The evening times., 1899-01-09
CITIZENS OF NEW JERSEY
ALARMED BY THE TRUSTS
MAKING WAR ON sYND1cATEs
Bill Prepared Declaring Them I'm
lawful and a Prevention of
Trade Competition.

New York, JAN 9.-New Jersey, the
home of trusts, may soon go on record as
the first State in the Union to take virle
and positive action against their operation
The favorable laws of New Jersey have
long encouraged the creation of great cap
ltallsuc enterprises, and annually hun
dreds of thousands of dollars have been
poured into the State treasury as fees
by men OF millions for the privilege of
incorporation. Recently. however, it has
become apparent that New JERSEYS rich
| est industries and franchises are to be
| grasped by a moneyed giant which she
| herself has created.
The daily news of the progress made by
! gas and electric, power and heating syn
| dicates has spread alarm, and citizens of
| the State have decided TO act. They be-
| lieve that the profits accruing to the State
| from the creation OF trusts are trivial
in comparison to the riches which the lat
ter are taking to themselves, and that
| something must be done to curb them.
For this purpose committee of citizens
has presented to Assemblyman John Sturr
| OF Paterson, a comprehensive antitrust
bill, and he agreed on Saturday TO intro
duce and urge ii at the session of the
State legislature, which begins On Tues
day. Other assemblymen and senators
have been seen, and the trainers OF the
measure have received such assurances of
support that they anticipate its passage.
The act defines trusts, and provides for
penalties, civil damages and punishment
CT corporations firms and associations. or
persons connected with them and is de-
signed 10 promote free competition in
business affairs. 1t defines trust as q
combination of capital, skill. or acts by
persons or corporations for these purpos-
es: To create or carry out restriction of
trade; to limit or reduce production or
increase or reduce the price of merChan-
disc or any commodity: to prevent com
petition in making, transportation sale Or
purchase OF merchandise, produce or any
commodity; TO tiX any standard wheleoy
the price Of merchandise shall in any way
be controlled or established
Every such trust is declared unlawful
against public policy and void For the
enforcement of the law il is provided that
quo Warranto proceedings may be taken
Any foreign corporation violating the law
is 10 be denied the privilege OF doing bust
ness in the State Such violation is de
clared a conspiracy against trade and any
person who shall as principal, manager.
director, agent or servant or in any 9th
er capacity. knowingly carry cut any OF
the purposes Of such trusts or furnish any
information to assist in carrying out any
such purposes shall be fined not less than
$50 nor more than s. UC0 or be imprison-
ed for not less than six months nor more
than one year, or be punished By both fine
and Imprisonment.
Each days violation by each person is
TO be constituted d separate offense sep
arately punishable in the manner pre-
scribed. II is sufficient under the act TO
prove that a trust. as defined exists and
that defendant belonged TO or acted with
it.
The character Of the trust NAV be estab-
lished by proof OF its general reputation
II is provided also that any contract or
agreement in violation of the proposed
act shall be absolutely void and non-en-
forceable in law or in equity.
In addition any person who shall be in
jured either in business or property BY
any violation OF the act shall be entitled
to sue and secure double the amount of
the damages sustained and the costs of the
litigation.