chandise, manufactured articles or property of any kind, or shall enter into, become a member of, or party to, or in any way interested in any pool, agreement, contract, understanding, combination or confederation, having for its object the fixing, or in any way limiting the amount or quantity of any article of property, commodity or merchandise to be produced or manufactured, mined, bought or sold, shall be deemed guilty of the crime of conspiracy, and punished therefor, as provided in the subsequent sections of this act. § 2. It shall not be lawful for any corporation to issue or to own, have or sell any trust certificates or stocks, or for any corporation's agent, officer or employe, agent or director, or any corporation to enter into, either verbally or in writing, any combination, contract, agreement or understanding with any person or persons, corporation or corporations, or with any director, agent or officer thereof, the purpose or effect of which combination, contract, agreement or understanding would be to place the management, control or any part of the business of such combination or association, or the manufactured product thereof, in the hands or under the control, in whole or in part, of any trustee or trustees, or agents or any person whatever, with the intent or to have the effect to limit, fix, establish or change the price of the production or sale of any article of property or of commerce, or to prevent, restrict, or in any way diminish the manufacture or output of any such article or property. § 3. If any corporation, company, firm, partnership or person, or association of persons, shall, by court of competent jurisdiction, be found guilty of a violation of any of the provisions of this act, such guilty party shall be punished by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars, and not more than five thousand dollars. Any president, manager, director or other officer or agent, or receiver of any corporation, company, firm, partnership, or any corporation, company, firm, or association, or member of any corporation, firm or association, or any member of any company, firm or other association, or any individual

found, by a court of competent jurisdiction, guilty of any violation of this act, shall be punished by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars, or may be imprisoned in the county jail not less than six months nor more than twelve months, or may be both so fined and imprisoned in the discretion of the court or jury trying the case. § 4. Any contract or agreement or understanding in violation of the provisions of the preceding sections of this act shall be null and void; and any purchasers of property or article, or of any commodity, from any individual, firm, company or corporation transacting business contrary to the preceding sections of this act, shall not be liable for the price or payment of such article or commodity or property, and may plead and rely on this act as a complete defense to any suit for such price or payment. § 5. If any corporation created or organized by or under the laws of this State shall be indicted and convicted for any violation of any of the provisions of this act, such indictment, trial and conviction in any court of competent jurisdiction shall have the effect to forfeit the charter of such corporation without any further proceedings on the subject of the forfeiture of its charter, but any corporation whose charter is so forfeited shall have the right of appeal, as is provided in other cases, and the filing of the board, as is required by law, shall suspend the judgment of forfeiture until same is passed upon by the court to which the case is appealed. § 6. It shall be the duty of the circuit judges, and other judges of similar jurisdiction in this State, to give the provisions of this act in charge to the grand juries at each term of their courts. § 7. The provisions of the code of practice regulating appeals in other cases shall apply to appeals under this act, and this act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

§ 196. Louisiana Law for the Prohibition of Trusts and Combinations in Restraint of Trade.-The anti-trust law of Louisiana is entitled "An act to prevent trusts or combinations intended to restrain trade or to control the market value of merchandise, produce or commodities, and

to provide for penalties and punishment of persons, corporations, firms and associations of persons connected with them, and to promote free competition in the State of Louisiana.' This law was passed in 1892, and became operative July 7th of that year. The law is as follows: § 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Louisiana, that after the passage of this act it shall be unlawful for any individual, firm, company, corporation or association to enter into, continue or maintain any combination, agreement or arrangement of any kind, expressed or implied, with any other individual, firm, company, association or corporation for any of the following purposes: First, to create or carry out restrictions in trade. Second, to limit or reduce the production or increase or reduce the price of merchandise, produce or commodities. Third, to prevent competition in manufacture, making, transportation, sale or purchase of merchandise, produce or commodities. Fourth, to fix at any standard or figure, whereby its price shall be in any manner controlled or established, any article of merchandise, produce, commodity or commerce intended for consumption in this State, Fifth, to make or enter into, or execute, or carry out any contract, obligation 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 consumption below a common standard figure, or by which they shall agree in any manner to keep the price of such article at a fixed or graduated figure, or by which they shall in any manner establish or settle the price of any article or commodity, or transportation between them or themselves and others to preclude a free and unrestricted competition among themselves, or others, in the sale or transportation of any such article or commodity, or by which they shall agree to pool, combine or unite any interest they may have in connection with the sale or transportation of any such article or commodity that its price might in any manner be affected. § 2. Be it further enacted, etc., that any corporation hold

