The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-22
ANTITRUST BILL IN HOUSE MT. RuShtOn of CrenShaW
 Introduced It. AIMED AT COMBINATIONS Books Must Be Open to Attor-
 ney General.
 - The Penalty for violation of Pro- visions is a Heavy Fine--Full Text of the Proposed
 Law.

was ealu tnat " em0ooles the WiSest and most effective anti-trust provisions oi other States. 1t is aimed at combina.
 tons which seek.to control price, or regu. late the supply of any commodity. The bill provides that the books of any suct corporation shall be open to inspection by the Attorney General or his agent al any reasonable time. A failure to com ply with this provision is punishable by a fine of between t1O0 and $400
 It provides that all proceedings undel the law may be brought in the Circuit ol City Courts of Montgomery. but pro ceedings may be commenced in othe,
 counties.
 The bill provides that the Attorney General shall represent the State In al
 proceedings under the law.
 The bill provides fine of not less than $500 for the violation of the law.
 Text of the Bill.
 Mfr. Rushton's bill in full is as follows:
 Section 1. That 1t shah be unlawful for any corporation organized under the laws of this or any other State or eoun- try for the purpose of transactinR or con- ducting any kind of business in this State. or any joint stock company. part nership. association. trust, monopoly, combination of capital. person, or other association of persons whomsoever to create. enter into or become a member of or q party to any trust, contract, agree ment. pool, combination, confederation, or understanding with any other corpora ton. joint stock company. partnership, association, trust. monopoly. combinatir of capital, persons. or other association of persons whomsoever. to create or carry out restrictions in trade. or to limit or reduce or increase the price of any article Of merchandise, commodity. produce or commerce intended for use, sale or con- sumption. or to fix any standard or figure. whereby it's price to the public shall be in any manner controlled or established, or in any manner to make scarce any article of necessity, trade or commerce, or in any way or mannxr to regulate or fix the price thereof, or to enter into. or become a member of, or party to any pool. trust, contract, agreement. combination, confederation, or understanding with any other corpora ton, joint stock company, partnership, associ ation, trust. monopoly, combination of capital, person, or other association of persons whomsoever. to prevent com petition in any calling. trade or business, or to fix or limit the amount or quantity of any article. commodity or merchandise that shall be manufactured, mined. pro- duced or transported, or to make or enter into or become a member of. or party to any contract, obligation, or agreement of any kind or description whatsoever by which they shall bind or have bound themselves not to sell. dispose of or trans- port any article or commodity or trade use' merchandise, commerce or consump- ton. below common standard figure. hR vrslafNh 1an A.. N.. aa.- price of such article, commodity or trans portation at fixed or graduated figure or by which they shall in any manner settle. or establish the price of any article or commodity or transport the same betwen themselves and others to preclude free and unrestricted competition among themselves or others tn the sale or transportation of any such article or commodity, or by which they shall agree to pool, combine or unite any Interest they have in connection with the sale or transportation of any such article or commodity that its price might in any manner be.affected.
 "sec. g. That the books, records con. tracts. agreements. papers and documents of any such corporation. Joint stock com pany. partnership. association, trust, mo- nopoiy. combination of capital person or other association of persons whomsoever, shall be subject to inspection and exam ination by the Attorney General. or by any one designated by him, at all req sonable hours. and such corporation, joint stock company. partnership, association. trust. monopoly, combination of capital, person or other association of persons whomsoever, shall furnish to the Attor- ney General any information he may de- sire concerning any book. record, con- tract. agreement paper or document in it's possession or owned by it upon re- quest, and shall furnish to him a copy of the same verified by afildavit whenever he shall demand it in writing, and such verified copy shall be competent evidence of the correctness of what it contains in any of the courts of this State, and any such corporation. joint stock company, partnership. association. trust. monopoly. combination of capital. person or other association of persons whomsoever who shall refuse to allow the Attorney Gen eral or any one designated by him to in- speet or examine it's books. records con tracts. agreements. papers and documents at all reasonable hours upon his request. or who shall refuse to give him such in- formation concerning the same as he may desire when it is in its power to do so, or who shall refuse to furnish him with copy of the same or any part thereof yer filed by affidavit whenever he shall de- mand 1t in writing. or who shall knowing ly swear falsely to any such copy or to the contents of the same shall be guilty of mlsdemeanor. and upon conviction thereof must be fined not less than s1eo nor more than $500.
 Sec. 3. That all prosecutions and pro- ceedings under this act may be com menced and had in the Circuit or City Court of Montgomery County. but this shall not prevent prosecutions and pro- ceedings from being commenced and had, under this act, in other counties of this State.
 Sec. L That in all prosecutions and proceedings commencedN and had under this act 1t shall be the duty of the Attor- ney General to represent the State. who shall have the assistance of the Solicitor of the County or Circuit in which such prosecution or proceedings may be com Inenced or had.
 Sec. 5. That any such corporation, joint stock company. partnership. asso- citation, trust, monopoly, combination of capital, person, or other association of persons whornsoever violating any of the provisions, Of section of this act shall be deemed and adjudged guilty of a con- spiracy to defraud, and shall. upon con- vlction. be fined for each ofense. not less than S50o nor more than S60O0'
 The bill was referred tO the Committee on Judiciary.