Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-11-26
AN ALLEGED DISCOVERY,
states Attorney sssr,e says the Anti.
Trust LAw y voad.


Truss LAw = veid.
In an interview in yesterdays
Times-H Herald States Attorney Searle,
Of this city. il quoted as authority
for the statement that tie Illinois
antitrust law Of 1891 il practically
rendered null and void by an amend
ment passed by the last legislature
and approved June II, last. He
says the amendment on its face
appears to be Of an innocent, il no.
. commendsble nature. but its effect
IL held BY him to be bar to success
ful prosecution Of say violasor of the
antitrust law. The states ATTORNEY
made his investigation and attend.
ant assertion as the result of his con.
nec.ion with q suit in the county
court instituted BY the Lycominy
Rubber company to recover the full
aucunt charged for q bill Of goods
sold to Wright & Barber. Tho Ly-
coming Rubber company is . me N.
Der Of the United States Rubber com.
pany, IL 10 alleged. As stated in
wcdnesdsy's ARGUS. Wright & Bar.
Der. in their defense, charged that
the United States Rubber com puny,
located in New York City. has been
discriminating In favor of those of
its patrons who purchased large
stocks; that there had been unjust
and unreasonable reduction in the
price Of goods to these large pur.
chssers, enabling them to retail :heir
goods at much lower figure and thus
control the trade. The United States
Rabber company had granted this
discrimination in favor OF a Daven.
port firm. which was advertising the
came goods as Wright & Barber at
prices so low that tho Rock Island
firm could not compete without q
loss. Adair Peasants, representing
the plaintiffs, claimed that the ob.
iect Of the trust was to increase
wages.
States Attorney Searle. OF the de.
Tense, said he could not at first COM
preherd the situation, as he had
heard nothing OF the wage combins-
ton proviso. He said he questioned
eight members OF the Legislature ss
TO heir knowledge Of the law, and
each had expressed ignorance Of 1t.
As far rs they knew or could remem.
Der, he said, they told him it had
never been read in the legislature or
voted upon.
There is stipulation in the law to
The effect that any agreement or con.
tract entered into in contravention
to the act shall be declared null and
void, and another immediately fol.
lowing provides tina. any firm max.
ing purchase shall not be held good
for any goods, merchandise or prop
erty bought. "Upon casual reading.
this amendment Would appear to be
favorable to the wage-workers." Mr..
Searle said, "but in reality it is one
OF the most pernioious effects of these
railroad combines and all sorts of
trusts. 1t is the sitting Of legiti-
mate competition BY tsvorlng par.
ticulsr persons at the expense Of
others in the same line OF bus.ness. ~
Hon. William McEniry, represent
alive in the general assembly, was
surprised at the statement made bv
Mr.. Searle. 1t would seem natural
that the states attorney should have
inquired Of Mr. McEniry with ref.
erence to the law; but he did not.
Said Mr.. McEniry to an Argos rep.
resentstive:
al have distinct recollection O!
the bill being before the judiciary
committee, Of which was a mem Der,
and the point made BY Mr.. Searle
Why the bill is practically inopers.
tive was fully discussed. It was the
general opinion Of the committee
that the proviso in the bill did not
materially change the law. The in.
tenticn was 20 provide that mine
operators or other manufacturers
might combine when the purpose
OF the combination was solely for
maintaining or increasing wages. and
II charge was made against a COM
bination for violations Of the law, in
order to take advantage OF the excep-
ticn in the provision, the defendants
would be compelled to show that
their combination existed for the sole
purpose Of maintaining and incress.
ing wages Of employees. The bill was
at length on the floor Of
the house, and was passed by the
members with full knowledge Of ite
contents"