Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-18
MUST GIVE In NAMES.
LAW REQUIRING COMPANIES TO
REPORT OFFICERS & DIRECTORS.
The STATUTE BEING CRITICISED.

piled With the Act and Steps May
De Made 10 Enforce 1.-THE De-
iinquent-Tax.
Many strong protests have been regis.
tered In the Hastings Court OF late by
representatives OF the corporations
which fell heirs to rather irksome law
at the hands OF the last General Assem-.
bly,.
The act, which constitutes Chapter No
81. bears the following title: IAN act
TO require all companies. other than those
incorporated for works OF internal i'm
provement. incorporated under the gene.
raj incorporation law OF this Common
wealth, TO file annually a list OF their
officers and directors, and in cases when
the officers and directors are not resi-
dents OF the county or corporation
where the principal Office of the COM
pany is located. 10 appoint resident at
torneys or agents, and to prohibit them
from exercising their charter privileges
SNAIL
have been complied with"
PROVISIONS OF THE ACT.
The act was approved March Sd of this
year. 1t provides that every incorpor-
ated company other than those incor-
porated for works of internal improve
ment. shall, within thirty days after each
annual meeting, certify TO the Clerk of
the county or corporation court where
its principal Office is located n list of the
officers and directors of such company
elected at its annual meeting, and It shall
be the duty OF the Clerk Of such county
or corporation court to keep a file OF
such certificates, which shall be open to
public inspection. Every company whose
officers and directors are non-residents
of the county or corporation in which its
principal office is located shall be re-
quired annually by written power Of at
torney to appoint some practicing attor-
ney at law upon whom all legal process
against the company may be served, and
who shall be authorized 70 enter an ap-
pearance in its behalf. Such power of
attorney shall be recorded in the Clerk S
office.
A HEAVY PENALTY.
Inc penalty prescribed IOr nOn-COnl-
pliance with this law is as follows:
ANY such company failing after the
passage of this act, to comply with its
provisions. shall be prohibited from exer-
cising any rights whatever under its
charter of incorporation. until the pro-
visions of this act have been complied
with; but this provision shall not oper-
ate TO prevent the enforcement of any
contract against such company made by
1t during the period of such default"
The passage of this act was greeted
with a howl of disapproval. and though
many corporations have sent in the re-
quired certificate, many more have failed
to comply with the law, and measures
are now being considered to enforce the
penalty. Exactly what steps are to be
taken is not known, but that the delin-
quent corporations will shortly hear
something unpleasant concerning their
failure TO comply is quite certain.
LAND-TAX SYNDICATES RETIRE.
The syndicates who came here several
weeks ago TO operate under the new de-
linquent tax law have retired from the
field. That their absence is only tenn
porary, however, is shown by a commu-
nication received by Mr.. Leroy Brown a
day or so ago, asking him not 10 press
his test case In the Supreme Court until
the legal representative of the Roanoke
syndicate can DO present to argue the
other side Of the question.
The syndicates, IL is understood arc
preparing TO fight the test cases, and in
the mean time the matter remains In
allowance, the notices of application are
not being served, and it is unlikely that
anything further will be done until an
opinion is handed down in the Supreme
Court touching those points that have
been raised. Mr.. Brown said last night
that he is confident his plea will be sus-
tanned but inasmuch as 1t does not cover
all the questions that may be raised by
the syndicates, other cases will also be
submitted TO the arbitrament of the
court.
MONEY REVERTS TO THE STATE.
In the Chancery Court yesterday a de-
cree was handed down ordering that the
sum of S496.9J, being the balance in bank
to the credit of the Richmond Banking
and Insurance Company, shall be paid
into the State Treasury. The decree APP
points Mr.. George j. Hooper a commits
sioner of the court TO turn the money
over to the State authorities.
The Richmond Banking and Insurance
Company, which was presided over by
Mr.. John i. Davis, failed about seven
years ago. At the time Of its dissou-
ton there remained about $50 10 the
credit of the depositors, and the sum
was deposited by the court in the Plant
ers National Bank. 1t has remained in
this institution for seven years. and now
reverts TO the State. The fact that this
money could be obtained by those who
had invested ii with the Banking and
Insurance Company was several times
advertised, but none Of the depositors
appeared to claim it. The legal expenses
amounted to s25305. which sum has been
deducted from the principal.
Rev. DR.. Paul Whitehead qualified in
this court as executor of the estate Of
Silas c. Whitehead The estate is valued
at about $1,000.
DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS INSTITUTED
Suit for divorce was Instituted yester-
day in the Law and Equity Court by Au-
gusta c. Geer from her husband, George
Geer. The bill filed alleges that the cou-
pie married in Bristol, Conn, In the year
1894 but have been living in Richmond
for some time past. The bill charges
cruelty and infidelity. An injunction was
granted on the above by Judge Minor,
restraining Geer from interfering with
his wife's personal liberty, and also from
selling certain personal property until
further orders from the court.
The suit OF Slater. Myers e. Co. against
c.. Morano for merchandise purchased is
now on trial.
The case of E. C. Fischer. white man
D-odd years age. charged with improper
conduct toward Mabel Lee Wheelwright,
a small white girl. was set for trial in
the Hastings Court yesterday. but when
e. was called IL was stated by DR. w W.