The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-10-14
Striking Presidents.


Since this case was decided many of
he States have sought to protect the
people from the pernicious effects Of the
principle established.
The Constitution of Alabama, adopted
in 1875, limits the creation of corpora
tons by special act, provides for their
creation by general laws and reserves
the right to alter, amend or repeal all
special and general laws creating oorpo-
lions.
The Constitution of Arkansas, adopted
in 1874, limits the creation of corpora
tons by special act to those for chart
table, educational, penal or reformatory |
purposes, and reserves to the General
Assembly the "power to alter, revoke
or anpul any charter whenever in their
opinion it may be injurious to the cii-
zens of the State"
The Constitution of California, adopt |
ed in 1s49, limits the creation of
corporations by special act to such
as are for municipal purposes and
reserves the right to alter, amend or re-
peal all charters.
The Constitution of Delaware adopted
in 1881, reserves the power to revoke all
charters.
The Constitution CT Illinois, adopted
in 1870, prohibits special acts comforting
corporate powers except for charitable,
EDUCATIONAL, penal or reformatory pur-
poses.
The Constitution Of Indiana, adopted
in 1861, prohibits the creation of corpo-
rations, except, banks, by special act.
The Constitution of Iowa, adopted in
1857, is like that of Indiana, in the re
spect mentioned, and reserves the right
to the Legislature to amend or repeal by
two thirds vote.
The Constitution of Kansas, adopted
in 1859, prohibits the creation of corpo
rations by special act, but authorize
their creation by general laws subject
to amendment or repeal.
The Constitution of Maine, adopted
in 1876, prohibits the creation Of corpo
rations by special act except for mu-
nincipal purposes, and declares that all
corporations shall be forever subject tc
| the general laws of the State
The Constitution of Maryland, adopted
in 1867 declares that no corporation
shall be created by special act except fol
municipal purposes, and in the absence
of IA general law providing for such cor
po ration as that proposed to be created
and raises a Commission charged witt
the duty of drafting general law OIL
the subject and submitting it to tn
Legislature, and reserves the right t.
repeal or alter all charters.
The Constitution of Michigan, adopte'
in 1850, authorizes the creation Of cor
porations under general laws, init
their creation by special act to those 70
municipal purposes, and reserves tn
right to alter, amend, or repeal al cha
tiers.
The Constitution of Minnesota, adopte,
in 1857, declares that no corporation
shall be created by special act excep
for municipal purposes.
The Constitution of Nebraska, adopte'
in 1875, contains clause similar to tina
referred to in the Constitution o
Arkansas.
! The Constitution of Nevada, adopte'
in 1864, prohibits special acts of incol
poration, and provides for the creation
of corporations by general laws, subjec
) to amendment or repeal, as do the Con
a situations of North Carolina, adopted il
1876, Ohio adopted in 1851, and Oregon
adopted in 1857.
The Constitution of Pennsylvania
adopted in 1873, reserves to the Legisls
ture the power to alter, revoke or annu
all charters.
The Constitution of Texas, adopte
in 1876, declares that no private corpors
ton shall be created except by genera
laws; and the Constitution of Yves
o | Virginia, adopted in 1872, declares tina
. no corporation shall be created by specia
law.
J. The Constitution of Wisconsin, adopte
I in 1S4S, like that of Indiana, declare
e that corporations, except banks, sha
not be created by special act, aud i
addition, reserves the power to alter G
repeal all charters.
= 1t will be seen that most of the State
. which have prohibited irrepealabl
s charters, have also prohibited the ere,
l. ton of private corporations by specis
. act of the Legislature. This was nece
V protection from the greed of corpor.
tons could not be obtained withor
t, supplementing the right to alter {
e amend their charters, by a provisio
It that would prevent the granting to thel
r. of special and exclusive privileges.
:, This provision is as important as ths
prohibiting irrepealable charters, an
the one is such fit accompaniment |
the other that in nearly all the Const
y buttons which we have cited, they g
hand in hand. 1t is well that tn
power to control corporations is reserve
: to the Legislature; il is better that
doing so the power to grant special e,
elusive privileges, whose value might /
temptation to use corrupt means I
secure them, should be denied.
s. Obedience to the letter and spirit {
le the declarations of the Democrat
lie platform on the subject of corporation
s. requires that amendments to the Const
IT tuition Of Mississippi, incorporating IL
' principles found in the Constitutions {
4 the States, referred to, should be adopte
. and submitted to the voters by the nez
. Legislature. If the voice of the peopl
shall find expression we do not fear tn
result.