The state herald., 1914-01-30
FRAME -FOUR BILLS
TO CURB TRUSTS
MEASURE APPROVED BY WILSON
HAS NO ESCAPE LOOP
HOLES.
r0 BECOME LAWS VERY SOON
Penalty for Restraint Of Commerce,
Unfair Business and Interlocklns
Dlrectorates = Ample Provisions
Made for Trade Commission.

Made for Trade Commission.
Washington. Jan. 23.-The admins
tration's trust bills. embodying thu
program laid down by the president ir
his recnt message. have been present
cd 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 bt
Enacted into law. Their purposes are:
l. Definition OF unlawful monop-
oily or restraints of trade.
2. Prohibition Of unfair trade
practice.
8. Creation Of an interstate
trade commission.
4. Regulation OF corporation d.
dectorates and prohibition of In
terlocking directorates.
Unlawful Monopoly Defined.
Unlawful monopoly is defined az
any combination or agreement be
tween corporations, Arms. or persons
designed for the following purposes:
l. To create or carry out re-
strictions In trade or to acquire q
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-
chandise, produce. or any com.
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 q
section that whenever corporation
shall be guilty OF the violation of the
law the offense shall be deemed to
cover the individual directors. officers
and agents OF such corporation, a.
authorizing. ordering. or doing the
prohibited acts. and they shall be pun
ished us prescribed above.
A paragraph prohibiting holding
companies is TO be added to this meas
ure.
Covers Unfair Trade Practices.
The bill forbiddlng unfair trade
practices declares that to discriminate
in price. between different purchasers
OF commodities. with the purpose ol
intent TO injure or destroy competi
tor, either OF the purchaser or OF the
seller. shall be deemed an attempt tc
monopollEe Interstate commerce.
II is specifically declared that the
law Is not intended to prevent dis
elimination In price between purchas
ers OF commodities ''on account o.
difference in the grade. quality, oil
quantity OF the commodity sold. oil
that makes only due allowance fol
difference In the cost OF transporta
ton"
Further. II is prescribed that moth
Ing contained In the act shall preyen
persons from selecting their own Gus
toners. but this provision shall no
authorize the owner or operator o
amy mine engaged In selling It's prod
uct in Interstate or foreign commerc,
TO refuse arbitrarily TO sell the sam'
to = responsible person. firm. or cor
poration. who applies TO purchase"
An attempt at monopoly also In de
clnrcd to exist for any person to max,
u sale OF goods. wares. or merchandis,
or nx 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 merchan
disc OF a competitor or competitors o
the seller.
Deals With Damage Suits
A judgment against any defcndan
In suit brought under the anti.trus
Law the bill provides shall constitute
as against such defendant conclusiv
evidence OF the same facts and b
conclusive ms 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 Il
their business or property. by any pei
son or corp.:ation found guilty OF vie
latinE the law tho statute OF limitu
tionn applicable TO such cascs shall b
suspended
lnjunctiyc relief 10 accorded againr
threatened loss or damage by a violi
tion OF tho act under the same cond
tons and principles that injunctive r.
lief against threatened conduct whic
will cause loss or damage Ia granite
by courts OF equity.
!, In required that n proper bon
shall be executed against damages "a
L