Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-02-14
Antitrust Bill.


The bill introduced into the Leg
islature by Mr.. Burton, declaring trusts
and combinations in restraint of trade
unlawful, came up for consideration
yesterday. The bill provides:
That all arrangements, contracts,
agreements, trusts or combinations be-
tween persons or corporations made
with view, or which tend to prevent
full and free competition in the impor-
tation, transportation or sale of articles
imported into this State, or in the
product, manufacture or sale of articles
of domestic growth or product or do
nestle raw material, or for the loan or
use of money, and all arrangements,
contracts, agreements, trusts OF cOmbi-
nations between persons or corpora
tions designed or which tend to adj
vance, or to control the cost to the con-
sumner of any such articles, or which
tend to advance or control the rate of
interest for the loan or use of money
to the borrower, are hereby declared to
be against public policy, unlawful and
void.
The bill fixes heavy fines for the vlo-
lation of the law by any person eithSr
on his own account or as agent or
attorney for another, or as &n officer,
agent or stakeholder Of any corporation,
or as trustee, committee, or in any
capacity whatever, also provides that it
shall be the duty of the county attor-
ney of each county, and the sheriff and
all police officers to see that the law is
enforced.
Mr.. Burton took the floor and made
an eloquent speech in support of the
bill. He said:
Il do not profess any originality in
producing this bill. 1t is compiled
from series of bills that have been al
ready introduced in Congress. Section
is well nigh a verbatim copy of bill
introduced by Senator Sherman. The
purpose OF the bill is to 60 to the root
of the evil that is commonly called !
trusts, and that tend to control trade
and prevent competition. 1t would be
a crime under this bill for cattle men
or grain men to enter into any combi- |
nation to say what they shall pay for
cattle and grain. 1t is intended to |
cover the whole commercial field and
to elevate that principle in commerce
which should always be sacredly |
guarded, namely, competition. 1t will
be remembered that about a century
ago the great grievance of our ances-
tors was mOnOpolles of coal, grain and
other articles of necessity. Our fore
fathers fled from country cursed with |
these trusts and founded another gov
eminent on an entirely different prin-
clple. These trusts. "Said Mr. Burton, -
put the limbs of labor in letters and
control the best brain of this country.
The clothes upon your back, the meat
upon your supper table, the sugar in
your cotfee-everything is affected by
these grand aggregations of capital, So
that they have been able to put their
upon the live stock industry
OF this country and reduce the price of
cattle One-half.
Wherever you find the press under
the shadow of one of these mon.
Strous institutions" said Mr.. Burton.
there you find the press crying out
against this bill and other bills of this
nature" and he then read an article
from Kansas City paper setting forth
that John Wanamaker was at the head
Of big combination, having absorbed
forty mercantile establishments. The
paper asserted that nothing could pre-
vent Mr.. Wanamaker from operating
such combination.
Must it be confessed" said Mr..
Burton, shat the people of this coun-
Try are unable to prevent four men
rom controlling the vast cattle indus
Try? Must it be confessed that there
s no way to throttle these vast aggre-
cations of capital?" Mr.. Burton then .
explained the purposes of the bills. He
anticipated that similar law would be ,
enacted in Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa,
illinois and other States. If this was
lone, there would be no dressed beef
combine in twelve months from the :
resent time. Just so sure as these l
trusts and combinations are crime i'm '
he eyes of heaven. so will they be {
made crime in the eyes of the law.
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