Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-03
CORPORATION FIGHT.
The Business Interests of Washing
ton Are Making Protest
AGAINST STRINGENT STATUTES.
Railroads and Banks the Targets for Radi-
cal Legislation.
POLITICS PLAYING AN ACTIVE PART.
The Basis Of Representation the Issue in Montana
and North Dakota.

anu NOrLn Uak0las
The proposition to insert some measures
restricting the powers of corporations in
the new Washington constitution has stirred
up bitter contest. In two of the other
conventions political considerations arc
making matters lively.
OLYMPIA, W. T., August 2.-Petitions
from all over the Territory, from Boards Of
Trade, City Councils and mass meetings of
citizens are reaching here in opposition to
two sections in the article on corporations.
The first one requires corporations doing
business in the State to have books here
with complete record of transfers of stock
and business transactions open to inspection.
This section was defeated in committee of
the whole this afternoon by large vote.
The other Objectionable section provides
for an elective board of railroad commits
sioners who shall have absolute control Of
all transportation, regulating rates, etc.
This section is now under debate with every
indication that it will be beaten also.
CORPORATION PROVISIONS.
Sections were adopted to-day making
stockholders liable for unpaid stock, and
declaring that corporations can sue and be
sued; that they can only increase stock un-
der a general law and can only issue bonds
when the value of bonds has been paid in
cash, labor or property. Foreign corpora
tions must do business on the same basis as
home companies. Section IL forbids alien
alton of franchises so as to relieve liabili-
ties of lessor or grantor. The State is for
hidden to loan its credit or own any corpora
tion stock.
Section IA, on banking, is said to be an
exact counterpart of United States laws on
the national banks. 1t is made crime for
banks to receive money after they are in
solvent. Railroad companies are Obliged
to exchange passengers and freight. No
discrimination in long and short haul is al
lowed in that transportation charges to q
given station shall exceed the amount
charged for longer haul in the same di-
rection.
In the North Dakota Convention at Bis
marck the principal fight of the day was
over the proposition to give every morgan
lied co unity a representative in the Legisla.
ture. This was opposed by the Red River
Valley counties and all of the eastern porr
ito n of the Territory, as giving the sparsely
set tied western portion of the Territory more
po wer in the Legislature than it is entitled
to.
THEY WANTED A SHOW.
In reply to this argument the members
from the West claim that, inasmuch os the
Red River Valley will have absolute con-
troll of the Senate, the western counties
should be given representation. The West
ern men were defeated and the convention
decided upon having the members of the
House of Representatives elected at large
from the Senatorial districts. Williams, Of
Burleigh, introduced resolution that the
homestead and exemption laws of the Terri
tory shall never be repealed by the State,
but it was jumped on BY nearly every dele
gate, and was defeated by an almost unani.
nous vote.
The Committee on Public Institutions is
still struggling to reach q report but there
is little prospect of success for several days.
The convention has declined to accept the
invitation of West Superior to attend the
Waterways Convention because the con.
vention is behind with its work and it will
be at least ten days before a final adjourn-
ment will be reached. The Senate Commit
tee on Irrigation and Reclamation of Arid
Lands is expected to arrive here Monday,
when the convention will confer with the
Senators On the question of artesian wells
and irrigation in North Dakota.
TALKING TARIFF ALREADY.
In the Montana Convention this morning
q memorial was presented asking the Treas
ury Department for a speedy decision on
the Mexican lead question. 1t was referred
to the Committee on Mining. The commit
tee of the whole recommended the bill on
miscellaneous subjects for adoption.
Marshall introduced resolution that
school lands living adjoining to town sites
A.,l1 ha ool1 lrr in,
poor people q chance to obtain homes and
protect their titles against land sharks. 1t
was referred to the Committee on Public
Lands and Exemptions. The section was
passed prohibiting Legislatures, members of
the judiciary and the Boards of Equaliza-
tion from accepting passes from railroads
under the penalty of forfeiture of Office and
emoluments.
At the afternoon session the convention in
committee of tbe whole considered the bill
of legislative departments. By it half of
the Senators are to serve one year and the
other half three years. A ballot must de-
eide who shall serve long and short terms.
The House is to be composed of 55 members,
the Senate of 16. All bills passed by the
Legislature are to contain but one subject,
to be clearly defined by titles. The bill was
numerously amended.
A LITTLE POLITICS.
The apportionment of the State into Sem
atorial districts, one for each county, called
out heated debate. Accusations of party
divisions were frequent. The Republican,
members made desperate efforts to have an
adjournment before a vote was put. Their
motion was lost and recess called for. The
Democrats wanted q yea and nay vote. It
was done to "feel" the opposing members
on the subject. The intention was to do
some strong lobbying against the Demo-
cratic efforts establishing representation in
the Senate according to population. The
motion for a recess lost on tie vote The
convention adjourned without taking vote.
At Sioux Falls the South Dakota Con-
vention began its labors at 9 o'clock this
and has continued in session all
day. The consideration of the report of the
Schedule Committee was resumed. The
as reported, provides for the elec-
tion of State officers in October next, whose
terms of Office will not expire until January,
1892. County officers are to be elected in
1890, and every two years there,-
after.
ELECTIONS RATHER FREQUENT.
By this arrangement South Dakota will
have a general election every year.. Steps
were taken in the committee to avoid this.
but it was decided that the convention had
no power to elect State officers in October
next, whose terms of Office should expire
before the term prescribed in the Constitu-
tion. When the section covering this point
was reached an amendment was offered
making the terms Of State officers expire in
1891, thereby providing a term of about IA
and remedying the evil OF annual
elections by making the election of State
and court officers coincident.