The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-09-10
GETS AFTER THEM
Secretary Of State and Corporal
ions In Minnesota Z
HIS RECOMMENDATIONS
J. A. SChmahl Proposes to the State
to Keep Careful Tab on These
Organizations

]. A. Schmahl, Secretary of State
makes a number of excellent recon-
mendations in his annul report, which
is now about ready to issue to the
public. Mr.. Schmahl has been getting
after the corporations and has this
to say, relative to the annual state
ments from these organizations:
''As a result of the remarkable in
crease of corporations organized unI,
der the laws of this state, cannot
too strongly recommend to your hon
orable body the wisdom of the enact
ment of a law thai will require all
corporations organized for pecunfary
gain. the articles of which are re-
ouired to be filed with this depart
nent, and also all foreign corpora
tions doing business in the state, to
make an annual statement to this
office. THIS statement should be, re-
ouired on or before July 81 of each
year, and it should consist of list
os the directors and officers elect
ed for the ensuing year, the place OF
business and location of plants ant
warehouses. 1t should also require
a list of the stockholders and the
amount of the capital stock disposed
Of The enactment of such law, to-
gether with the requirement of an
annual filing fee Of from S. to SIC
for each corporation would be of i'm
mense benefit to the people OF this
state, both from the standpoint Of
knowing what corporations are active
lv engaged in business, as well as
from the standpoint of increased rev.
enues for our treasury. Such a fee
and such a report would work nc
hardship upon any of the corporations
enjoying the privileges and protection
OF the Minnesota corporation laws
The proposed law should also contain
a clause giving the secretary of state
the right, in case no report is made
within reasonable time, to declare
the charter of the corporation re.
voked. The latter recommendation is
made to your honorable body for the
reason that there are on the records
of this department at the present
time, undoubtedly thousands o
names of corporations, which in reah'
ty do not now exist. AS result OF
these non existing, although record
existing corporations, the records o.
this department are not only heavily
encumbercd by names which ought tt
be stricken from these records, but
with names which are almost daily
asked for by newly organizing com.
panies.
'"The work of the tax commission
created by the last session of the
legislature, as a result of the enact
ment of such law, would be material
lv advanced by the reports, in it's ef-
forts to get at the active corporations
Of the state.''
Mr.. Schmahl recommends that leg.
islative bills be engrossed and en-
rolled on a typewriter, instead of by
hand. This recommendation comes
from Mr.. Schmahl's experience as
chief clerk of the house and is as
follows:
In view of the large number OF
complaints that arise. after each ses-
sion of the legislature over what is
termed as defective engrossment OF
defective enrolment of bills by your
honorable body, have to recommend
for your consideration, the abolishins
OF system that has been in vogue
ever since the creation of Legislative
bodies, j. e., the engrossment and en-
rollment of bills by long hand. Al
Continued on pages