Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-21
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l
RICHMOND, VA, December 20.-The to-
bacconistsi and farmers Of Virginia are at a
fever Of excitement over the passage of a
bill, its race to the Governor and his signing
it. all in the twinkling of an eye, and they
are now claiming that they have been hood
winked into founding the biggest kind Of
trust, though bitter opponents Of trusts.
Yesterday bill was passed by the Legis-
lature Incorporating the American Tobacco
Company. It was not q long bill, and set
forth that:
Louis Ginter, John Pope, Thomas F. Jefries,
Milton Cayce and James N. Boyd, their asso-
eiates, successors and assignors, are hereby
constituted and declared to be . body polite
and corporate, under the name OF the
American Tobacco Company for the purpose OF
/ turing and selling tobacco In all its forms in
this State OF elsewhere, or both. and Of estab-
| fishing factories, agencies and depots for the
sale and distribution thereof, in this and for
| ing or causing the same to be
| transported, as an article of commerce
such purposes, the company shall have all the
| rights, powers and privileges conferred upon
| corporations by the code Of this Common
wealth, for the period Of so years, and without
| amendment or repeal thereof.
FOUND THEY WERE FOOLED.
| The capital stock of the company was
| fixed at 81. .0O0, 900, with right to increase at
their pleasure. The balance of the bill did
not differ in details from the average char
ters Of incorporation. The measure
passed without discussion. No explanation
OF its intents was vouchsafed, and it was
sent upstairs to Governor Lee, whose
signature would make it law. The mes
senger conveyed it along with number OF
others. He had scarcely left the hall,
when q remarkable buzz was noticed among
the members. First one would hasten hotly
to the desk Of another and whisper some
thing that had the effect OF making the
recipient Of the whisper look up wildly,
and he in his turn would 60 through the
same pantomIme with some other members.
Spectators were puzzled. Finally the
subdued excitement could be subdued no
longer, and delegate rose, his face clammy
with agitation, and proposed that the bill
incorporating the American Tobacco Com
pany be recall ed from the Governor before
he could sign it -
A MOMENT TOO LATE.
The suggestion was carried with who0p.
A member hurried up to the Governors
room and entered Just as the Governor-fin-
ished signing the bill. Tt was now a law.
The messenger rushed back to his col
leagues, and this intelligence demoralized
the body still more, and the Clerk Of the
House so far forgot his head as to suggest
that the Governor be requested to con-
slider that the bill had not been sent
to him. Then there sWas hot denuncia-
ton of the CORPORATION as one Of
the most gigantic trusts of the country It
was announced that bill would be intro
duced to-day for its repeal, and this morn
ing such bill was introduced, after which
the members. adjourned for the Christmas
recess.
In the meantime, the members are in a
tremor. The measure is now alaw which
they have passed, and its provision, as
passed BY them, expressly stipulates that
It shall exist for ''the period of 80
years, and without amendment or repeal
thereof" It is charged that the measure Is
a part Of the great cigarette trust, which
was began in New Jersey, and that all the
great cigarette factories are in the combine,
which will absolutely regulate the price of
tobacco.
CAN'T BE REPEALED.
It is said by leading lawyers that the act
of repeal will be of no effect as during the
Christmas recess the company will or
ganize under its charter, and that they will
successfully resist the bill that seeks to an
null. The incorporators decline to say any
thing IN way OF explanation,
except that the measure is for
the public good. The Legislators
have gone home to a wrathful constituency,
as the Farmers Alliance has spotted this
measure, but their protests came after it
had passed. The incorporators named IN
the measure are some Of the wealthiest and
.,.1.k n.Koav.a1 ,ifizouo of RiahmnUd