The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1908-01-24
BILL TO SQUELCH
TOBACCO COMBINE
Alleged Trust Forbidden TO
Buy the Weed In Kentucky
Measure Is Said to Have Strong
Backing of Members of
Legislature. .

FRANKFORT, n.y., Jan. li.-ftepreseh-
tative c. F. Crecelius, of Pendleton
county, believes that he has solved
the problem of how to handle the to-
bacco situation in Kentucky. He has
introduced a bill in the House which
makes 1t unlawful for the American
Tobacco Company, or ANY other trust
or combine of this kind engaged in
buying or selling tobacco, to do bust
ness in Kenteucky. His bill leaves 1t
to the discretion of jury to say what
the amount ofthe fine shall be against
such a trust for violation of the sec
tions of the act.
Not only is the American Tobacco
Company completely put out of bust
ness in the State by the provisions of
this act, btu it is made impossible for
its agents or representatives to pur-
chase tobacco in Kentucky, fine of
$1,000 and Imprisonment for one year
being the fate that is held out in store
for those who may think to hold it at
naught.
Representative Crecelius is a MEM
Der of the Society of Equity, and IL is
understood that the Society will stand
solidly behind him for the passage of
his act. The act in part is as fol-
An act to carry into effect Section
1913 of the Constitution of this State,
so as to prevent trusts and combines
to control the tobacco market of this
State.
Be it enacted by the General Assem-
bly, of the Commonwealth of Ken
lucky:
Section 1. 1t shall hereafter be I'M
lawful for the American Tobacco Com
pany and every other corporation
which is a trust, or maintaining a
pool or combine, buying or selling, or
business in this State or to acquire
or own real or personal property in
this State. For each violation of this
section the corporation so offending
shall be fined in any sum in the dis
erection of the jury in any court Of
competent jurisdiction, and shall in
addition forfeit TO the Commonwealth
the title of all property acquired or
held by it in violation of this act.
Sec. 2. 1t shall hereafter be unlaw-
full for any agent, officer or employe
of such corporation to solicit. buy,
sell, receive or contract for the pur-
chas or sale of tobacco in this State.
For each offensee under this act such
agent, officer or employee shall be liza
BILE 10 a fine of not exceeding $4,000
and imprisonment in the county Jail
not exceeding one year.
Sec. 8. No corporation organized un
der the laws of any other State than
Kentucky shall, without the express
permission of the Commissioner of
Agriculture be permitted to buy
or sell tobacco in this State,
For a violation of this sec
ton the corporation so offending shall
be liable to the penalty denounced by
the first section of this act, and each
officer, agent and employee shall be liza
BILE for the penalty denounced by the
second section thereof. 1t is hereby
made the duty of the Commissioners
of Agriculture of this State TO inquire
into the character of the business of
each corporation which may seek ad-
mission to do business in this State
under this act, and to require a true
list of its stockholders, members and
officers, to be filed, verified by the
cath of the principle officer. If he
is satisfied that such corporation
maintains or is party to, or that
its controlling officers or stockhold-
ers are parties to, combine,a pool,
combine or trust in dealing in tobacco
he shall refuse such corporation per-
mission to do business in this State