The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-01-23
Four Anti Trust Bills
Have Been Made Public

q tiative. investigate for the purpose
I OF ascertaining whether there Is any
\ thing IN the conduct OF a corporation
/ or in its relations TO other corpora
I tlons. or individuals which violates
/ the sherman act In case any such
/ violation is found 10 exist. the bnl
. provides that the commission shall re
I port In fun to the attorney general
] in order that said corporation may
l thereafter comply with the terms Of
said act" and to aid the attorney gen
I cral IN terminating by agreement with
the corporation affected or by suit. the
unlawful conduct or condition.
In the section OF the measure pro-
I Niding for publicity OF the conditions
surrounding business corporations,
q despite the fact that there has been
| much aCitation AGAINST immunity 70
D individuals. who might testify or pro
3 duce evidence IN Inquiries conducted
I nv the commission. immunity IL
I grantcd 20 individuals. except for
I perjury. There Is however. no i'm
munity 20 corporations.
ln detail the bin sets forth that the
. commission shall require all corpora
D tons cuE1Epd in commerce among the
| states OF with foreign nations. except
/ common carriers. whether required by
I the general rules and regulations for
/ regular information or information
/ specifically asked from time To time.
/ tion. statements and records OF their
] organization. business. financial con-
i oition. conduct, management and rela-
/ lon TO other companies at such
time, 10 such degree and extent. and
such form, as may be prescribed by
the commission.
Hits Secret Sessions.
] striking AT secret sessions OF di-
7 rectOrates and other bodies the bill
directs that the commission shall
have complete access 10 all records,
] accounts, minutes books and papers
OF the corporations. in cluding the
records OF any OF their executive or
other committees"
Failure or neglect OF corporations
TO comply with this requirement. after
written demand and within such time
"h lht commission shall FIX is made
punishable as a misdemeanor with a
me OF , 900 day upon conviction
| The Definition Bill.
Ine sherman act definitions bill
would include within the meaning OF
the terms Every contract" "combi-
nation in restraint of trade or com
=, merce. combination in the form OF
trust or otherwise" and the word
! Monopolize' az used in the act. any
trade combination or agreement which
purposes
4 To create or carry out restrictions
IN trade or TO acquire a monopoly in
any interstate trade, business or COM
merce.
To limit or reduce the production
or increase the price of merchandise
or Of any commodity.
To prevent competition in manu-
iacturing making, transporting, SELL
Ing or purchasing OF merchandise
ducc. or any commodity
To make or enter into any arrange
inent or arrive at any understanding
by which they, directly or Indirectly,
undertake 10 prevent free and unre-
stricted competition among them
selves OF among purchasers or con-
. sunlers IN the sale. production or
transportation of any commodity"
: All such contracts would be de-
clared unlawful. punishable by fine not
exceeding $4,000 or Imprisonment not
exceeding one year, or BY both. in
discretion OF court. Whenever a cor
poraton Is found guilty. under the
terms or this measure the offense
would be deemed TO be also that OF
The individual directors. officers, and
b agents OF such corporation" who
would be punished equally with the
corporation.
lnterloeking Direetorates.
The interlocking directorate bill
would provide that after two years
from the date of its approval. no per-
son engaged as an individual. men,
Der OF partnership. officer OF "A corpOr-
alton In the business Of manufacture
ing or selling railroad cars or locomo-
u'cs. rails. structural steel. mining
or selling coal, Of the conduct of n
bank OF trust company. shall act in
any capacity as an emplOye Of any
, railroad or public service corporation
doing an Interstate business
Ut would provide further no person
should, ar the same time. be an en-
1ioyc in two or more banks. bankin/
associations or trust companies which
are members OF any reserve bank op-
Grating under the provisions OF the
new currency law: and that no pri-
Ftte banker or person who is a d.
rector IN any state bank or trust
company, not operating under the new
currency law. shall be eligible to be a
director IN any bank operating under
For violations q fine OF 500 n dav
or imprisonment not exceeding one
year. or both. is proposed
b ihe measure would further provide
thai % after two years from the aD-
proNal of the bin. any corporations en-
. gagged in interstate or foreign com
W'rc' are FOUND 10 have common di.
, r'ciors. That TACT should be considered
t- conclusive evidence that no com
. I'iiiiou exists between them
Trade Relations
inc trade relations" bin would pro
WIG" mat ir should hu deemed an At.
l'HIP 70 mouoroliIc trade OF com
mere" tp discriminate in price with
.r Ihi'nt t9 iniure p competitor
'llN'r ci purchaser or seller. provided
'oi-' rImin fiOu Boo price on account ~
oUl'rfncc iu Grade quality or duan-
fiiF ur That makes only due allowance
Tor difference in cost Of transporta.
llu, should not ho prevented and PRO-
fidnd further that nothing In the nil
mould prevent persons engaged I'm
selling goods from selecting their
own customer. Tho latter provision
would not authorize the owner or op-
orator oI O. mine 10 refuse arbitrarily
fo coil rs products TO resuonsibia
purchaser