The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1900-01-19
REPORT OF SECRETARY OF STATE.

January q, 1896, to December ~, 1899, number
5,l55. OF these $3.50 were to officers elected by
the people; 1915 to officers appointed by the
Governor. The appointiye officers include:
state officers ... ...,...,....... ...-.,..'. .
Onited states Senators ,.,,,..,.-.,..,'.'. z
Judges OF the Supreme Court, ........-,.... 2
Circuit Judges IL
Chancellors .
District Attorneys 4
Trustees OF Educational and Benevolent In
situations ...... PIE
State Boards OF Health, Pharmacy and Den
tistry ............ 90. ............. ..,.. %
Leyee Commissioners 81
Commissioners of Deeds ...... ........,..,., a.
Notaries Public ,..... ....-.....-...-..ls5
County Ofirers. ,.....,.. ....r...,."..'42 40
Municipal Officers. go.
The commissions to military officers, though
%attested, are not recorded in this office. These
will appear in the report of the Adiutant-Gen-
eral. For the years 1896 1899 they number tSI.
OF these l4l were to officers in the Spanish
American war, and 233 in the recognized Ma
tional Guard.
The charters recorded for corporations dur
ing the four years number 5G5. or these 4G were
to manufacturing companies, IS to mercantile
companies, II to banks, "a to telephone com
panies, p gin companies, u lumber companies,
"a oil mills, 6 cotton mills, ID railroads, b street
railways, ! water and light companies. Most Of
the cotton mill charters were granted during
the present year. z
The uniform fee for passing upon and record
ing charters is 50. 50 that the total fees tor the
four years amount to the insignificant sum OF
81 ,695. Inasmucl as these fees go into the
treasury, | most respectfully and earnestly re.
new the recommendation made in my last
report, that a schedule OF fees for charters be
adopted, AS in most of the other States, discrim-
mating between corporations Tor proht ana
those for social, fraternal and benevolent pur-
poses. | subnG that no charters be considered
for a less fee til s.. and that the fees for cor
p%orations for pro ; be regulated by a maximum
and minimum sch 'ule, or by a per cent. on cap
ital. Where the st named plan obtains IN
other States the fes aries from a to l per cent.
A New Jersey corporation, Tor Instance, has
$4,000 900 of its capital employed in Illinois, and
for this 5000 was paid into the Office OF Score
tary of state. The total fees paid by corpora
tiAns for charters in Illinos for 1897 and 1898
amounted to 1924, l0l.S SO. These were derived
mostly from foreign and domestic corporations,
antitrust afidayits and notary public commits
sions. The graduated charter fees of New Jersey
Yielded a revenue OF $15s, QUO for the fiscal year
ending November /. 1899.
The aggregate of capital stock Incorporated
in Mississippi during the past four years
amounts to S25 ga. They would not object, and
they should y required to pay a reasonable lee
for the clerical labor involved and for the pro-
lection afforded by the laws OF the state.
In most Of the States, notaries public pay a
commission fee. During III four years 1855 were
appointed. AS it is an Office 'for revenue only
and, to the extent they collect fees, diminish
fha paruuieifpy that would otherwise hn realized
by elected officers. clerks and justices OF the
peace, | that a fee Of So be charged
each appointee for his term OF four years. This
would not materially decrease the number OF
applications for the Office, and would add about
$3.50 per annum to the public revenue.
Inquiries are frequently received from corpo-
rations in other States asking for the laws gov
erning foreign corporations in this State, espe-
cially as to the recording OF their charters, the
fees for same, etc, and citizens OF this state
make frequent inquiries for copies OF such char
tiers. / suggest that provision be made for the
filing in the onice OF Secretary # State of the
charters of foreign corporations. and that a
nominal fee be charged therefor.
Guaranty and surety Companies.
Under the Acts of 1894 and 1896. guaranty and
surety companies pay a privilege tax OF 500 per
annum to the Auditor; are required to be
licensed from this Office on the lst OF April al
nually, and their annual statements are made
and filed in this office. | submit that the Audi
tors receipt and the license by Secretary OF
State should be OF even date. Indeed, the license
by Secretary OF State might be dispensed with
and the annual statement should be filed with
the Auditor, as in the case of all other Insurance
companies. ! suggest also that surety COM
panies be required to file an annual statement
L-,,... -,,.p 81 ruV,Int unn Losses
paid, losses incurred. and amount OF risks.
As many OF the bonds OF public officers and
others are now made by surety companies, and
the Indications being that most bonds Will
hereafter be made in this way, the privilege tax
of 500 Is exceedingly moderate compared with
the tax required of fire, life and accident lnsuT-
ance companies. They should each pay at least
$3.50 per annum. The risk, compared with fire
companies, Is trifling, and the annual statement
OF AN guaranty companies show substantial In
crease OF capital.
There are seyeuty-seven insurance companies
OF all kinds doing business in Mississippi. The
risks they carry and the premiums they collect
amount to many millions OF dollars annually
an interest that would seem to demand special
supervision, rather than being made an annex
OF the Auditors ofliceor OF the Office OF Secre'
tary Of State.
The receipts of this office from all sources
from, September 80, 1897, TO September 30, 1899,
are as follows:
Laws Of Mississippi .,.,",..",...''.' ; 100 DO
Sales OF Annotated Code ,,....".."..., 800 30
Sales of Mississippi Reports ........... @2o 0"
Recording Charters, Commissioners of
Deeds, e.c......... .....,...,. ...,... l,l55 Is
From Treasurer, from September 80,
,so- to Sentember 20. ls99. ......... 1895 IS
From others sources Is Is
Si,7l5 Sc
Disbursements.
Receipt Warrants. I ON 81
Receipt Warrants commandments. WIS W
Baceint warrants 100 G5
Receipt Warrants. ..,,....".."..''. l,la' 10
Miscellaneous, Capitol repairs, sup
plies, postage, express, etc, as per
.ouchers IN file ..... 2.0li "a
S4,T25 Ga
Leaving amount due Secretary Of State
on September 80, 1899. .......,.....,t 10 ~
since the price of the Annotated Code was re-
duced to 81, l.ss2 copies have been sold and that
many dollars paid into the treasury. There are
still several thouasnd copies on hand, many
more than can be sold before 1t becomes neces-
sary to make another. ! recommend that where
copies OF the Code distributed TO public Officers
Immediately after their publication, have been
los, or DESTROYED, or seriously damaged by use.
that the Secretary OF State be authorized to
supply them on a proper showing by the parties
applying. Also that copies be distributed to
the County superintendent OF Education and
TO the schools In separate districts In when
state History and Civics are taught.
Copies Of Hilgard's and Hsrper's Geological
Rc%ports-bothr published prior to lse5-have