Antitrust and Trade Regulation laws aim to promote free competition in the marketplace. Agreements or cooperative efforts by two or more entities that affects or restrains competitors is illegal under these laws. The Sherman Act makes illegal any contract, combination, or conspiracy in restraint of trade or commerce and makes monopolies and attempts, combinations, or conspiracies to monopolize illegal. The Clayton Act regulate price discrimination, tying and exclusive dealing contracts, stock acquisition and interlocking directorates.
Beatrice (with the stress on the a) is a city in Gage County, Nebraska, 40 miles (64 km) south of Lincoln on the Big Blue River. Named for the daughter of John F. Kinney, Beatrice Kinney, Beatrice is surrounded by rich agricultural country. Settled in 1859, Beatrice was incorporated as a town in 1871 and became a city two years later. In 1900, 7,875 people lived in Beatrice and 10,883 populated Beatrice in 1940. The population was 12,496 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Gage County. The city's name is pronounced "Bee-AT-russ". This pronunciation is credited to a brass-voiced railroad conductor.