Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-17
A NEW ANTITRUST BILL
1T WILL REQUIRE THE BRANDING
OF GOODS.
Agreement of the Special Subcom.
mittee of the House Ju-
dietary Committee,

The special subcommittee on trusts of
the House Judiciary Committee at late
hour yesterday agreed upon a new anti
trust bill in effect as follows:
First. Requiring 1.-THE branding or marking
of trust-made goods shipped out of state,
so as to be easily identified as the product
of trust.
Second. Prohibiting the interstate traf-
fic of trust-made goods not so branded, and
making them subject to seizure and con-
domination.
Third. Requiring corporations having
capital over $1.OO0,0CO or doing an annual
business Of 100000, to file a report of
their affairs with the Secretary of State.
Fourth. Providing the process of injunc-
ton against combinations sending trust
made goods from state to state or to for
eign countries.
Fifth. Prohibiting the use of the mails to
concerns and their officials proven to be
trusts.
Chairman Ray of the judiciary committee
and Of the special subcommittee on trusts
gave out the following summary Of the
measures:
1.-THE subcommittee of the committee on
the judiciary today agreed to a report to
the full committee proposed constitution
al amendment, which provides that Con-
gress shall have power to define regulate,
control, prohibit or dissolve trusts, monop-
olies or combinations, whether existing in
the form OIL Il COipOfdtlOH OF OtneTWlSe, anu
which further provides that the several
states may continue to exercise such power
in any manner not in conflict with the laws
of the United States.
1.-The necessity for this amendment grows
out of the fact that it is held by the Su-
preme Court of the United States that
manufacture and production are no part
of interstate commerce and cannot be
reached under the interstate commerce
clause of the Constitution, even though mo-
nopoly in manufacture indirectly affects or
controls such commerce. Therefore, mo-
nOpoly In manufacture is not reStrainable
by Congress even when 1t controls the out
put of an article of necessity to all the peo-
pie in all the states and fixes the price at
will.
Another measure amends the act of July
2, 1890, being an act to protect trade and
commerce against unlawful restraints and
monopoly, and known as the Sherman act.
The proposed bill increases the penalties
fixed by that act, and adds thereto five new
sections. The new sections relate to pro-
ducing and manufacturing corporate and
associations organized managed for the
purpose of controlling monOpoliZing
manufacture or production or conducting
their business as to mOnopoiZe manufac
ture. 1t provides that corporations and as
SOciatfonS organized and carrying on bust
ness for such a purpose shall mark goods
shipped without the state in which pro-
duced. and that the same shall not be trans
ported or carried without such state when
not so marked either upon the goods them
selves, the package containing same or the
in which shipped.
Articles of commerce not marked may be
seized and condemned when made a part
of interstate commerce. 1t is further pro-
vided that corporations and associations or
ganiZed with having a capital stock of
one million dollars or over, doing bust
ness of one million dollars or over per an
mum, shall, before being permitted to trans
port their product into any other state or
territory, file with the Secretary of State
OF the United States a report making sub
stantially the same showing now required
OF railroad and steamship companies en-
gagged in interstate commerce.
ut further provides that corporations ana
associations formed carrying on their
business for the Illegal purposes aforesaid
may be restrained from carrying on inter
state or foreign commerce, and also pro-
vides that when such corporations or as
sociations are ad5udgtd Illegal within the
meaning of the act. ii and its officers and
members shall be prohibited the use of the
mails in aid of their Illegal designs Pen
alties are imposed for violations of the
act, and jurisdiction is conferred upon the
circuit and district courts, and it is made
the duty of the Attorney. General and of
the several district attorneys of the United
States to institute all proceedings, civil and
CRIMINAL. necessary to prevent or punish
violations Of the act, which is to take effect
June 80 1900