The Opelousas courier., 1897-01-16
OH A RTElR
Merchants EXCHANGE.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

UNIFIED STATES OF AM EIItt A,
STATE OF LOUISIANA,
Parish of st. Landry. City of Opeloll-;s.)
BE 1T KNOWN. That on the 2lst day OF De
cenlber, 1896, before me, Isaac Rroa. notary
public duly commissioned and qualified III and
for the parish of st Landry State uf Louisiana,
in the presence OF the undersigned witnesses,
personally came and appeared tie persons
whose signatures are hereto subscribed. who
declare That awaiting themselves of the pruv-
slonS of the laws OF the State OF Louisiana, rel
a1ive TO the organization of CORPORATIONS, they
do. by these presents, form and constltutr
themselves a body corporate IN law. for tie oh
Jects and purposes under the agreement and
stipulation following, to-Wlt:
ARTICLE |.
The maine, style and title OF said corporation
shall I've the MERCHANTS EXCHANGE, and
It's donllclc shall be III the CIty DpclOI>:s, in
the State of Louisiana and ii shall have ro""r
and authority To exist and enjoy succession IN
derlts said corporate maine for he full term and
period ol twenty-five years from and alter thl9
day and date; to make and use u corporate
seal and the same to break, alter and change
al pleasure; to hold, receive. ltaac and lllr
chase, sell and convey. well as mort gage
allcnate and hypothcratc nltttCr It's said cor
porate name, both real and personal property;
to sue and be sued in its corporate name; to
make ana establish such bylaws, rules and reg
uatIons for the proper management and re-
lation of its AFFAIRS may be necessary ard
proper, ana the same to change. alter or amend
ut pleasure; and generally said corporation
shall possess, exercise and enjoy all rights and
privileges guaranteed by law under corpora
tons, and all citations and other legal process
shall be served upon the president. and III case
OF his absence upon the vice president acting
in his stead.
ARTICLE II.
The objects and purposes for which this cor
po"atlcn Is established are hereby declared to
he az follows:
1st The cultivation of honorable and proper
methods of business and fair dealing.
2nd. The announcement OF any wise meas
urc proposed for the promotion Of the welfare
OF It's members and the p0lnmIInItE NJ lIInrr
3rd. To strive constantly To improve the bus
mess of this parish and cultivate friendly feel
ing among all business men.
4tll. To protect and dctcnG any member of
this ASSOCIATION against an encroachncnt sf
his legal rights as n business man. and the cot
lection of illegal, excessive or nne4ual licenses
or taxes.
ARTICLE III
The affairs of this corporation shall he con
Quoted by a board of directors composed of
scvcn;ncmbers of tina association, one of whom
shall he elected president and another vice
president and another treasurer. Five shall he
Il quorum. They shall he elected annually on
the first Monday after the LIST of January be
ginning in the year 1898. The first board OF di-
rectors shall be composed of, 1st Isaac RoOs,
and Jules Mflancon, 3rd j. X. Sandoz, 4th A. e.
Skiles, with VIM. NJ. Thompson, president [. j.,
Shute, vice president, and Jos. I.as3alIe as
treasurer.
The board Of directors elected in 1898, and af
ter every election thereafter, shall meet within
ten days after tho election and elect its officers.
and attorney whenever said board deem it ne
cessary, fix their compensation and discharge
them at will.
ARTICLE ".
No member of the association shall ever hc
held liable or responsible fOi' the contracts or
faults of the said corporation i'll any further
sum than the unpaid balance due the said cor
poraton for annual dues, or assessment levied
While a member OF the ASSOCIATION.
ARTICLE V.
Any member may resign his membership
when clear of the books.
ARTICLE VI
Regular meetings of the association shall be
held on ---, and the president may call spe-
cla meetings whenever in his Judgment the
welfare of the association demands it. or at the
request OF five members i'll good standing he
shall convene the members of the association
within five days after he receives notice of
such request in writing.
ARTICLE VII.
All amendments or notifications of this char
ter shall be submitted in writing TO the board
Of directors II the said boar, approves them,
the Preai lent shall call special meet ing of the
association, through a notice in the public
press, stating the object of the CALL and not
later than five days after the board OF directors
has approved such amendments shall this
the association shall take place five days after
the issuance of said notice.
IT shall take two thirds of Tie members pres
cnt at such meeting to adopt any amendment
or modification
ART. VIII
This corporatlOp may he dissolved or llQul-
dated sooner than the period hereinbeiore pro
vided for, by % vote of three-fourths OF the
members in good standing,
In the event of such dissolution or ElOutat ton
at any time the President OF the board OF dl-
rcctOrs shall appoint (thret) comm lSSioncrS.
whose duty it shall be to wind up tie affairs OF
the association in as short time possible.
The board of directors shall provide for the
fees of the commissioners prior to their enter
ing upon the duties of their office. They shall
be clothed with all requisite and legal authority
to carry into effect the purposes of their ap-
pOlntment.
All persons who are not chartered members
of this association. who are following Il lRgitl
mate business and are of good reputc are cntI-
tied to membership. subject to such l'y-la"s,
rules and regulations prescribed by sald aSsD-
citation. All who become members nust sign
the charter and by law
d. EDOS * SONS.
OPELOUeAS MERCANTILE CO..
{. IIEBERT & CO.
J LASSAILE.
!. X. SANDCL,
GUS. FUSELIEn.
FEANkEL. 4 MEYER, AM, others.
L. ISAAC kOOS.
Notary Public.
Having examined the within and foregoing
act of incorporation. find none of the objects
and purposes therein stated i'll conflict with
the laws of the State of louisiana I there
fore approve the same.
Officially at Opelousaa, this 31St day OF De
cember, A. D., 1896.
r. LEE GARLAND,
10 Dist Att'v llth Judicial Dist of la