The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-01-27
STRONG ANTI Trust Bill
IMPOSING HEAVY PENALTIES ON
MONOPoLIEs AND COMBINATIONS
IN RESTRAINT OF TRADE
NEW BIENNIAL ELECTION LAW
Anti-Cigarette Measure Likely to
Pass-Lfcense to Be Revoked
for Selling on
Sunday.

MADISON, Wis, Jan. 26.--(Special.)-
Assemblyman Lenroot's antitrust bill Is
one of the most important measures the
legislature will have to consider this
winter. 1t provides that any person at
tempting to mOnopolize, hinder or eIn>
barrass trade or commerce shall be liable
to the person injured for just three times
the damage he may suffer and in addition
such exemplary damages as the jury
may infiict and also be liable to a for
fixture of not less than $50 nor more than
S., 600. The bill gives circuit and superior
courts Jurisdiction to restrain the forma-
ton of trusts, the execution Of the pUr-
poses thereof, or conSinuance OF the
same, Sat the suit of private persons in
jured. It provides that no person shall be
excused from testifying in the suits on
the ground that the testimony given
might incriminate him, but the person
so testifying shall not be prosecuted for
any offense concerning which he may
testify. The bill provides that when it
shall appear that any defendant doing a
commercial or transportation business
has refused to sell or ship merchandise
to any person at the established rates,
or has exacted terms tending to discriIni-
nate against the purchaser, such refusal
shall be priIna facie evidence OF an at
tempt to control trade and commerce.
officers and agents are made personally
liable for violations OF the law.
.
The only bill Of general Importance
which passed either house this week is
the Overlook anti-cigarette bill, which
absolutely prohibits the sale Of cigar
cites, cigarette paper or any substitute
therefor in the state. It went through
the assembly under suspension of the
rules with only two votes in opposition.
and the author of the bill expresses con-
f1dence that it will become a law next
week.
Assemblyman A. r. Halls bill creating
| a state railway commission, with power
to control all rates, IS less radical in
some Of its parts than his former bills
of the same kind. Mr.. Hall thinks that
there Is a good chance Of getting the
present bill enacted into law, and is pre-
pairing for g. hard fight for 1t before
the committees. 1t is said the bill will
have the support Of the Milwaukee cham
Der of commerce, which recently made
vigorous protest through Railroad Gem
missioner Rice against alleged discrimi>
nation In grain rates in favor of Chica-
go. and also Of several dairy associations
which claim that It costs more to put
Wisconsin dairy products into Chicago
than it does to send them from Chicago
to New York.
Senator GREEN'S bill to prohibit COM
binations of fire insurance companies OF
their agents for the purpose Of fixing
rates and commissions, is likely to bring
out a strong lobby from the milwaukee
board Of fire underwriters and other SIM
ilar organizations which will be deprived
of their main excuse for existence If IT
becomes a law. It will, however be
strongly supported by the large insurers,
and it Is also probable that 1t will have
some support from the non-board com,
panies which are now writing risks In
dependently OF the boards Of fire I'M
derwriters.