Litchfield enquirer., 1874-01-15

CAd4 h0u1LlOua1 passenger trans. --ss5A F.
 The rates of fares charged by the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad are still nearly 50 per cent. higher than river roads, and material reduction is necessary to put them down to the rates charge by those companies. Tn view of the result of the experiment, as shown above, it certainly cannot be regarded as unreasonable for the public to demand that the fares be established, as on those roads, at two cents per mile. H. l.. G.
 East Hartford, January 5th, 1874.
 The Pennsylvania Constitution and
 the Railroads.
 We give below the Articles of the new Constitution of Pennsylvania, regarding Private Corporations, Railroads and Canals:
 ARTICLE xvL-Private Corporations.
 Section 1. All existing charters, or grants of special or exclusive privileges, under which a bona tide organization shall not have taken place and business been commenced in good faith, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall thereafter have no validity.
 Sec 2 The General Assembly shall not remit the forfeiture of the charter of any corporation now existing, or alter or amend the same, or pass any other gen. eral or special law for the benefit of such corporation, except upon the condition that such corporation shall thereafter hold it's charter subject to the provisions of this Constitution.
 Sec. 3. The exercise of the right of eminent domain shall never be abridged or So construed as to prevent the General Assembly from taking the property and franchises of incorporated companies, and subjecting them to public use, the same as the property of individuals and the exercise of the police power of the State shall never be abridged or so construed as to permit corporations to conduct their business in such manner as to infringe the legal rights of individuals or the gen. eral well-being of the State.
 Sec. 4. In all elections for directors or managers of a corporation each member or shareholder may cast the whole num- I Der of bis votes for one candidate or dis tribute them upon two or more candidates, as he may prefer
 | Sec. 5. No foreign corporation shall do any business in this state without hay ing one or more places of business and an | authorized agent or agents in the same l upon whom process may be served. Sec. 6. No corporation shall engage in any business other than that expressly authorized in this charter, nor shall it take or hold any real estate except such ] as may be necessary and proper for it's le- gitimate business.
 Sec '. No corporation shall issue stocks or bonds except for money, labor done, or money, or property actually re- l ceived; and all fictitious increase of stock or indebtedness shall be void The stock and indebtedness of corporations shall not be increased except in pursuance of general law. nor without the consent of the persons holding the larger amount in value of the stock. first obtained at 8 meeting to be held after sixty days notice gwen in pursuance of law.
 Sec. 8. Municipal and other corpora tions and individuals invested with the privilege of taking private property for public use shall make just compensation for property taken, injured or destroyed by the construction or enlargement of their works, highways or improvements, which compensation shall be paid or se- cured before such taking. injury or de- struction. The General Assembly is here by prohibited from depriving any person of an appenl from any preliminary assefs- ment of damages against any such corpor- ations or individuals made by viewers or otherwise and the amount of such dam- ages in all cases of appeal shall on the de- mand of either party be determined by a jury according to the course of the com mon law.
 Sec. g. Every banking law shall pro- vide for the registry and countersigning, by an officer of the state, of all notes or bills designed for circulation, and that ample security to the full amount thereof shall be deposited with the Auditor Gen. eral for the redemption of such notes or bills.
 Sec, 10. The General Assembly shall have the power to alter, revoke or annul any charter of incorporation now existing and revocabIe at the adoption of this Constitution, or ady that may hereafter be created, whenever in their opinion it may be injurious to the citizens of this Commonwealth, in such manner, however, that no injustice shall be done the corpof- ators, No law hereafter enacted shall create, renew or extend the charter of more than one corporation.
 Sec. II. No corporate body to possess banking and discounting privileges shall be created or organized in pursuance of any law without three months previous public notice, at the place of the intended location, of the intention to apply for such privileges. in such manner as shall be prescribed by law, nor shall charter for such privilege be granted for longer period than twenty years.
 Sec. F. Any association or corpora tion organized for the purpose, or any in- dividual, shall have the right to construct and maintain lines of telegraph within this state, and to connect the same with other lines. and the General Assembly shall by general law of uniform operation, provide reasonable regulations to give full effect to this section. No telegraph company shall consolidate with, or hold a controlling interest in the stock or bonds of any other telegraph company owning competing line, or acquire by purchase or otherwise, any other competing line of telegraph.
 Sec. 13. The term "corporatiens'' as used in this article, shall be construed to include all joint stock companies or asso- citations having any of the powers or priv ileges of corporations not possessed by individuals or partnerships.
 ARTICLE xvn.-Railroads and Cdnals. Section l. All railroads and canals shall be public highways, and all railroads | and canal companies shall be common carriers. Any association or corporation organized for the purpose shall have the right to construct and operate railroad between any points within this State, and to connect at the State line with the rail- roads of other States: Every railroad company shall have the right with it's road to intersect, connect with or cross any other railroad; and shall receive and transport each the others passengers. tonnage, and cars loaded or empty, with out delay or discrimination. -..-..
 Sec. 2. Every railroad and canal cor pofation organized in this State shall maintain an office therein where transfers of it's stock shall be made and where it's books shall be kept for inspection by any stockholder or creditor of such cor poration, in which shall be recorded the