Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-02-01

Senate Bill No. IS, popularity known
as 1.-The Dawson bill" introduced by
Mr.. Davis 'fby request" is a measure
we'll calculated to attract the atten-
ton of the legal profession and cor
%porations of the State.
1t is entitled "a Bill to provide ad-
ditional revenue for the State, by in
creasing the license taxes of corpora
tions and joint stock companies"
A better title would be: "a Bill to
amend and re-enact the Code of West
Virginia in so far as said Code may
apply to corporations, for the sake of
fees for the Auditor and Others be-
cause the measure literally tears the
corporation laws of the State to tat
tiers and aims to re-enac them in such
manner as viii provide much money
for officials already over-burdened
with fees. The full title OF this pre-
cious document is as follows:
"A bill to provide additional rev.
enue for the State, by increasing the
license taxes of corporations and joint
stock companies; that is to say, to
amend and ~re-enact Sec. 3 of Chap.
81 Of the Code, and Secs. 6, II, 16, IS,
p, "a, 35, 81, 80, Al, 46, AZ, so, 81, 80,
80, of Chap. SO Of the Code, and Secs.
3, 10, II, Is, 20, q, %, %, 80, 80, of
Chap. "a of the Code, and add a sec
ton to be numbered S3 to Chap. "a of
the Code, concerning interpretations
and regulation of corporations and
joint stock companies, and to amend
and re-enact Secs. Sc, 81, 80, 80, 81 and
81 of Chap. 80 of the Code concerning
license taxes of corporations and
Joint stock companies, and to repeal
Sec. SO of Chap. 80 of the Code and re-
peal Sec. 4 of Chap. 90 of the Code,
and to repeal Secs. As, 48 and 81, of
Chap. SO of the Code, and to repeal
Sec. 5 Of Chap. 4 of the Code, and to
amend and re-enact Sec. 8 of Chap. &c
OF the Code concerning the separate
property rights, powers and privil-
leges of married women"
That is pretty sweeping. No less
than thirty-nine sections of the Code
are involved, and one entirely new
section is added, making lorty in all
a very comprehensive measure, and
one not at all to the liking of a good
many people, once it is understood.
One feature of the bill which will
attract attention is contained on page
10, amending and ~re-enacting Sec. 81
of Chap. SO of the Code. That section
now reads as follows:
"E1 Tho Don rd cho11 hold ~oaot;oo ~,
"a such time as they see fit, or the
President shall require. They may,
by resolution, prescribe when and
where their regular meetings shall be
held, how special meetings shall be
called, and what notice of their meet
ings shall be given
The proposed new section reads:
81. Subject to the provisions o. the
| bylaws, and of the laws of this State,
the Beard shall hold meetings at such
times and places and upon such no.
--e as it may prescribe or determine;
and the bylaws may provide that any
action CT a majority and the record
thereof, if assented to in writing by
all the other members Of the Board,
shall always be as valid and effective
in all respects as if unanimously
passed by the full Board in regular
meeting assembled
That section is apparently devised
to enable a bare majority 'of a Board
of Directors to meet when and Wnere
they please, take such ACTION as they
please, even without the knowledge
Of the minority, and then, by such
means as may be convenient or appli-
cable, secure the assent Of others un-
till it becomes unanimous through
written assent, no matter how obtain
ed. But the meat in the c|ocoanut is
founu when the proposed new Sec.
Sc of Chap. SO is struck. The present
! section reads:
'86. Upon every corporation which
has heretofore obtaineD or which shall
hereafter obtain a charter or certii-
cate of incorporation from this State,
and whose principal place of business
or chief works are located inside of
this State, there shall be an annual
license tax of ten dollars, to be paid
on or before the first day of May OF
each year. or at the time of obtaining
such charter or certificate of incOrpor-
alton, and on or before every first day
: Oh May thereafter, DIS Iu0 case may We
to the Auditor, and by him turned in
to the general treasury
The new section runs thus:
$50. Every corporation which has
heretofore obtained or : which shall
hereafter obtain a charter or certif-
cate of incorporation from this State.
and whose principal place of business
or chief works are located within this
State, shall be known as a resident
corporation for the purposes of this
charter, and shall pay an annual Ii
cense tax as follows:
IF the authorized capital stock be
not more than ten thousand dollars,
ten dollars.
If the authorized capital stock be
more than ten thousand dollars and
not more than twenty-five thousand
! dollars. fifteen dollars.
IF the authorized capital stock be
more than twenty-five thousand dol
lars and not than fifty thousand
dollars. twenty-five dollars.
''If the authorized caDital stock ne