New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-05
THE STATE LEGISLATURES.

THE REORGANIZATION OF TIE PITTSBURGH,
FORT WAYNE AND CHICAGO RAILwAY-THE
CoNsTITUTI0NALITY OF THE ACT CUES
TONED.
HARRISBURG. Feb. 4.-Since the passage of the
act relative to the reorganization OF the Pittsburgh Fort
Wayne and Chicago Railroad, grave doubt. have been
expressed its legality. II provides that oneourth
of the directors shall out Of office at the next annual
election the evident intention Of the act being that
hreeourth shall remain In Office, and thereby prevent
the stockholders from electn majority OF new directors
control tho road Its held that this action virtually
DISTINGUISHES the real stockholders, and will prevent
them from managing their property,
result which is clearly unconstitutional.
IL is additionally held that the act OF
March 81, 1900, under which the Pittsburgh,
Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad was eorganzed. re-
qires distinct that the directors shall only hold
office until the next annual meeting and that the stock
holders alone shall be competent 10 change this regua
ton II the just passed is to establish precedent
the directors Of any corporation in this State can egs
late themselves into Office for all eternity regardless OF
the stockholders their wishes Perhaps the strongest
point against the bill is that while 1t provides that one
fourth OF the directors shall out Of oce at the next
annual meeting, II does not say In explicit terms
that the remaining threefourths shall remain. The
apparent intention was that they should do so,
but the intention s only assumed and not expressed In
addition the above points Is questioned whether tho
stockholders ofhe Company and also whether it does
require tho assent OF the Legislatures Of OHIO lnd
ature by appeal 10 State interest," but there no law
the statute books to prevent the rittsburgh Fort
from Combining With the Pittsburgh and connesvllle
Road, and forming through route between Chicago and
Baltimore, via Pittsburgh In opposition 10 the Pennsy
vania Central The present at urged by Geo. W.
Cass President In person. and tho hurried manner III
which IL was passed was not creditabe.
PROCEEDINGS IN THE GEORGIA LEGIsLATURE-
MOTION TO BEsEAT THE CoLORED MEM
BERs REJECTED-THE QUESTION REFERRED
TO THE COURTS.
ATLANTA, Feb. A motion was made to-
day In the State Senate Immediately reseat the ex-
PEELED coored members but the Senate refused 10 con-
slider the notion The resolution TO send exGov Brown
and Messr stephens and Parrot TO Washington COM
misoners 10 the State OF Mississippi before the
Reconstruction Committee, was Withdrawn Dy the
original mover In the House resolution 10 ~, me
Courts adopted. but motion instruong the JUDI
medatey before the Courts was voted down Another
motion pedgng the House 10 abide by the decision OF the
Courts was ignored
TIE MAINE LEGISLATURE sUsTAINs THE LEGAL
RATE OF INTEREST
AUGUSTA, Feb. 4-The House of Representa-
tyos after animated discussion today refused, by
majority Of four TO pass an act allowing parties TO nix
any rate Of interest they might agree upon as legal
THE ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE AND THE STATE
RAILROADS.
CHICAGO, Feb. AIN the Legislature to-day
joint resolution was passed submitting to the people an
Legislature shan nave power 20 roieuso the tiiols
Central Railroad from the payment OF any tax on gross
receipts IL Is positively asserted In Springfield that Gov
Palmer will veto FuoT's bill 70 regulate railroad fares.
WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN MISSOURI.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Feb. A delegation of prom
nen ladies OF St. Louis arrived at jefferson City yester
day with petition from the WOmens Suffrage Associa
ton OF Missouri asking the Legislature TO provide for the
amendment OF the Constitution OF the State 10 strike
the word finale" from that Instrument. The petition
viii be mado by como OF tho ladies the subject OF
Female Suffrage. Tho House yesterday passed bill
which provides that any jOnstock company or assOcla
lion from another State, transactng business In this
state may sue or be sued In tho courts OF hs state