The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-19
Anti Trust Measure Intro
duced in Senate Contem-
plates Prevention of Harm
full Combinations Through
State Supervision, Wide
Publicity and Drastic Pun
ishments.

A bill sweeping in its provisions and
designed to put an end to connbina-
tons, trusts or otherwise now existing
or planning to exist in the state of
Minnesota was introduced in the SEN
ate yesterday morning by Senator
Thorpe, of Kandiyohi.
The bill is entitled, an act to protect
trade and commerce against unlawful
restraints and monopolies and to pro-
hibit the giving or receiving of re-
bates on the transportation of prop
erty.
Senator Thorpe, it is said. received
the bill from an organization formed to
put down the trusts. Similar bills
have been introduced in several states
and are to be introduced In several
others. Upon receiving the measure,
Senator Thorpe sent it to the attorney
general with request for the state
attorneys opinion. Attorney General
Douglas examined the measure and
recommended it's introduction. Ac-
cordlng to the attorney general the bill
IS far-reaching and includes many pro-
Visions missing from the present laws.
Drastic Penalties.
The principal features Of the bill are
first that it declares all combinations
in the state in the form of trusts or
otherwise to be Illegal and provides
that every person who shall enter into
such combinations shall be guilty OF a
misdemeanor and subject to fine not
more than $4,000 or less than $1,000, or
one year in prison, or both the fine and
Imprisonment.
For any attempt to monopolize trade
the same punishment is provided.
Going farther, the bill provides that
under such Illegal contracts all prop
erty belonging to the persons entering
into the agreement to combine shall be
forfeited to the state.
The law If adopted is to become ac-
tive June 80, 1904, and after that date
no corporation, joint stock company or
other association whose stockholders
are not personally liable for their debts
shall continue business in the state, If
railing to comply with the provisions
set down.
These provisions compel all corpora
tions, joint stock companies ana other
associations to file with the secretary
OF state statement sworn to by the
president. manager. treasurer and q
majority of the stockholders, which re-
port is to be filed on or before Sept Is.
Elaborate Publicity Scheme.
This statement must include a COM
plete report of the business Of the cor
poratton or association. the amount of
capital stock, the market value Of the
same and all information regarding
the sale or purchase Of stock Also
the names of all the stockholders, the
officers and agents of the organization.
The attorney general is made the
overseer of the corporations and asso-
Citations concerned, and in this regard
1t may be said that Attorney General
Douglas modified the terms of the orig
inal measure sent to Senator Thorpe
in providing that all reports be filed
with the secretary of state instead of
the attorney general
The attorney general is authorized
to demand at any time a statement
from any suspected arm of a trust or
combine and can demand reasons for
cutting prices below what appears the
real market value. He is authorized to
investigate anything that looks like an
attempt or conspiracy to drive any
other concern out of business.
Any trust whose business would be
prohibited by this act cannot control
or direct any Organization doing busi-
ness in the state, even if the provf-
sions of the law are lived up to, for the
bill provides that the trusts cannot
hold the majority of stock in any such
organization.
The bill is sweeping, in that it pro-
yfdes punishment for all connected
with the guilty corporation, even the
agents being included.
Forfeit Charter Rights.
Seceion-9, one of the most important
sections in the act, explains itself. II
follows:
THAT any president, director, treas
urer, officer, corporator, CO. partner, as
sociate or agent of such corporation,
joint stock company or other associa-
ton who shall in it's behalf do any
thing by this act prohibited to such
corporation, joint stock company or
other association or who shall support
or vote for, aid and abet or take part
in doing such action by said corpora
ton, joint stock company or other as
sociatiOn or any instrumentality there
of shall be liable to the penalties by
this act provided"
Regarding rebates the measure pro-
vides that it shall be unlawful to ac-
cept or receive. offer, grant or give re-
bates or concessions or service in re-
spect of the transportation Of prop
erty.
Courts of record are invested with
jurisdiction to prevent and restrain all
violations Of this act. and the bill fur
ther provides that any injured person
may sue and shall receive three-fold
damages as well as reasonable at
torney's fee. The cases are to be given
precedence on request Of the attorney
gneral and an appeal will be only to
the supreme court Any officer may
be Joined as party to enforce the act
and if two convictions are recorded the
organization concerned will be denied
the right to continue business in the
state.
JUSTICE SHIRAS DOES WHAT