The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-02-21
TIE ANTITRUST BILL.

Road Law bill. There was a hot
fight against the antitrust bill, and
a number Of amendments were Offer
cd which were calculated to inter
fere with the effectiveness OF the bill;
but they were all killed one after an
OTHER rs they came up by an over
whelming majority. An effort was
made to exempt Farmers and Labor
organizations, but it was shown that
tho bill would remove tho necessity
of the farmers organizing to fight
trusts and combines, and the bill
was passed to it's third reading with
out any exemptions whatever. The
vote standing 73 in favor Of the bill
against 20. Both Mr.. Lyles and Mr..
Little voted for the bill. This bill
has been considered one Of the most
important before the General Assem-
bly, and has caused = great deal Of
discussion.
1t makes it unlawful to form any
kind OF trust or combination Of what
over nature, the object Of which is to
crush out competition and forfeit
ure Of from 5000 to $1,000 is to be
paid by any concern for every day
they violate the law. Each presi-
dent Of every corporation is furnished
with . blank affidavit upon which he
is to make oath that his business has
no connection with trust or COM
bine, effected to control prices or
suppress competition. A failure to
subscribe to tho oath will be taken
as prima facia evidence that the cor
poration or concern is violating the
provisions Of the law, and the pros
ecuting attorney will he instructed
to enter suit for the money forfeit
and the taking away Of charter.
This law is principally to scotch,
among other things, the expected de-
preston in price Of cotton seed
by the oil mills in this State
which are all being bought up by
the Virginia Chemical Company, as
soon as they have succeeded in throt-
tlinS competition. The people be-
lieve, that as soon as the oil
mills throughout the State are in the
hands Of this trust, they will drop
the price of seed and pay what they
please for them, there being no COM
petitive mills to raise the price. This
bill is, We think, a very good one,
and is long step in the direction Of
giving some protection not only to
small industries but to the consumer.
1t is a very deep question, and the
more one studies 1t the more he is
impressed with the fast there are two
sides to the question. We are all
ready to admit that it is manifestly
unjust and morally wrong to use cap
ital combine for the purpose of crush
ing out struggling minor Industries,
but can We legislate away the right
to buy and to sell7 1t seems that
the tendency Of the age is toward
combination. You can hardly lay
your finger upon anything of impor-
tance that is not controlled by some
kind Of combine or trust. The COM
bination Of capital and brains is GER
tainly the most powerful organiza-
tion that can be conceived. II used
properly it can be made blessing to
the masses.
This law not only applies to organi-
zations in the State, but to any out
side organization, corporation, trust
or combine doing business within our
State.
1t should be remembered, however,
by the farmers, that should the price
of seed go too low to suit them they
can use them to good advantage on
their lands.
The bill is very lengthy, contain
ing dozen sections, and seems to
be very carefully prepared, and as it
succeeded in getting through to its
third reading void Of amendments
and exemptionns, it will probably
stand the crucical tests that it will,
no doubt, be called to undergo. But
that remains to be seen.
TEXT OF THE ANTITRUST BILL.
The bill, as finally ordered to it's
third reading after exhaustive debate