The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-29

WILL VOTE FOR IT'S ENAcrmrrr III
III pEvoLvEs ON HIM.
cives Reasons why lie Wants the
Law Placed ON the statute Books
of the state.

Austin, Texas, April ss.--Lleutenant
dovernor j. n. Browning, In a recent let
ter to personal friend thus defined his
position In reference to the anti-trust mn
now pending before the legislature.
Now, In reference to the antitrust bin
tnat is pending in the Legislatures which
you mention. | am candid TO say that
neiieve that measure OF this kind ought
to be enacted Into law. would not
intentionally lnjure my fellow citizens In
any respect, but do not see how we arc
10 set at the great trusts that have ALREADY
been formed and are forming almost every
DAY, with view OF controlling tho prl-rs
OF almost every product Of human skin
and labor, from the piece of chewing rnn
we nuy Tor our children to the steam on
slne that runs upon our railroads. unless
we adopt something drastic and far reaon-
ms. The oil that we burn In our lamps
AZ night, the cigar that we smoke and
the sugar that we use in our coflee and
many other things that | might mention.
you KNOW are all today absolutely manip-
uiated by trusts. Some say that these
before. and 1t may be true, but / do mol
see what q trust is formed for II Il is not
Tor the purpose OF raising prizes higher
or 10 prevent them from going lower.
Whlle have heard Il said by insurance
mon that there Ia no trust, combine or
agreement between Insurance companies
Affecting the rates OF insurance in Texas.
YET am morally pursnaded, by all the
surrounding circumstances. that such ia
"a rto
singularity in one thing. and that is this,
the insurance company with its headquar-
ters In Holland, and the one with its
headquarters Ia London, another In Lly-
erpool, another In Hartford another in
New York and another In Chicago, ali
operated by different agents, should coma
10 exactly tho same opinion as to what
rate ought 20 be charged for insurance
upon a certain building In Texas n there
is no previous agreement or understanding
between them These things may hs- clear
TO You and easily explained. as you are In
tnat business and know all OF It's intrica-
oles and complex problems better than
II they are willing to do business In legit-
mate competition with other comnan,es
doing business In this State. and have no
understanding or agreement nv whlrn
they control rates, then they viii not he
affected by the bill Il It becomes a law,
and the business OF the country need not
be disturbed
| would regret to see good responsible
insurance companies withdraw from this
state, and am pursuaded that they Will /
not II they are not In a trust II seems
to me that II they have heretofore done
business In this State upon legal principles !
OF competition with other companies, en- /
gagged in like business, they Will not be
In rush TO vaeato the field on so trifIing
preteHt as the one they now threaten /
10 act on, and for This reason | think |
you are unnecessarily alarmed.
J favor bill with an amendment that
will require 1t to take effect on the lat day /
OF January. 1900. That Will he a suffsient
time for those who are engaged4l trusts
or combines and are not willing to aban- I
don II and conform to this law, to withdraw
from the state, and the business Of the
country can adjust Itself to the change
My purpose Is TO favor such legislation
az Will have the effect OF stopping the
trust business altogether 1t matters not
what kind Of price, commodity or business
It controls. would regret to see You
and those that have labored as you have
have their business injured, but can not
agree to permit state OF AFFAIRS to go
On in this state that would allow you and
hose In your business TO mske money at
he expense. and perhaps ruin, OF the great
masses OF the people engaged in other oc-
] think with the amendment
suggested above that these things can be
'econciled and a means OF settlement
worked out that viii be for the benefit
If all parties Interested. have no pollti-
al ambition inspiring me 10 tabe the po-
iiiion that | do, and declare TO you that
am honest when say ! simply desirs
% subserve the best interest OF all the
'eople OF this state. II | could succeed In
tamplng out All the trusts and comblnes
hat seek to make money illogitimntely at
Inc expense OF the people generally. I
would be willing to forever retire from
'ublic life. ! have no other desire than to
10 my duty.
We have National and State anti-trust
avs already and you must admit that so )
ar they have wholly failed 10 arrest tho :
vii which they were intended to stop.
vii state further that have no feeling
{ malice against any one or desire TO In.
ure any persons business / believe that
on VIII admit that the tendency OF my
ublic life heretofore has betn on a line
[ trying TO better the people Of all classes
ather than injure them, and II thought
hat this ANTITRUST bill would ultimately (
all to bring good to the people. would ,
OF support IT, il is possible, however,
hat | will have no actual vote upon the
uestion, as | only have a vote when tile ,
er ate is equally divided on proposition.
ut this will indicate how VIII vote IL Il
ONES TO the test