Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-04-25
IN THE SENATE.
Antitrust BIZ Reported Favorably,
with Amendments-Proco


Austin, Tex, April 24-The majority
OF the special committee appointed to
consider the antitrust bill reported It
back, with the recommendation that II
be passed with a number OF amend
ments.
Senators Smith and Dibrell made a
minority report
The Mitchell fish and oyster bill was
| taken up as a special order, amended
| and passed under suspension of the
rules.
on motion Of Senator Sheriff house
bill to adopt the new criminal code
| was taken up and passed.
on motion of Senator Steele the SEN
ate concurred in house amendments to
the senate bill, fixing the compensation
Of assessors and collectors.
on motion OF Senator Lewis the anti
trust bill was taken up. with the two
reports from the special committee
Senator Rogers moved that the ma
jority report be adopted.
Senator Beall of the majority of the
committee said he had understood that
the special committee was appointed
for particular purpose. He had been
the first to declare on the floor of the
senate that he did not believe one class
should be given the right of comblna-
ton that was denied TO others, and
when he went into the committee and
voted with senators who had here
tofore been with the minority to amend
the bill in way that made 1t dis
tasteful to him personally, because
he thought the constitutionality OF the
matter had been eliminated by the
supreme court decision, and he WINS
willing to waive his preference and
voc for an amendment that he thought
would make the bill acceptable to the
senate.
He thought the supreme court had
decided the matter after mature de-
liberation, and that II the question
was ever presented to It directly 1t
would hold to the same opinion. As n
question OF eXpedlency he was now In
favor of the amendment; they would
not affect the bill materially for good
or III, and the bill MS proposed to be
amended would be better than the law
now upon the statute books. This was
why he voted for the amendments. He
did not indorse them as n matter OF
principle. but voted for them as a
matter of expedlency, to harmonize all
elements and pass the bill.
Senator Colquitt moved as a sub
stitute that the minority report be adj
vocated. The motion was lost.
The majority report was then
adopted.
Senator McComb moved TO amend
the bill by adding after acts" which
are prohibited. the words, "hurtful 10
public interests"
He spoke to his amendment calling
upon the senate TO proceed with care
upon the proposition to make unlawful
certain acts Of individuals which are
not hurtful Of public interests.
Senator LaslIer supported the amend
ment. citing the clearing house as a
combination OF banks that was neces-
sary TO the proper conduct OF business
and which would nevertheless, be un-
lawful under the bill without the
amendment He also gave other prac-
teal illustrations. He thought the
bill n not amended would do more
harm In prohibiting lawful combina-
lions than It would do good by pro-
hibiting unlawful ones. He said this
law was especially aimed at insurance
companies. and yet. although he had
organized and led the fight that ended
IN breaking up their trust, he was
satisfied this bill. while prohibiting
she companies from making regular
rates would cause Generalization that
would be productive OF great harm.
The amendment was agreed TO.
Senator Atlee moved 10 amend by
striking out section . which proposed
70 punish persons who shall commit acts
outside the state which would. y COM
nitted inside the state, be violations
" the provisions OF the law.
Adjourned till tomorrow.