The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1900-02-23
The Cox Antitrust Bill,

House on 18th inst, Ly a vote OF l0l to ,.
Mr.. Cox made a 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 Lcei-la-
ture OF the State of Mississippi, That Il
trust and combine is a combination, con
tract, understanding, OF agreement, en-
press or implied, between two or more per-
sons, corporations or firms, or associations
OF persons, or between one or more Of
either with one or more of the others:
tal-in restraint of trade;
(bl-To limit, increase or reduce the
price OF a commodity;
(c)-To limit, increase, or reduce the
production or ouput Of "A commodity;
tdl-lntended to hinder competition in
the production, importation, manufacture,
transportation, sale or purchase OF a conf
modify:
lel-To engross or ~forcstall q ccmmod-
ity;
t1-To issue, own, or hold the c%ertifi-
Gates OF stock of any trust or combine;
lgl-To place the control, to any eX-
tent. of business or OF the products and
earning, thereof, in the power OF trustees,
by whatever name called:
th)-By which any other person than
themselves, their proper officers, agents
and employees shall, or shall have the pow.
cr TO, dictate or control the management
OF business; or
Nl-To unite or pool Interests in the
importation, manufacture, production,
transportation, OF price OF a commodity
And is i%nirnical to the pubic welfare,
unlawful and a criminal conspiracy.
Sec. =. Any corporation, domestic or
foreign. which hall restrain or attempt
to restrain the freedom OF trade or pro.
d@uction: or which shall monopoiizc On at.
tempt to nIoropolize the production, con
troll OF sale OF any commodity, on the pros.
ccution. management or control OF any
kind, class or description of business; or
which shall engroS9 or tOrcstall, or at
tempt to engrO-s or torestdtl any com
modify: IN which shall destroy or attempt
to destroy competition III the manu;atture
or sale of a commodity, by offering the
same tor sale at 4 price below the regu-
lar market price aid 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,
torfcltures. iudgn ents recoVeile@
herein denounced against trusts and com
bimes, and shall be proceeded against in
manner and form provided in this act in
case OF other trusts and combines.
sec. 3. Every contract or agreement to
enter into or pursue any trust and CON.
binc. and every contract or agreement
made tv another with any trust and com
line. OF with any member OF 4 trust and
combine, tor any purpose relative to the
business OF such trust and combine. Is
void. and cannot be enforced in any court.
Sec. 4. Every corporation winch shall Ge
q trust and combine, or enter into, be con.
ccrned in, or share the profit OF loss OF any
trust and combine. shall forfeit It's charter
and franchise. and, il a 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 i'll the
nature of a writ OF quo w%arranto, or any
other appropriate remedy, upon the rela-
ton Of any person whose rights are III
vadcd or interests threatened by any trust
or combine. Any person or persons who
shall form. constitute or promote, or at
tempt to form. constitute OF promote, any
trust or combine within the meaning OF
thi, act. as principal, director, manager,
agent. or in any other capacity. shall upon
conviction thereof, in addition to other
penalties herein prescribed, be punished
by a fine of not less than one hundred nor
more than five thousand dollars. or by I'M
prisonnent in the county Jail not less
than three nor more than twelve months,
or by both such fine and imprisonment.
II shall be the duty of the several circuit
Judges OF the State to specially call the
attention OF the grand jury Of their re-
s~pective districts to this provision.
Sec. J. No corporation shall directly or
indirectly purchase or own the capital
stock. or any part thereof, of any other
corporation. nor directly or indirectly pur-
chase or in any manner acquire the fran
chi,e. 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. if a domestic corporation,
and. if foreign corporation, shall forfeit it.
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.
Soc & No corporation. domestic or for.
o;on shau cpoogc in any cuisines, not OK.
atthoriled Inv IFS charter. nor fair.
t. ari rogsonubIv incidental 10 the bu.i.
t1,oro;, authorized ANY cornorotion
ntf,pdino AGAINST this provision shall, if