The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-10
Governor Approves
Antitrust Measure
Cold Storage Bill and
Auto-Theft Act Also
Become Laws By At
tachment of Official
Signature of Executive.

The rumor TO the effect that Cover
nor Davis had determined to veto the
antitrust bill was laid at rest finally
last night when the governor signed
the bill, along with a mum Der of others
sent on by the general assembly yes
terday. The rumor was born on the
day on which the senate finally
amended the penalty clause and -four
ished until the governors pen dis
PEELED it last Night
The penalty Incorporated in the bin
Is as follows: For the first offense-
fine of $1,000 or maximum Jail SEN
tence of twelve months, or both; sec
ond offense--fne OF from $1,000 to
$4,000 with Jail sentence of from six
to twelve months. or to be pronounced
a felony punishable with a peniten-
tiary sentence of from one to ten
years.
OF the more than twenty-five states
which have antitrust laws, only Kan
! sas and New Mexico make the Jail
sentence mandatory for the first con-
viction. Virginia imposes a sentence
fully as drastic as any of the anti
trust states with these two exceptions.
The most harshiy- criticised feature of
the bill is the requirement that COM
hinations being prosecuted must be
proven TO be ''inimicar' to the public
welfare before they can be convicted.
Senator Mapp. original patron of the
measure, condemned this section, say
ing it permitted confusion in the
courts and left n ready loophole for
the escape of astute violater5 of the
act
Other important bills which became
laws last night by virtue OF Governor
Davis signature were the cold storage
act. the bill making the theft of auto
mobiles felony and the measure ap-
| propriating the sum OF $1,000 for the
American Legion.
| The automobile bill is of peculiar
local interest. owing to the daring OPP
eraftons OF automobile thieves In Rich
mond. An average Of one stolen ma
, chine day for 1919 has been main
tanned UP to the present time, with in
dications pointing to a higher ratio
before the close Of the year.
Thieves have become utterly reck-
less of consequences after numerous
offenders had been discharged from
custody because they had not succeed
ed in disposing of the car before the
police captured them. Under the law
holding that the theft of automobiles
was mfsdemeanor If no part of the
machine had been offered for sale.
| impugnity. knowing that il the ma
chimes were recovered while in their
possession they would be subject to
prosecution for a misdemeanore only
and If they were not detected until
after sale had been effected, reason
, able safety had already been secured.
, AS the bill carries an emergency
clause making it effective Immediately.
the local stolen car market is expected
to suffer sharp decline within the
next few weeks.
The cold storage bill was intro
duced as n companion measure to the
anti trust bill. both being recommend
ed by the governor to he passed at
the special session. II places all cold
storages, both public and private. I'M
der the supervision of the state dairy
and food commissioner and sets ten
months as the limit of time for storing
any foods in such places. The bill is
designed to prevent large quantities of
foodstuffs off the market for an un-
reasonable length of time in order to
dispose of them at top prices. Regular
inspection by the state officers will
prevent commodities from being al
lowed to damage because prevailing
prices do not meet with the approval
of the owner.