The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-28
THE CONsTITUTIONAL CONTENTION
Articles Treating of Corporations Novel TO
the Organic Law of the state.

COLUMBIA. :. c., Sept. 27.-In the
Constitutional Convention the committee
on corporations reported an article cover
ing that subject In nineteen sections,
most of which are wholly novel in the
organic law of this State. the old Con-
st,ution having touched very lightly upon
TIE regulation Of corporations.
The first section defines corporations
TO be all associations and JOINT stock
companies having powers ana provisions
possessed 10y individuals or partnerships,
and cxcludes municipal corporations.
Successive sections snow the following
provisions OF general interest.
No railroad express. telegraph, or tele-
phone company is allowed 10 make con-
tracts relieving 1t from its common law
liability.
40 charter shall be granted by special
law, except to institutions under the con-
troll OF the state but the Legislature is re-
uuired TO provide for their organization
under general laws, and all charters are
10 be subject to repeal.
Every corporation doing business I'm the
State shall maintain at least one pubic
office IN it for the transaction OF Dusi-
ress and exhibit of the holdings OF STOCK,
etc.
All determinations in charges or IA
cilties Of transportation, and all charges
OF higher rates Tor shorter tnan longer
distances are prohibited.
ANY railroad may connect with cross or
intersect any other railroad. No railroad
OF transportation company shall control
O. consolidate with parallel or competing
lines and jures are to decide whether
lines are parallel or competing me
Legislature is forbidden TO grant any
foreign association or corporation
license 10 build. operate or lease railroad
lines in South Carolina.
But IN case OF the interstate lines tneOwn-
ers must be incorporated under the state
laws. No general or special law shall De
passed for the benefit Of any foreign
corporation operating railroad in the
state.
.lc LEGISLATURE is forbidden to grant
any charter for banking purposes, but
corporations o associations, for such pur-
poses may be formed urder general laws
stock watering Il eNpr sssly prOnlD''e 20
The Legislature is required 10 provide for
the election of officers of corporations
by the cumulative plan.
Corporations shall engage in no hnsl-
ness except that specifically authorized
qured 20 pass laws against all truss
combinations. contracts, AID agreements
inimtCal 10 the pablo welfare, ana 20
prevent abuses. unjust DIS ,rlminaut ms,
aid eXtortion. and shall provide FOR tie
SUPP rvision and regulation Of such COM
parics by committee or otherwise.
4 railroad commission is established
it's duties to be regulated by law. the cX-
sion of all present powers until otherwise
provided by legislation.
Every emplOye of a corpora ton doing
business In the State shall have the same
rights and remedies for an INJURY suffer-
ed by him from the act or omission OF
such corporation or It's employees as are
allowed to other persons or employees.
All waivers of this section shall be
null and void.
ail charters under which organization
in good faith shall not in good faith
take place and business commenced with
I'm a year from the adoption Of the Con-
stitution shall he thereafter void
Stringent provisions are made against
any legislative modification Of these pro-
visions.
The report of the Committee on NUM-
cipalities left IL optional with the Legs
lature o license liquor selling. prOhiblt or
continue the dispensarv system.
\ motion was made 90 amend by pro-
hitting the granting OF licenses Tor inc
sale of liquor There was long debate
upon this the Conservative members ana
some ,eformers decarin. that there was
general understanding during the cam
paign that this question should be left
open.
Az last Tillman said that he had
pledged himself 10 leave II open and
committed. and while he did not want
TO ever see saloon I'm South Carolina
again. the dispensary might have TO be
abandoned for the Gothenbere system, SO
IL
sing ON his motion. the debate was
adjourned until tomorrow. to enable him
self and others 10 prepare an amend
ment. which would meet the difficulty.
After other work of no general interest
a recess was taken until evening.
The night session was the stormiest
ever held. Colonel Robert Aldrich, OFFER
ed an amendment. which denied 10 the
negro the right 10 hold any office In the
State, and for an hour and a half. argued
from decisions of the Supreme Court.
and from the congrcs siOnal records
containing the story OF the passage of
the 1ith and 18th amendments. that the
right had never been given the negro
to hold Office by the United States con-
stitutiOnal amendments
He seemed 10 impress many delegates
TO such an extent. that Senator Tillman
Jumped or him with both ut and
stormy hour or more followed. Tllman
was never more vehement in all his life.
He told them that If they did not kill
the matter then and there, they would
make the greatest mistake OF their lives,
they would be ruined. Tillman's influ-
ence controlled the situation and despite
persistent efforts to adjourn. the con
vention laid Colonel Alirich's scheme on
the table by a vote of i02 TO L.