The Washington weekly post., 1899-12-12
A Drastic Bill introduced i'm
the Virginia Assembly.
MOST SWEEPING PROPOSITION
Jointly Offered In Both Houses. Is Declares
Trust Products Contrabaud Of Commerce.
and Provides C0nisca ation-Penaifi for
Combine Movements of All kinds-sol.
diers' Home Observation-Disclosures say
They Were Punished for Revolving.
Special 20 The Pos.

4
Richmond, Va, Dec IA sweeping
antitrust bill was introduced in both
branches Of the general assembly to-day.
Mr. Barksdale was its patron in the SEN
ate and Mr.. Gravely In the house.
The bill is drafted after the Texas law,
and has the Endorsement Of William Jen-
nings Bryan. 1t makes any person OF cor
poration entering into or making any con-
nection with any pool or combination, to
control the price OF any commodity, guilty
OF conspiracy TO defraud, and all ANAL
carnations and consolidation however ef-
fected, designed to create trust or mo-
nopoly or to fix prices, are declared un-
lawful
The sale of manufactured articles below
the cost of production for the purpose of
creating monopolies is made a violation
OF the law. The penalty imposed is fine
or from $40 to 5000 per day during the
continuance Of the offense.
Drastic Penalties Provided.
Corporations violating the law shall
forfeit the right to 90 business in the
State and all their charter privileges.
The bill foTbids combinations for boy
cotting with view to contracting or lin
iting trade in any article. Failure to
make affidavit that any corporation has
no connection with a trust forfeits the
corporate franchise.
Articles produced by trusts are made
contraband of commerce in Virginia The
attorney general and Commonwealth 8
attorneys are required to prosecute viola
tors of the law and are to receive for their
services one-fourth Of the penalties re-
covered.
To Investigate Veterans ''CompIaints."
There will be an investigation of the
ofncers of the Confederate Soldiers
Home, just west OF the city, and it prom
ises TO excite much interest.
The senate to-day adopted a resolution,
offered by Mr.. Opie, providing for joint
committee to investigate the affairs of
the institution, as requested in a petition
from several of the veterans, which was
presented on Saturday.
Senator Opie, in offering the resolution,
also submitted a letter from Mai. Nor
man V. Randolph, president of the Sol
diers' Home board, inviting the fullest
inquiry, and requesting that the COM
mittee TO be named attend the meeting OF
the board TO be held at Lee Camp hall.
Wednesday evening. Mai. Bigger. COM
mandant of the home, also invites the
most thorough inquiry.
Capt. Dashiell. one of the five signers
of the veterans petition, was at the
capitol to-day, and made the statement
" soSheaNOi SPit (AAal he, VIII MAI. Gait
and Col. Langley. the two other commits
stoned officers who signed the petition
had been ordered this morning to go out
on the farm and cut off turnip tops,
under the supervision of the negro gar
dener.
Old Soldiers Put TO MeniaI Work.
He further declares that never before
had the veterans been called on to do
this work. and he promptly refused to
obey the order. For this he was placed
under arrest, but left and came to the
capitol to tell his story.
Col Bigger, the superintendent of the
Soldiers Home, was asked if Capt Da-
shells report of the order was correct
He replied that it was.
When asked If this was not the first
instarce Of ordering the veterans to do
this work, he replied that il was the first
time he had wanted them to do il.
The general complaint seems to be that
the food at the home is not properly cook
ed and served, but even to this there
some of the veterans state that every
thing is as it should be, and that Col:
Bigger is tireless in his efforts to do all
that he can for them.
Capt Dashiell was sure that the order
to-day was intended as some sort of pun
ishment for him and his companions for
signing the petition.
The president of the senate, Mr.. Echols.
will probably appoint Senators Tate. or
Pulaski; Gold, of Clark, and Walker, OF
Westmcreland, as the senate contingent
of the joint committee 20 investigate the
Soldiers Home. The two first-named SEN
ators are ex-Confederate soldiers.
New Insurance Measure.
Senator Clayton offered a bill bearing
upon the effect of evidence in suits upon
insurance policies, as TO immaterial ale
cations in the policy. This measure pro-
vides that nc answer to interroSatories
made by an applicant for policy shall
bar the right TO recover, or be used as
evidence unless IL be clearly provided
that such an answer was Willfully faise or
that il is material and induced the COM
panv to issue the policy; or that but for
such answer the policy would not have
been issued and that the agent had no
knowledge of the falsity of the answer.
Senator Jeffries introduced bill to re-
enact section Ga of the code. in relation
to delinuuent lands purchased by the
Commonwealth II provided for the re-
duction Of interest from 10 TO per cent.
Senator Morris objected, as the Supreme
Court was now considering the point. The
bill went over
Mr.. Glass offered a bill TO allow the city
council OF Lynchburg. If II should see MT,
TO increase the salary OF the judge OF the
Corporation Court The bill simply puts
the Judge of the Lynchburg court upon
of other cities OF the Commonwealth.
Senator Mann's resolution in relation TO
appointment of 4 joint committee 10 pass
upon constitutionality of bills before the
bodies OF the general assembly was, at
his request, indefinitely postponed.
school Superintendents Confirmed.
The senate. in executive session. con-
firmed the appointment of the following
school superintendentS: LIE. Wood Bath
County; Peter T. Cowles, James City. and
L. NJ. Smith, Spottsylvania.
New Bills in the House.
The following bills were introduced in
the House:
By Mr.. Epps-For the relie. Of Mrs. Margaret A.
White Of Richmond widow OF Confederate soldier
BY Mr. Parks-To facilitate the construction Of
telegraph lines along and upon the right OF way Of
railroads in the state Of Virginia, anc provide
for condemnation for the right Of way.
BY Mr. PatteFsOn-Giving courts Of Law jursdlc-
ton over suits and lost psst-due bonds EoteS or
other written evidences af debt and enabling said
courts 10 require the party in whose favor the jgdg
Inent may be rendered to execute proper L.dernni-
tying bond before execution is issued
By same-To snnul section 3.27l. OF the eode de-
fning the forms Of demurrer.
Pv Nj GraVeIey-TO provide for pensions TO GER
tain Confederate soldiers sailors ard marines rot
heretofore provided for and increase TIE pensions
authorized.
py Mr. wIlIians-TU snnuI sections l5I7 lsis
aosl and 403 as 10 venre fEcias in felony cases as
"a provide for the sumnoning 5u; twelve men 10
constitute the panel where felony is not pun
ishable by deafh.