Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1900-02-24
The Cox Antitrust Bill.

The Cox Antitrust Bill.
Following is the bill introduced by Hon.
W. NJ Cox, of Prentiss, as it passed the
House on 18th inst, by vote OF l0l to 2.
Mr.. Cox made great speech in eXplana-
ton and advocacy OF the measure:
An act to define trusts and combines,
to provide for the suppression thereof, and
to preserve to the people of this State the
benefits arising from competition in bust
ness.
Section /. BE it enacted by the Lceisla-
ture of the State of Mississippi, That a
trust and combine is combination, con
tract, understanding, or agreement, eX-
press or implied, between two or more per
sons, corporations on firms. or associations
OF persons, or between one on more OF
either with one or more of the others:
(al-In restraint of trade;
(b)-To limit, increase or reduce the
price OF a commodity;
(c)-To limit, increase, or reduce the
production or output OF commodity;
Cd)-lntended to hinder competition in
the production, importation, manufacture,
transportation, sale OF purchase OF a com
modify;
le)-To engross or iorcstall commod,
ity;
O-To issue, own, or hold the certf-
Gates OF stock of any trust or combine;
lg)-To place the control, TO any ey-
tent, of business or OF the products and
earnings thereof, in the power OF trustees,
by whatever name called;
lh)-BX which any other person than
themselves, their proper officers, agents
and employees shall, or Shall have the pow.
CT to, dictate or control the management
OF business or
il-To unite or pool interests in the
importation, manufacture, production,
transportation, or price of a commodity
And is inimica to the public welfare,
unlawful and a criminal conspiracy.
See ,. Any corporation, domestic or
foreign, which .hall restrain or attempt
to restrain the freedom of trade or pro-
duction; Or which shall monopoli2c on at
tempt to monopolize the productions con
troll or sale OF any commodity, OF the pros
ccution, management or control OF any
kind, class or description OF business; OF
which shall cngross or torc,tall, or at
tempt to engross or lorestall any com
modify; or which shall destroy or attempt
to destroy competition in the manufacture
or sale Of a commodity, by offering the
same for sale at price below the legu
lar market price aud also below the nor
nal cost OF production; shall be deemed
and held a trust and combine within the
meaning and purpose OF this act, shall be
liable to all the pains, penalties, fines
torfeitures, judgn ent, and recoyerics
herein denounced against trusts and com
bines, and shall be proceeded against in
manner and form provided in this act in
case of other trusts and combines.
See. 3. Every contract or agreement to
enter into or pursue any trust and com
bine, and every contract or agreement
made by another with any trust and eom-
bine. or with any member OF a trust and
combine, for any purpose relative to the
business of such trust and combine, i
void, and cannot be enforced in any court
Sec. 4. Every corporation which shall be
a trust and combine, or enter into, be cou-
cerned in, or share the profit or loss OF any
trust and combine, shall forfeit its charter
and franchise, and, if foreign corporation,
shall forfeit its right to do business in this
State, 1t is hereby made the duty of the
Attorney General of this State to en-
force this provision by a proceeding in the
nature of writ of quo warranto, or any
other appropriate remedy, upon the rcla-
ton OF any person whose rights are in
vadcd or interests threatened by any trust
or combine Any person on persons who
shall form. constitute or promote, or at
tempt to form. constitute or promote, any
trust or combine within the meaning OF
this act, as principal, director, manager.
agent, or IN any other capacity, shall upon
convection thereof IN addi''on TO other
penaItieS hefeh presclloed' De punished
ny me Of not less IMAM one hundred nor
more thah Ive thousand dollars, or by I'M
pIlsonmeht III the county lalI not less
than three nor more than twelve months,
or ny both such llne ana imprisonment.
1t SNAIL be the duty oil the several circuit
Judges OF the state to specially call the
attention OF the grand jury OF their re-
spectvc districts TO this provision.
See. ,. No corporation shall directly or
indirectly purchase or own the capital
stock, OF any part thereof OF any other
corporation, nor directly or indirectly pur
chase or IN any manner acquire the fran
chise, plant or equipments OF any other
corporation, ii such other corporation be
engaged in the same kind OF business and
be a competitor therein, Any corporation
offending against this provision shall for
felt its charter, ii domestic corporation,
and, if foreign corporation, shall forfeit its
right TO do business in this State and
shall be proceeded against by the Attor.
ney General in manner and form provided
in Section of this act,
Sec. G. No corporation. domestic or for. !
ciqn. shall engage in any business NOT OK.
pressIv authorized bv its charter. nor fair.
" and reasonably incidental to the busi.
ness therein authorized. ANY corporation
offending AGAINST this provision shah if