ing a charter under the laws of the State of Louisiana, which shall be convicted of a violation of the provisions of this act, shall thereby forfeit its rights and franchises, and its corporate existence shall cease and determine, and it shall be the duty of the attorney-general, of his own motion, and without leave or orders of any court or judge, to institute an action in the name of the State of Louisiana for the forfeiture of such rights and franchises and the dissolution of such corporate existence. § 3. Be it further enacted, etc., that every foreign corporation, or any corporation organized under or pursuant to the laws of any State, who shall be convicted of a violation of the provisions of this act, is hereby denied the right and prohibited from doing any business within this State, and it shall be the duty of the attorney-general to enforce this provision by injunction or other proceedings in the name of the State of Louisiana. § 4. Be it further enacted, etc., that any violation of either or all the provisions of this act shall be, and is, hereby declared a conspiracy against trade, and any person who may be or may become engaged in any such conspiracy, or take part therein, or aid or advise in its commission, or who shall, as principal, manager, director or agent, knowingly carry out any of the stipulations, purposes, prices, rates or orders thereunder or in pursuance thereof, shall be punished by fine not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars, and by imprisonment in the penitentiary not less than six months nor more than one year, or by either such fine or imprisonment, in the discretion of the court. It shall be the duty of the district attorneys in their respective jurisdictions, and the attorney-general, to enforce this provision, and any district attorney of any parish securing a conviction under this provision shall be entitled to such fee or salary as by law he is allowed for such persecution. § 5. Be it further enacted, etc., that in any indictment for an offense named in this act, it is sufficient to state the purposes or effects of the trust or combination that the accused was a member of, acted with, or in pursuance of it, without giving its name or description, or how,

when or where it was created, provided that no contract or agreement or arrangement which does not include, or which cannot be held to include a stipulation between the parties to share in the profits of any such contract, agreement or arrangement, or which contract, agreement or arrangement does not provide for, or does not contemplate, a profit or pool to be divided between the parties to such contract, agreement or arrangement, shall be held or construed to be in violation of the provision of this act. § 6. Be it further enacted, etc., that in prosecutions under this act it shall not be necessary to prove who constitute all the members belonging to the trust or combination. § 7. Be it further enacted, etc., that any contract or agreement in violation of the provisions of this act shall be absolutely void. § 8. Be it further enacted, etc., that the provisions of this act shall not apply to agricultural products or live stock while in the hands of the producer or raiser, nor be so construed as to affect any combination or confederation of laborers for the purpose of procuring an increase of their wages or redress of grievances. § 9. Be it further enacted, etc., that this act shall take effect from and after its passage, and that all laws and parts of laws conflicting with same are hereby repealed.

§ 197. Maine Anti-Trust Law.-The anti-trust statute of the State of Maine is entitled "An act to prevent such formation of trusts, combination of business firms, incorporated or unincorporated, companies, or association of persons or stockholders, as may be contrary to public policy." This act was approved March 7, 1889, and is, as follows: Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in legislature assembled, as follows: § 1. It shall be unlawful for any firm or incorporated company, or any number of firms or incorporated companies, or any unincorporated company, or association of persons or stockholders, organized for the purpose of manufacturing, producing, refining or mining any article or product which enters into general use and consumption by the people, to form or organize any trust, or to enter into any combination of firms,