Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-19
REFUSES CHARTER
TO TITLE COMP ANY
Garnctt Holds Practice of Pro-
fessions Not Proper Subject
Of Incorporation.
QUESTIONS UNITED DOCTORS
Suggests That Attorney-General
Take Steps to Have It's Char
ter Annulled.
QUESTIONS UNITED DOCTORS

christopher T. Garnctt chairman OF
the state Corporation Commission, la st
night advised Attorncy-C;cncral John
Garland Pollard that. under an opinion
rendered yesterday by the chairman
"t tn" commission. il would seem that
INC United Doctors. Inc. of this city.
cannot be licensed 10 practice medicine.
and its advertisements for that pur-
pose and its practice of medicine is
illegal Tho matter was referred to
the Attorncy-Gcneral for his opinion.
so that. if 50 advised. he may take
quo "arranto proceedings To cancel the
charter of tho corporation.
the United Doctors wore granted a
charter by tho state Corporation Com
mission on Juno |. 1916. and under its
provisions they ar" licensed Ia engage
in tho general practice of medicine in
all its branches and in the general
practice of surgery. by doctors and
surgeons regularly licensed under the
laws OF the State Of Virginia. may
practice optometry by regularly
licensed practitioner. and may manu-
facturc aud sell all kinds of medicines
and medical preparations
REFUSES TO GRANT CHARTER
TO TITLE AND ABSTRACT co.
Mr. ,iarnett. in refusing yesterday
TO grant a Charte! to the Richmond
Title and Abstract Company. Inc for
tho general practice of law i'm this
state. handed down Il written opinion
in which he concludes that we should
no; only refuse to issue the charter
applied for in this case but that we
shall not in tho future issue any
charter authorizing e corporation to
practice either law. medicine or
dentistry"
Ills letter to the Attorney General in
reference to tho matter reads as fol-
lows:
Enclosed herein YOU will find copy
OF an opinion this day rendered by
me as chairman OF the state Corpora
tion Commission on tho question Of
whether the commission has the power
TO issue charter TO corporation for
the purpose of lracticinG law. You
will notice that in this opinion We have
taken tho position that no such chart
should be granted by the State Cor
poration Commission.
we have in this opinion followed
the opinion Of tho Supreme Court of
Appeals OF New York and in i, We
indicate that VIC shall not in the future
issue charter 10 ii corporation for the
practice OF either law. medicine or
dentistry. since it is shown. in the
opinion OF the Supreme Court of Ap-
pcals Of New Ior.i. tina; they all stand
on the same footing
BROAD POWERS ARE
CONFERRED IN CHARTER
'On Juno /. 1916. tho commission
issued q charter To tho United Doctors
Inc. for purposes stated IN it's ccrtif-
cate. as follows:
ITO engage in the general practice
OF medicine in all its branches and for
the general practice OF surgery in all
ITS branches By doctors and surgeons
regularly licensed under tho laws OF
the state Of Virginia. for the practice
of optometry by regularly licensed
practitioner and 10 manufacture and
sell all kinds Of medicines and medical
preparations.
Under tho opinion inclozed here
with, u would seem that TINS company
cannot hc licensed to practice med
icinc, and that its advertisements for
that purpose and it's practiciug med
:cinc is illegal. At least. I ain refer
ring this matter 10 YOU for your opin-
ion and action. 80 that. If 50 advised
you may take quo warranto proceed
inSs TO cancel the charter or this ear
poratiou"
Mr.. ,;arnctt holds that the laws OF
Virginia place upon tho State Corpora
ton Commission the duty ot issuing
charters TO p"rs"rS who intend To en-
gage as "a corporation i'm ANY lawful
business" but that the practice of a
profession cannot he construed as
coming within the meaning of that
term. In his ruling he quotes at
length from an opinion of tho supreme
Court Of Appeals Of New York. which.
i'll synopsis. is as follows:
The use OF the term lawful bus
mess means a business lawful TO all
who wish TO engage in it. aud tho
term is used tn refer 10 business in its
ordinary sense. aud not tho business
or calling Of The members Of a great
profession.
The practice OF law is no; a bus
iucsS open to all. but personal right.
limited To few persons Of good moral
character. with special qualifications
aSccrtaincd and certified. after Il long
course of study. both general and pro-
fcssional. and a thorough examination
by state board, and therefore, the
.
of franchise from the state, con.
fcrrcd only for merit
SENI.IiSS CORPORATIONS CANNOT
CLAIM RIGHT DENIED WOMEN
NO one can practice law unless lie
has taken AN oath OF Office and has
become an officer OF the court. subject
to its discipline and liable to punish
mcnt for contempt. Tho relation OF
an attorney and client is that OF
master and servant. in "a limited ard
diGniiicd sense involving the highest
trust and confidence, and cannot be
delegated"
Mr.. Garnctt calls attention TO :hc
fact that only male citizens can
qualify To practice law in this state.
surely il the members of the fe-
male SEX he says. arc. by implica-
ton from the statute prohibited from