The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-11-16
IRON TEETH IN
 SHERMAN ACT
CONGRESSMAN HENRY. OF TEX AS. PREPARES BILL THAT WILL SEND VIOLATORS
 TO PRISON.
MAKES THE LAW EXPLICIT
Its Introduction Will Mean Passage
 in House at Coming Session.

1 Washington, Nov. 15-An effort is to be made by some of the House Democrats at the coming session to pass general amendment to the sherman law that will in effect re-
 write that statute and insert some iron teeth in it. The Democrats who are interested, in this effort feel that the law as it stands is too vague and uncertain in it's operation. and that under the construction given it by the Supreme Court in the oil and tobacco cases 1t is altogether too easy on the corporations. So they propose to take out the objectionable ''rule of reason" Wnlcn they contend the court wrote into the law in the two big trust de- c!Slons, and also to write in a provi- slon that any violation of the law af ter they have amended it shall be a felony, punishable by imprisonment, rom two to ten years in the peniten- tiary.
 Representative Henry who has been talking with Representative Clayton Of Alabama, chairman of the commit tee, and other Democratic leaders, completed the draft of the proposed changes in the much discussed statute NULIFIES ALTERATIONS. My bill," MT. Henry explained. "nullifies the alterations written into the sherman antitrust act by the un- warranted and purely legislative de- clslon of the supreme court in the Standard Oil and Tobacco trust cases Of last spring. That is, the bill legis- IateS the rule of reason out of the law and it defines specifically what trust is so that there can be no room Tor controversy. It makes the viola tions of this law a felony with im- prisonment for not less than two years nor more than ten years.
 Fines and disolutions seem to be child's play for the trust magnates Felons' stripes where the violation is prove potential remedy for these fragrant acts of commercial outlaws. The Chinese antitrust law provided: Those who interrupt commerce are to be beheaded.' To behead such of lenders in our country would be en- With penitentfary sentence and felon's stripes as punishment is mild, and should be administered to trust criminals in the United States.
 My bill justly exempts members of |. organizations or associations not for profit and without capital stock, and also agricultural products or live stock in the hands of the producer or raiser. The first exemption as to la bor was intended in the original leg islatfon and the second as to agricul- tural products and live stock is found in some state laws. These exemp- tions are right and should be made"
 AMENDS THREE SECTIONS.
 The proposed bill amends the first three sections of the Sherman act, leaving as they are sections to 8 inclusive and adding two new sec- tions. Section 1 is amended to define specifically a trust and reads as fol- lows:
 Every contract, combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or con- spiracy, restraint of trade Or com merce among the several states, or with foreign nations is hereby declar- ed to be illegal And that a trust is a contract or conspiracy, or agree ment of whatever character, by com bination against trade or commerce, or aids to commerce, of capital, skill Or acts by two or more persons, firms, corporations, officers of corporations, Or associations of persons, or either two or more of them, for either, any, or all of the following purposes:
 First, to create or carry out re- strinctions in trade or commerce or to create or carry out restrictions in the full and free pursuit of any business authorized or permitted by the laws of the United States of America.
 Second, to increase or reduce the
  modities.
 '"Third, to prevent competition in manufacture, making, tranSportati tion, sale, or purchase of merchandise, pro- duce or commodities, Or to prevent competition in aids to commerce.
 Fourth, to fix at any standard or figure, whereby it's price. to the pub lie shall be in any manner controlled or established, any article or com modity of merchandise. produce, or commerce, intended for sale. use. or consumption in the United States of America.
 Fifth, to make or enter into or execute or carry out any contract, ob- ligation, or agreement of any kind or description by which they shall bind or have bound themselves not to sell, dispose of, or transport any article or commodity, or article of trade, use, merchandise, commerce, or consump- ton below common standard figure, or by what they shall agree in any manner to keep the price of such arti- cles, commodity, or transportation at a fixed or graded figure, or by which they shall in any manner establish or settle the price of any article Or com modity, or transportation between them or themselves and others to pre- clude a free and unrestricted competi- tion among themselves or others in the sale or transportation of any such ar ticle Or commodity or by which they shall agree to pool, combine, or unite any interest they may have in con- nection with the sale or transportation of any such article or commodity that it's price might in any manner be af- fected.
 FOR PRISON TERM.
 Every person who shall make any such contract or agreement or know ingly enters into or executes such con- spiracy or combination shall be deem- ed guilty of a felony, and on convic- tion thereof shall be imprisoned III the penitentiary for term of not less than two years nor more than ten years"
 Sections 2 and of the Sherman act providing against monopolization or conspiracy in restraint of trade with in the United States or with foreign nations are amended to include the penitentiary punishment for viola tion instead of the present provisions for fine of &, 900 or ''impris sonment not exceeding one year or both.''
 The added sections are as follows
 Section g. "AlI acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed; but this act shall not affect rights, pending suits, proceed ings and liabilities which arose, ac- crued, or were begun under any pre- lTr7Cr