The Colorado statesman., 1914-01-31
four new anti.
TRUST BILLS out
Measures Based on Wilson Poll
cies Define Sherman Act
and Allied Laws.
FULL PUBLICITY IS SOUGHT
Trade Commission Instead of Corpora
ton Bureau Would Report Viola
tlons Of the statutes-Rlgld
Inquiries Are Ordered.


Washington, Jan. 23.-Embodying
the program laid down by the presi-
dent in his recent message, the ad-
ministration's trust bills were present
ed to congress.
The bills have received the approval
of Mr.. Wilson and the Democratic
leaders of both houses of congress.
With little modification they will be
enacted into law. Their purposes are:
1. Definition of unlawful monop-
oily or restraints of trade.
2. Prohibition Of unfair trade
practice.
3. Creation of an interstate
trade commission.
4. Regulation of corporation di-
dectorates and prohibition of in
terlocking directorates.
Unlawful Monopoly Defined.
Unlawful monopoly is defined as
any combination or agreement be-
tween corporations, firms, or persons
designed for the following purposes
L. To create or carry out re-
strictions in trade or to acquire
monopoly in any Interstate trade,
business, or commerce.
2. To limit or reduce the pro-
duction or increase the price of
merchandise or of any commodity.
3. To prevent competition in
manufacturing, making, transport
ing, selling, or purchasing of mer-
oha,
modify.
4. To make any agreement, en-
ten into any arrangement, or ar
rive at any understanding by
which they, directly or indirectly,
undertake to prevent a free and
unrestricted competition among
themselves or among any pur-
chasers or consumers in the sale,
production, or transportation of
any product, article, or commod-
ity.
The penalty for violation of the law
is fixed at not more than $1,000 or i'm
prisonment for one year or both.
Guilt is made personal through {
section that whenever a corporation
shall be guilty of the violation Of the
law the offense shall be deemed t.
cover the individual directors, officers
and agents of such corporation, a,
authorizing. ordering, or doing thu
prohibited acts, and they shall be pun
ished as prescribed above.
A paragraph prohibiting holding
companies is to be added to this meas
ure.
Covers Unfair Trade Practices.
The bill forbidding unfair trad
practices declares that to discriminat,
in price, between different purchaser
of commodities, with the purpose o
intent to injure or destroy competi
tor, either of the purchaser or of thu
seller, shall be deemed an attempt t.
monopolize interstate commerce.
1t is specifically declared that thu
law is not intended to prevent dis
elimination in price between purchas
ers of commodities ION account o
difference in the grade, quality. o
quantity of the commodity sold, o
that makes only due allowance TO
difference in the cost of transports
ton"
Further. it is prescribed that moth
ing contained in the act shall proven
persons from selecting their own Gus
toners, but this provision shah no
authorize the owner or operator o
any mine engaged in selling its prod
uct in interstate or foreign commerce
to refuse arbitrarily to sell the sam
to responsible person, firm, or col
poration, who applies to purchase"
An attempt at monopoly also is dc
clared to exist for any person to max
a sale of goods, wares, or merchandis
or fix price charged therefor, or dis
count from or rebate upon such price
on the condition or understanding
that the purchaser thereof shall no
deal in the goods, wares. or merchar
disc of a competitor or competitors O
the seller.
Deals With Damage Suits.
A Judgment against any defendan
In a suit brought under the anti-trus
law the bill provides shall constitut
as against such defendant conclusiv
evidence of the same facts and b
conclusive as to the same issues o
law in favor of any other party in an
other proceeding brought under an
involving the provisions of the law.
For the benefit Of parties injured Ii
their business or property, by any pei
son or corporation found guilty of vic
lating the law the statute of imita
tions applicable to such cases shall b
suspended.
Injunctive relief is accorded agains