
this act, which do notI this commission neces-
~, lie Ceota
the object being to reach and punish all persons
offending against its provisions, whether within
or without the State.
Sec. g. Each and every firm, person or cor
poration or association of persons who shall in
any manner violate any of the provisions of the
act shall for each and every day that such
violation be committed or continued forfeit and
pay the sum Of So which may be recovered in
the name of the State of in any county
where the offense is committed or where either
OF the offenders reside or in - county, and
It shall be the duty Of the Attorney General OF
the district or the county attorney TO prosecute
for and recover the same; provided, that the
subject matter OF the conspiracy shall be within
the State and affected by the wrong herein con-
demned.
Sec 10. That any contract or agreement in
violation of the provisions of this act shall be
absolutely void, and not enforceable either in
law or equity
Sec H. That the provisions hereof shall be
held cumulative Of each other and OF all other
laws in any way affecting them now in force in
this State.
Sec. IL. The provisions Of this act shall not
apply to agricultural products or livestock
while in the hands Of the producer or raiser.
Sec. 13. This act shall take effect and be in
force from and after its passage
The bill was adopted by the following
vote: