The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-02-06
THE GOVERNOR BILLS.
Submits Three Measures Which He Believes
VIII Cure the Evil OF Monopoly.
he Does Not Want Legislation Designed to Satisfy
Popular Demand Without Seriously Inter-
fering With Operation.

AuSAiAs AtAasf tfufudFN O.--JONNTNOT
Lanham transmitted the following special
message to the senate and hous, OF repre.
sentatlves today during the morning SEES
sion. This was the FIRST specia message
tho governor has sent to the lcsis oturc and
its reading was listened to with marked
interest III
The governor devotes himself largely to
the discussion OF trusts and outlines very
distinctly some amendments TO existing
laws and new measures which are designed
to relieve the people Of oppression from
these sources.
The message was referred to the commit
tees having charge of the subjects discussed
In the message.
Following is the paper in full:
To the Senate and House OF Representa-.
tives.
In pursuance OF the duties imposed by
the constitution Of the state. which pro-
vides that the governor shall recommend
to the legislature such measures as he may
deem eNpedient | respectfully recommend
the passage by your honorable bodies Of
measures embracing substantially the pro
visions contained In the three accompany
ing bills which have been prepared under
my direction and which after careful cou
sideration, I fully approve.
II enacted into law what Is thus proposed
will
J. Define, prohibit and declare Illegal
trusts, monopolles and conspiracies IN re
straint of trade ana prescribe penalties
for forming or being connected with such
trusts, monopoles aud consplracies aud
provide for the suppression Of the same
and promote free comDetition IN the State
Of Texas,
. Amend article 745 OF the Revised Civil
statutes Of the state Of Texas so as TO
require tho charter Of 4 domestic corpora.
ton to state the place at which II pro
poses to transact business. and
8. Require foreign corporations, before
they can obtain permit authorizing them
to engage in business within the State OF
Texas, to designate the place at which
they propose to transact such business, and
prohibit foreign corporations which are Or
ganzed for a purpose for which corpora
tons can not bc formed under the laws OF
the State of Texas from transacting bust.
ness within this State.
do not deem lt necessary 10 attempt.
by any argument which / might be able 20
make, to increase your estimate OF the Inn
portance Of legislation which is Intended
TO restrain, prohibit and prevent the con
soldauon of existing corporations or tho
formation or continued operation OF trusts
or OF conspiracies ia restraint OF trade
Few. in Wow Of recent Developments.
can be found who will deus the absolute
necessity Of effective legislation for the
purpose Of preventing the modern indus.
trial combinations whose evil effects are
/ conceded by all.
( Legislation has boon undertaken not only
! by the National government. but IN most
/ oe the States Of the American Union for
/ the purpose OF preventing any comblna-
/ tion the object Of which is to create Il
monopoly or to increase or maintain prices
by suppression Of competition, but. uufor.
tnnatelv, and IN many instances, II would
seem as n It had been DESIGNED TO
SATISFY TIE PUBLIC DEMAND WITH.
OUT BEING INTENDED TO SERIOUSLY
INTERFERE WITH THE OPERATIONS
OF THE ORGANIZATIONS AGAINST
WHICH IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE EN-
ACTED.
All legislation is, to a certain extent,
necessarily tentative, and perfection II at
tainable at all, can only be had as the re-
suit of improvements on former efforts and
by corrections, Of shortcomings which have
been developed By experience and pointed
out by decisions Of courts.
Experience has demonstrated that the
evils which the measures I now commend
to your favorable consideration are intended
to suppress, are accomplished in three
ways:
!. BY the formation OF trusts; that is.
where number Of persons, Arms or cor
porntions agree to tx tho price OF their
products or abstain from competition In
their respective businesses.
This result may. OF course. be accom-
pnshed ia several different ways, as. for
instance. by those who manufacture or deal
In certain commodities liking prices. below
or above which they viii not sell or buy;
or by limiting the output Of such commodi-
ties thereby in effect fixing the price, OF
by division OF territory and an agreement
not TO deal In the territory occupied by
competitors
1t is believ>d the hrst measure herein