The Van Buren press., 1897-03-20
IT Is A LAW.
Governor Jones Signs the Famous
Antitrust Act, After Hearing the
Objections Of Its Opponents.


Prom the Little Rock Gazette.
Gov. Jones has affixed his signatnr
to the anti trust act and 1t is now law
/ Protests against the bill were hear
l,y the governor from some Of Liffll
/ Rocks wholesale grocers, who argued
that the act placed undue restriction
on trade. Gov. Jones listened patiently
IN the protests and then told thu
] gentlemen that their motives might b
good but that their logic was defective
! He pointed out that the act prevented
combinations whereby the prices OF any
| articles may be increased at the expense
of consumers, and told his callers thai
ne proposed TO effect the strict enforce
Inenf of the new law.
In response 10 requests The Gazette
reproduces in full the anti trust act,
which is now law:
AN ACT TO prevent combinations OF
trusts and corporations In the State Of
Arkansas.
.'Section /. Be it enacted By the
General Assembly Of the State Of Ar
kansas, that from and after the passage
of this act all arrangements, contracts,
agreements, trusts or combinations,
between persons or corporations, made
with a view to lessen, or which tend &c
lessen, full and free competition in the
importation or the sale of articles OF
domestic growth, or of domestic raw
material, and all arrangements, con-
tracts, agreements, trusts or combin-
atoms between persons or corporations
designed, or which tend TO advance,
reduce or control the price or the cost tc
the producer or 10 the consumer of any
such product or article are hereby de.
clared to be against public policy, un-
lawful and void.
Sec. 9. Be it further enacted that
any corporation chartered under the
laws of this state which shall violate the
provisions of this act shall thereby for,
felt its charter and franchise and its
corporate existence. Every foreign
corporation which shall violate the pro
visions of this act is hereby denied the
right to do 50, and is prohibited from
doing business in this state. 1t is here
by made the duty Of the attorney
general of this state TO enforce this pro
vision by due process of law.
"Sec. 3. Be it further enacted tina
any violation of this act shall be deemed
and is hereby declared, destructive o
full and free competition, and con
spiracy against trade, and any person o.
persons who may engage in such con
spiracy shall, as principal, manager
director or agent, or in any othe
capacity, knowingly carry out any 0
the stipulations, purposes, prices, rate
or orders made in furtherance Of sucl
conspiracy, shall, on conviction, b
punished by fine of not less than $50
or more than 81 900, and Imprisonment
in the penitentiary not less than one o
more than ten years, or in the judgmen
of the court by either such fines or sucl
imprisonment.
@Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, tina
the provisions of this act shall not appl
| to agricultural products or live stoc
while in the possession of the produce
or raiser.
Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, tina
any person or persons or corporation
that may be injured or damaged by an
such arrangements, contracts agree
ments, trusts or combination describe
III section | of this act, may sue for an
recover in any court of competent juris
diction in this state of any person O
persons or corporations operating sue
trusts or combination to the fnll consid
GRAFTON or sum paid by him or them fo
any goods, ware, merchandise, or al
ticles, the sale of which is controlled b
such combination or trust
Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, thu
it shall be the duty Of the judges of tn
circuit courts Of this state to special
instruct the juries as to the provision
of this act.
"Sec. Z. Be it further enacted, tn;
all laws and parts of laws in confii'
with the provisions Of this act be an
the same are hereby repealed. -