The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-02-19

Mr.. Wright's new bill. reporter ny tno con-
m;,.sa nv a vota ~ r 70 3. forbids any person
! to monopolize or attempt to monopolize any
part Of the trade or commerce OF this State to
the injury Of the people or to combine or con-
spire with any other person OF persons "
monopolize any part of the trade or COM
merce of this State to the injury OF the peo-
pie under very heavy penalties.
This provision is of course aimed at the
American Tobacco Company, since the clamor
is that it has monopolized the purchase and
manufacture of a certain grade of tobacco.
But the bill takes in oil persons. 1t applies 10
John Smith. conducting q grocery business
on Broad street. as we'll as TO the American
Tobacco Company, conducting its business.
We understand the word "monopolizing
TO mean in the bill getting substantially an
exclusive control Of q particular business
Now John Smith is struggling with all ms
might to rise 10 tie head Of his branch Of busi-
ness. lie Is buying his stock at the lowest
possible price, and he IS marking 1t down as
far az lie can to a price belowt hstat which MS
rival is selling. He - trying TO drive his rIVal
out Of the market, and if be can do 80 he VIII
'monopolize" the business. aud thereby IN
lure that rival. Further. ifyouteH John smith
he is forbidden to buy as cheaply as he can and
undersell his rival. you will take from him all
incentive 10 business and he viii close MS
store. DO you understand. Mr.. Wright, wheh
Won forbid any person 70 m~onopohze a pusi-
ness. or 70 attempt 20 monopolze II. that you
are deatroving all business in Virginia; lou
are not hitting the American Tobacco Com
panv only. you are hitting every merchant IN
virginia. So much for that part Of the section
which forbids any one person to monopol%e'
or attempt TO monopolize. . business.
The same section forbids any two or more
nersons TO enter into an agreement by when
tbev may together m%onopolize a business to
the iniurv of the people. DO you understand
Mr. wright. that this is a deadly blow at all
mercantile partnerships? Every mercantile
nartpership IS struggling with all its might TO
get to tho head of its particular branch OF
business. 1t is buying as cheaply as
IL can and trying to underseH It's
rival. If successful it will "monopolize' the
business. and thereby injure its rival. The
mariners are constantly conferrlng together
lAaAN
and agreeing on the price that they will pay
for what they buy. and the price they will set
upon what they sell. There are agreements
between them which aim at running their
rivals out of the business. and getting a mo-
nopoly of it for themselves. They are agree
ments between persons aimed at monopoly.
and are therefore forbidden by Mr.. Wriehts
new bill. DO You understand, Mr.. Wright
that If you pass your bill you will break up
all mercantile partnerships;
You must be more particular. Mr.. Wright
in defining the %monopolies you aim at. You
must not fire this way in the flock. There
be monopolies" and 'monopolles." Some
'monopolies' are bad. others are good. and
YOU must not confound them together and
condemn them all alike. 1t will not do for
you to say you condemn only those monopo-
lies which injure the people. When John
Smith runs his rival out Of business he Injuries
his rival. When the partnership runs Its rival
partnership out of business 1t Injuries al the
members of that partnership. Every mo-
nopoly. though it might be q most blessed
one. Injuries some of the people.
We ind we have not space enough for what
we proposed to say on Trusts" We Will try
and take a shy at them tomorrow.