The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-27
ANTITRUST LAWS IN MISSOURI.

| AN l. RUS CfWS IN ~ 1871 NJ
| The promoters and commissioners of
| the ST Louis Exposition are seriously
| embarrassed by the antitrust laws of the
state of Missouri These laws were es-
pccially aimed atstfle insurance companies
and were so severe and exacting that
many of the largest companies, having
been subjected to heavy fines, withdrew
altogether from the State and refused
TO do business in that territory. The
companies which have withdrawn now
positively decline to re-enter the State
for the purpose of protecting the exhibits
at the exposition, and the companies
which are still fighting the laws in the
state decline TO assume the entire risk.
This is a serious menace to the exposi-
ton ana the commissioners are now urg-
ing the insurance companies to come to
hibits are not insured exhibitors will de-
cline to place their valuables in such jeo-
pardy and that the success of the expo
sition viii be materially affected.
These statements come from a New
York correspondent and we take them to
be correct.
Il am surprised" a director in New
York Of ono of the largest insurance
companies is quoted as having said in
connection with the st. Louis situation,
that such strenuous efforts should be
made to invite the fire insurance COM
panies to do business in Missouri. Only
{, short time ago when the lawmakers
were working over time pounding the
companies it was declared that all insu-
rance companies We're octopuses and were
a barnacle upon the ship of state. They de-
clared that We could all so from them
and they would never miss us, and act
ing in this frame of mind they construct
ed the most wonderful laws ever con-
ceived.
1T forced Us to withdraw or to re-
trench and now that we have accepted
the hint which was given with such vehe-
,nence we are naturally inclined to ex-
hibit surprise at their entreaties to come
back again. We may not go back, but
this will unquestionably have a good eff
feet upon other States which have been
inclined to wholesale legislation against
evils which do not exist. Missouri has
lost thousands of dollars in taxes by her
unjust legislation, and now should a con-
dagration occur in her prominent cities
she would have another strenuos object
lesson which Will add additional weight
to the remarks made before her lesisla-
tive committees by the attorneys for the
insurance companies at the time this leg
islation was proposed
We are not familiar with the laws of
Missouri and we do not know anything
about the circumstances under which
these companies were driven out. But
it is nevertheless a fact that in making
war on the insurance companies the law
makers OF Missouri did succeed in send
ing a number of prominent insurance
companies away, and we doubt if there
are any compensating results. Corpora
tons should be regulated by law, for
they are the creatures of law. But the
trouble with all these antitrust move
ments is that they are apt to so too far
and defeat their own ends If the laws
of any State are so stringent as to make
it Improbable and undesirable for large
corpora tons to do business there. the
corporations will be sure to keep out.