The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-21
SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORT
MADE To SENATE ON PROPOSED
ANTITRUST LAW.
Against the Proposition to Exempt
Fire Insurance Companies from
Its Provisions.

Austin, Texas, April 2o.--The following
is the report made by the special commit
tee appointed by the senate to hear In.
terested parties on the antitrust bill:
Hon. j. H. Browning, President OF the
Senate:
Austin, Texas, April 2o--Your special
committee appointed on senate bill No.
1913 tthe antitrust bil) to hear arguments
and consider the protests of the business
mon OF Texas have had the same under
consideration and beg leave TO report that
we have held four open sessions OF the
committee, to which sill persons interested
have been welcome we have heard argu'
mnts from many Of the leading business
men OF the State together with arguments
from able lawyers and prominent citizens
nearly all OF whom oppose certain features
OF the bill and recommend certain amend
ments. Judge Reagan was the only man
who appeared before the covlmittee, either
upon invitation or Voluntarily, who *
pressed himself In favor Of the measure,
We understand II TO be our duty as
sworn members of the senate, abiding the
the teachings OF It's leaders, 10 suppress
all kinds OF trusts, pools and combinations
in restraint of legitimate competition ~
business within this state, and this We
are determined to do so far as the power
within Is lies. Attorneys representing
FIRE Insurance companies in this state TO-
gether with many good, patriotic nlon.
ts0Yn
mend an amendment 10 the pending bill
as Il relates TO hre insurance, limiting It's
declarations against trusts and pools 10
these formed within this State or TO those
formed without this State which are IN
tended TO affect or control the rate OF pre-
MUM within this state. They have de'
MED before the committee that the insur'
ance companies in Texas are within
pool or trust here for the regulation Of
premium rates but frankly admit that
they are In such pools In other States, and
contend that the Texas legislature can not
prevent such combinations IN otner states
and have no right to complain Of what Il
done there. II is the opinion OF thls com
mittee that no such amendment 40 sug
gested should be made TO the pending bill
we believe that the Texas legislature has
| power TO prevent any foreign corporation
| from doing business In Texas at all. or, II
granted the privilege to dc business In
| this State, that the legislature hss Iuil
power to say upon what conditions ano
| terms It shall be done,
| While II may be true that II Is nont
| of our concern about what kind Of pooh
and trusts in this regard other States Of
the Union may permit, 1t Is also true that
! IL we permit insurance companies 10 con-
1 troll the business OF Texas which are ir
pool In some other State OF the Union, II
| is easy to see that by some tacit under
standing or inexplainable concert between
them that will be the basis OF operation
/ by them in this State, and that without
! any special or expressed agreement or I'M
| Outstanding within this State, or In reia'
| tion to the business OF this state such az
| will require a court tn visit upon them
| the penalties provided for In this act.
| We believe that the withdrawal from
| this State OF the fire insurance companies
doing business here without some previous
arrangements for others to take theii
places would be extremely detrimental e
the business interests OF Texas, for there
can be no doubt that FIRE Insurance forrnf
q large part OF the basis OF credit OF ouf
people. We are told that IRE insurance
| companies will withdraw from the stats
II this bill passes without amendment. VIZ
should regret TO see them take this course
II they are not In a pool or trust or any
combination. such az Is described In this
bill. they are certainly not affected by ~
and II they are covered by II. then we zee
no reason for excusiug them from It's PEN
alties They may be able 70 create some
commercial disturbance. but II is certain
iy better TO have commercial disturbance