The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-21
THE ANTI-TRUsT BILL AGAIN.

We nave had ii argued TO AS that III
maintaining that the bill against trusts
which Mr. Wiihcrs has introduced IN the
Senate forbids any agreements between
mercantile partners respecting the con-
duct Of their business, we put too mar
row a construction upon it, But we IN
sist that we do not and that, as draw H.
1t forbids any agreement between any
two persons whatever to do the things
that it forhids.
Its first section reads thus.
"That a trust is a combination Of CAPT
tai skill. or acts by two or more persons,
firms. corporations. or associations, or
persons. or either two or more OF them'
for either. amy. or all of the following
purposes"
Now the language in which this is
phrasod IS as awkward and unsklful as
possible. but. II the bin becomes law
a meaning will have to be put upon 1t
by the courts and but one meaning can
be put upon il. II means to say that IA
trust is a combination between TWO per-
sons or between more than two per-
sons. or between two firms or between
two corporations, or between two asso-
Citations of persons. 10 do the things for
hidden The meaning up TO that point is
perfectly clear, and it forbids any two or
more persons, whether merchants or what
not 20 agree together to do the things
forbidden.
The bin then adds the words cor either
two or more of them These words are
& little confusing. but they certainly
do not have the effect of lessenng any
Of the prohibitions already made. We
suppose they Will be held TO prohibit
person and firm, or a person and a
corporation. or firm and corporation,
etc. TO make any Of the agreement
1t is perfectly plain therefore that II
AIR. Withers' bin becomes "a law any
two persons whatever will Doe forbidden
to agree together 90 do any Of the things
prohibited. Now what are the things
prohibited?
One is TO increase or reduce the price
OF merchandise. produce, or commodities"
Mercantile partners. therefore, are never
to change the prices Of their goods. They
must not raise the prices when the stock
Is short and the demand good nor lower
them when the stock is abundant ana
the demand slack
Another provision is that they shall
not agree together TO fix at any stand
ara or figure whereby its price 10 'he
public may be In any manner controlled
or established any article or commodity
OF merchandise, produce. or commerce
intended Tor sale. or for consumption in
this state" This forblds our merchants
90 pat price upon their goods and
hold IL there although The section just
commented on forbade them TO change a
price after 70 was once established
Another subsequent section iorhids
them TO keep the price of such article.
commodity or transportation at a fixed
or graded figure" which seems 10 10
away with the preceding section ana 80
back to the one first commented on
There are dozen more provisions, but
an OF the same nature.
Now. the irst thing our merchants have
to do Is 10 recognize tho fact that the
bill applies to them. and the second is
that. in its multiplicity OF contradicung
provisions they could never know what
they were permitted 20 do ana what they
were forbidden 70 do but 1t ruins them
IA either case. They should all bcstir
ttemselves. and see that the bill does
not become a law II they can prevent
H. II Will ruin them II 1t does.
one curious provision OF the bill Is
tina, ia Is not to apply TO livestock and
agricultural products In the hands OF the
producer OF raiser. nor shall il be under
stood or construed TO prevent the organ
fzation Of laborers Tor the purpose CT
maintaining any standard OF wages"
Now, II MIR Withers had only added 10
this provision the simple words, nor TO
any other person. corporation. or thing
whatever he would have done the only