The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-24
WHAT A TRUST" IS IN KANSAS
An Elaborate Definition es a Preface
for Law

The senate yesterday afternoon pass
ed Senator F'arreley's bill defining and
prohibiting trusts. The vote stood % to
The definition of trust, as contained
in the bill, is as follows:
A trust is a combination of capital,
skill, or acts, or two or more persons,
firms, corporations, or associations of
persons, or either two or more of them
for either, any or all of the following
purposes:
To create or carry out restrictions in
trade or commerce or aids to commerce,
or to carry out restrictions in the full
and free pursuit of any business auth
oriZed or permitted by the laws of this
state.
To increase or reduce the price of
merchandise, produce or commodities,
or to control the cost or rates of insur-
ance
To prevent competition in the manu-
facture, making, transportation, sale or
purchase of merchandise, produce or
commodities, or to prevent competition
in aids to commerce.
To fix any standard or figure whereby
its price to the public shall be, in any
manner, controlled or tablished, any
article or commodity of merchandise,
produce or commerce intended for sale,
use or consumption in this state.
To make or enter into or execute or
carry out any contract, obligation or
agreement of any kind or description by
which they shall bind or have to bind
dispose of or transport any article or
commodity, or article OF trade, use,
merchandise commerce or consumption
below a common standard figure or by
which they shall agree in any manner
to keep the price of such article, COM
modify or transportation at liked or
graded figure, or by which they snail
in any manner eSta bliSh or settle the
price of any article or commodity or
transportation between them or them
selves and others, to preclude a free
and unrestricted competition among
themselves or others in transportation,
sale or manufacture of any such article
or commodity, or by which they shall
agree to pool, combine or unite any in
terest they may have in connection
with the manufa cture sale or transport
tation of any such article or commodity
that its price may in any manner be af-
fected. And any such combinations are
hereby declared to be against public
policy, unlawful and void.
The bIh provides that the attorney
general, or county attorney of any
county, shall institute action against
any. corporation, firm or association vi
olating the provisions of the act, and
that such corporation, firm or assOcia-
ton shall be prohibited from doing bus
mess within the state. In addition, such
or, punishable by fine of not less than
800 or more than $1,000, or imprison-
ment in the county jail not less than 30
days or more than six months.
Senators Lewelling and Helm offered
the only opposition to the bill, both
claiming that the definition of a trust
would apply to labor organizations.
Senator Farreley held to the contrary,
stating that labor organizations We're
formed for fraterna1 reasons, and not
for the purpose of debating prices, and
that the provisions of the bill were not
aimed in any way at such organiza-
lions. He also said that he was certain
no court would place such a construc-
ton on them. The bill passed unchang-
ed,