The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-08-24
REFORM MACHINERY.

Under the provisions Of an act of
the legislative assembly of last year
every corporation in the state of North
Dakota has received from the secre-
tary of state blank in the form of
an Antitrust affidavit" copy of
which is herewith given. After recit-
ing the name, style and date of such
corporation the officer or agent of the
same must then proceed to swear that
the corporation which he represents
Has not since the first day of July,
1905, created, entered into or become
member or party to any pool. trust,
agreement. combination confedera-
tion or understanding with any other
corporation, partnership, individual or
any other person or association of per-
sons, to regulate or fix the price of any
article or merchandise or other COM
modify; and that it has not entered
into or become party to any pool,
trust, agreement, contract, combina-
ton to fix or limit the amount or guam
tity of any article, commodity or mer-
CuduulSc " Uc uduuldCluFSu, IuluSu,
produced or sold in this state; and
that it has not issued and does not
own any certificates in and for any
corporation, agent, officer or employee,
or for the directors or stockholders
of any corporation; has not entered
into and is not now in any combina-
ton, contract, Or agreement with any
person or persons, corporation or cor
porations or with any stakeholder or
director thereof the purpose and effect
OF which said combination, contract,
or agreement would be to place the
management or control of such COM
Dination or combinations. or with the
manufactured product thereof, III the
hands of any trustee or trustees, with
the intent to limit or fix the price
Thereon, use or consumption, or to pre-
vent or restrict or diminish the man
fracture or output of any such article.
In other words. under the existing
statute it is unlawful for any corpora
ton doing business in the state to en-
gage in any agreement with another
corporation, partnership or other per-
son in restraint of trade. The sworn
affidavit. after it is received by the
secretary of state, becomes a part of
the record in any suit that may be
brought by the state against any such
corporation. and in case of conviction
suitable fines and penalties are i'm
posed.
1t is doubtful if any considerable
number Of the corporations in the
state are aware of the existence of the
law, which is good one and ought
to have wholesome effect. 1t must
not be assumed that any agreements
In restraint of trade made prior to the
enactment of this law by either cor
porations or individuals are beyond
the pale of inquiry, for there is a
much older statute, dating back to
Magma Charta itself, against conspira-
cies of every kind or kidney.
The law as recited in the affidavit
above given is worthy of the closest
examination by every citizen, because
1t is more than likely that there are
several corporations and others in
North Dakota that are engaged in
violating not only the new but the
older statute to which we have re-
ferred, and but for the publication of
the above affidavit by The Evening
Times only small number OF people
would know anything about it,
Here therefore is an opportunity for
any person having any knowledge of
the existence of any such unlawful
agreement to take the necessary steps
to break it up. Not only is 1t the
privilege of the citizen to take hand
in the business, but in our opinion, It
Is his duty. He might not be obliged