The Portland daily press., 1890-05-02
DECLARES TRUSTS UNLAWFUL.
The Senate Bill Passes the House
With One Dissenting Vote.


WASHINGTON, May .1.-Mr. Mckinley,
from the committee on rules, reported to the
House today resolution for the immediate
consideration of bills reported from the ju-
dietary committe, in the following order:
The Senate bill relating to trusts; the House
bill relating to copyrights the House bill relating
TO bankruptcy, and such other bills as the com.
mite may call up, this order to be in force today
and tomorrow.
The previous question was ordered and
the resolution adopted. The House proceed
ed to consider the Senate bill to protect trade
and commerce against unlawful restraints
and mOnOpolieS.
Mr.. Morse Of Massachusetts, inquired
what effect the bill would have upon manu-
facturers of proprietary articles who fixed
their own price.
Mr.. Culberson of Texas, replied that in his
opinion, II the gentleman from Massachu-
settS sold his Rising Sun Stove Polish to a
retailer under contract that the retailer
should sell at a fixed price and receive
commission, this contract would be in re-
straint of trade. 1t was difficult to tell just
what contracts were embraced in the pro-
visions of the bill.
Mr.. Butterworth of Ohio. inquired wheth-
er the bill would operate against Chicago
ilrm which furnished meat to a butcher un-
der contract to sell at a fixed price, and sub
sequently set up another butcher with au-
thority to sell at lower price to freeze out
the first.
Mr.. Culberson thought it would, but that
was question to be decided by the courts.
and state legislatures would do their duty
and supplement that legislation, the COM
blnations dev0uring the people of the
country would be crushed out The states
were powerless unless Congress would take
charge OF trade between the states.
of OFF
ment making unlawful any contract or agree
ment to prevent competition in the sale or
purchase OF any commodity transported
from one state to another. After long de-
bate. Mr.. Bland's amendment was adopted
on uiuG voce vote, and the bill passed in
the same manner with single dissentonist
vote.
The y bill declares to be illegal every con-
Or otherwise, or conspiracy cl1o in r restraint Of
trade or commerce among the several states,
Or with foreign countries. 1t provides that
every person who shall make any such con-
'ract or engage in such construction or con-
,piracy shall be deemed guilty of a misde-
neanor, punishable by fine or Imprisonment,
)r both. The same punishment is prescrib-
ID for persons convicted of m0nopOliZing, or
to monupolize any part of trade
1r commerce among the several states or with
foreign nations. Trusts or conSpiracieS
IN restraint of trade or commerce in the ter
ritories or the District of Columbia are de-
clared unlawful. The property of trusts, in
from one state to another or
to foreign country, is subjected to forfeit
ure to the United States. Persons injured
by trusts are given power to sue and recover
threefold the damages sustained. The
adopted reads:
Every contract or agreement entered into for
the purpose of preventing competition in the sale
or purchase of any commodity transported from
state or territory for sale in another or to pre-
vent competition Of persons or property from one
state or territory into another shall be deemed
provided that the contracts here enum-
Grated shall not be construed to exclude any 9TH
er contract or agreement declared unlawful in this
act.
Mr.. Adams of Illinois called up the inter
national copyright bill and proceeded to ex-
plain its provisions He said it would be
necessary to adopt some purely formal
amendments to perfect the intent of the bill.
Under its terms, the American people would
get literature of the best class cheaper than
at present and would also enlarge the privi-
legeS of American authors
After a short debate. without acting upon
the bill, the House at $40 adjourned.