The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-19
FIGHTING THE
 COMBINE BILL Commercial Clubs 0p- pose Overton Measure PROTESTS OVER TEXAS LAW Declare Enactment Would Ruin
 Business of State. State Association of IndustriaI Or- Ganisations Planning To Waxe War
 on Proposed Anti-trust
PROTESTS OVER TEXAS LAW

combine" or antitrust bill Is a dras- tic measure. and further, that its pas- sage by the Legislature would work hardships to the business interests of Alabama. the Commercial and Indus- trial Association of the State, which body is composed of all the Commercial Clubs in Alabama. is preparing to wage an aggressive fight against tt.
 The Overton bill. calendared No. sos in the Senate. and No. ll67 in the House. is taken substantially from the Texas statutes. and Is aimed at the conceissvStion of capital and a corres- bonding restriction of trade. Captain A. c. Forbes. president of the State Association. addressed the Selma meet ing against its passage. and since that time 8 diligent ,.-e has been kept on its status.
 In Texas. where a similar measure has been enforced. the business men are endeavoring already to have the bill repealed. for which purpose they are praying the Governor to call an extra session of the State Legislature. Since prominence has been given to the measure at the Alabama end of ti-s line, . number of prominent Texans have interested themselves greatly in it's status among the Alabama legisla- tors. and Fort Wort. in particular, has demonstrated that city's interest B. B Paddock. Secretary of the Fort Worth Board of Trade at the author ization of the members of that body. yesterday sent to the Commercial Club of this city. the following telegram. expressive of the Texans attitude in regard to the question::
 Fort Worth. Tex. July IS, 1907. Commercial Club, Montgomery. Ala.
 Noticing in the newspapers that the State of Alabama is considering the enactment of the antitrust law of Texas, we take the liberty of saying to you and to the business men of your city, that your Legislature could do nothing of greater injury to the com mercial interests of your State.
 "Regulation of the trusts may be de- sirable, but the Texas statutes place the burden on the people. and if enforced. will paralyze and destroy all business in the tSate and place 1t at the mercy of unscrupulous lawyers. who could harass business for their own gain and benefit.
 "The business men of the State are now considering a petition to the Gov ernor of Texas, asking him to call special session of the Legislature to repeal or amend the present law so that business may not be utterly de- stroyed by the vicious. unreasonable and wholly unwarranted and unneces- sarily drastic and destructive provis-
 B E Paddock.
 Secretary Fort Worth Board of Trade.
 The telegram of Mir. Paddock was immediately replied to by the secre- tary of the local organization. sending thanks for the interest manifested. speaking of the Overton measure yesterday, prominent Commercial Club member of this city said: 'Thts act if 1t becomes law. VIII nlace practically every business ana enterprise in the State In position or doubt and uncertainty. It will operate to create a state of timidity with cap ital. It condemns every undertaking in business, calling for l::e amliation and aggregation of capital. whatever it's purpose or object-if such under taking involve any form of contract or apreement. No distinction is made be- tween legitimate and illegitimate un- dertakings Sections and ID place specific premium upon dishonesty. we believe this act will tend to outlaw ie- eitimate investment of capital In Ala bama. rather than 10 invite and pro- tect it."
 In All probability delegation or well known business men from the State Commercial and Industrial Asso- citation will be sent to the city 10 wage war against the bills passage, ana 10 explain their reasons against the meas ure. number of business men from the Magic City are already in Mont romery In the interest of causing the measures defeat. and with this end in view they are visiting various Repre- sentatives and Senators. urging that they do not pass the bill.
 Municipal Code Bill Another measure against which the Commercial Clubs of the State are fighting is found in Section " or the municipal code bill. The section re- serred 10 is of interest to the business men because of the fact that 1t author izes a municipality to exact not only license to do business and to tax merchant upon his stock of goods. but also nroposes to extend the authorize tion to taxing him in proportion to the amount of business he does
 If Is claimed by the business men that such a measure Is diametrically onnosed to all modes of business oper- ations, and that 1t further causes confidence to be violated which hither to has been unmoleSted. The merchants argue that they should be licensed to do business; further. that they should he taxed upon the stock which they carry. but they say that 1t is against
  to nay in proportion to the amount of business which he does
 succinctly stated. the Commercial c,nhs say: carries s20.000 stock. for which he is taxed and licensed. B ia engaged in the same business, and corr,os a stock of goods also equiva
 lent to s2o.0O0. He Is also licensed and taxed A, however. does s200.oOo business in one year, whereas B does only slOo,OOO worth of business. Of course A does not want B to know ho,y rruch business he does, and vice versa.
 The business men from Birmingham | came to Montgomery primarily for the nurpoee of eliminating or causing to be eliminated or amended this section of | the bill. They were in session with | tbe local Club yesterday. and will re- | main In Montgomery today. MEL NAPLES CAPTURED.