Arizona republican., 1901-12-18
THE TEXAS TRUST LAW
Charters Forfeited and Vast
 Penalties Imposed
State Convictions of Breweries Begin ming of Wholesale Litigation. Proceedings to be Begun Against Favored Corporations.

Austin, Tex, Dec. 1.-The antitrust act which was passed by the Texas legislature in 1899 is being rigidly en- forced by Attorney General C. K. Bell and the district and county attorneys. No effort was made to enforce the law until a few weeks ago, but since thar time many suits against members of alleged trusts have been instituted. Convictions were obtained against ten brewing companies for alleged violation of the antitrust act. All of the brew cries in Texas, seven in number, and three breweries or other states belonged to the trust Each had it's charter 70 do business in Texas forfeited and pen alties aggregating s97,5O0 were collected. The seven domestic breweries have all reorganized and been granted new charters. but the three foreign concerns are not permitted to resume business in Texas.
 Similar proceedings have been insti- tuted in the district court here against the Master Plumbers Association of Texas. There are about thirty mem bers of this organization, and each member is made party to the suit. They are sued for penalties aggregdt- ing S63. coo. GOO for alleged violation o: the antitrust act.
 
 house company of Fort Worth has been sued for the same offense, and penalties are demanded aggregating S150.o09. Other suits are against the Transcon- tinental Compress company of Paris. Tex, to forfeit its charter and for pen alties aggregating s4S0.OO0: the Green vile Compress and Warehouse com pany of Grecnville, Tex, for forfeiture of its charter and for penalties aggre- gating s4S0.0 .000 and the Central Texas Compress company of Temple. Tex, for forfeiture of it's charter and for penal ties aggregating s330. 900. George Me Fadden of Philadelphia, Pa. is at the head of each of these companies. The John H. Kirby Lumber company of Houston, which was organized sev- eral months ago for the purpose of con trolling the yellow pine lumber business of east Texas. has also been sued in the district court here for alleged violation of the antitrust law This suit is more notable than any of the others on ac- count of the political circumstances which surround it. When the company was organized its charter and proposed plan of operation were approved by At torney General Bell. It has a capital stock Of s10.Oc0. GOO. and its principal stockholders are John Fl. Kirby of
 
 i (Mass.) capitalists. The suit filed against it seeks to have it's charter for feited and to recover penalties aggre- gatfng S770. eco Attorney General Bell declined to become a party to the bringing of the suit and the proceedings were instituted by District Attorney Warren Moore. Governor Savers and several state officials of Texas recently participated in a banquet in Houston. given in honor of MT. Kirby's success in forming this big company. which is now alleged to be n trust.
 The business and manufacturing ele- ment of Texas are greatly aroused over this warfare which has been started against capital by the state authori- ties. and the question of repeating the existing anti-trus act will be an important issue in the coming state campaign. It is known that Attorney General Bell and district and county at torneys throughout the state are pre- pairing to institute a large number Of other suits and the conservative busi- ness men of the state are much alarmed.
 There is provision of the antitrust act which gives anyone who pays member of . trust money or anything of value the right to sue and recover the same. Several suits of this char acter have already been filed against the brewing companies which were re- gently convicted. The parties bringing these suits are saloon men. who are seeking to recover from the breweries money which they paid for beer during the three years that the trust was in existence. If these suits are successful it means the confisca ton of practically all the properties of the brewing com panies in Texas.
 RICH PRIESTS WILL FOUND.