(ftortipU aiam ^rlynnl ICtbrata CorneH Unwers>.v Ubrary KFN5345.A3 1895 _-i.'.«a II The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924022796522 THE LAW AND PRACTICE UNDER THE STATUTES CONCERNING BUSINESS CORPORATIONS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. INCLUDING THE TEXT OF THE BUSINESS CORPORATIONS LAW, THE STOCK CORPORATION LAW, THE GENERAL COR- PORATION LAW, THE TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS ^ LAW, THE JOINT STOCK ASSOCIATION LAW, THE TAXATION LAWS, AND MANY OTHER IMPORTANT STATUTES AFFECTING CORPORATIONS. / fe ''<:\'^, WITH FORMS. \^ 'y; V'\ BY ' DWIGHT ARVEN JONES, AUTHOR OF "NEGLIGENCE OF MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS " AND " CONSTRUCTIOW OF CONTRACTS." THIRD EDITION. NEW YORK: BAKER, VOORHIS & COMPANY. 1895. f' .0.' '^^ Copyright, 1895, By DWIGHT ARVEN JONES. ^■3 PRESS OF EDWARD O. JENKINS' ! NEW YORK. PREFACE, I have endeavored in the following pages not only to present the existing statute law of the state relating to business corpo- rations, but also to show the connection between this law and the kindred statutes that have preceded it. From the number of laws that have been repealed in the last two years, and from the rapidly changing legislation of the state, those who have not examined the new laws with care are not unlikely to con- clude that former statutes have been thrown to the winds, and that the state of New York has fallen into a vacillating policy with respect to business corporations. But such conclusions are not justified by the facts. For although the laws adopted in 1890, and which by their terms were to go into effect in 1891, were destructive, severe, and in many respects objection- able, they became operative without numerous amendments intended to accompany them, and in reality crept into the statute-books without reflecting any well-settled policy of the state. As soon, therefore, as the fact of the existence of the laws was appreciated, the work of improving and remodeling began, and in 1892 the legislature adopted laws substantially unlike those of 1890, although following their plan of arrangement. These laws, with the amendments made by the legislature of 1893, are those now in force, and it seems probable that they will remain the groundwork for future legislation upon this sub- ject for many years. Former laws of the state to a consider- able extent are incorporated in the existing statutes, and, as will be seen from the notes in this volume, many of the de- cisions of the state upon other statutes are helpful in arriving at the meaning of those now in force. The liberal policy of the state toward business corporations, shown by the numerous charters conferred by it in early times and by the adoption of the general act of iSir, and by much other legislation, is (iii) IV PREFACE. clearly observable in the existing laws. And the duty of the state to protect the interests of the investing and credit-giving public from imposition by its own corporate creations — a duty recognized by all conservative countries and the observance of which has been a marked feature of the history of our state legislation upon this subject — is also clearly acknowledged. And although it is believed that carefully framed alterations in these laws are still needed, on the whole it may be said that the laws of the state in respect to business corporations have been much improved, and that if some satisfactory means can be devised for guiding new legislation they are likely soon to assume excellent shape. Without some intelligent supervision over current legislation, however, there is no reasonable hope that we shall retain even the consistency and symmetry already secured. Fortunately, the State Bar Association is working to accomplish a reform in this direction, and if publicity can be given to proposed amendments, and the opinion of this asso- ciation through its appropriate committee can be expressed upon them, great progress will be made toward securing intel- ligent action. The difficulty, however, of obtaining satisfactory legislation, strikingly appears from the failure of the attempts to revise the tax laws of the state during the last session of the legislature. These laws, so far as they relate to corporations, and particu- larly those governing local taxation, remain in a most unsatis- factory condition, although this has not deterred corporators from recognizing the other advantages of the New York laws, as is evidenced by the fact that in the five months last past there have been six hundred and eighty-nine new corporations formed, "the largest number of stock corporations organized during the same period " in the history of the secretary of state's office. The g^jpwth of business corporations, however, would be much more noticeable if these bodies which are so closely allied to partnerships were not subjected to such severe taxation when they locate their principal offices in the cities of the state, and if all the tax laws were revised in a fair and equitable manner. The policy of obtaining charters in other states to lighten taxation, however, is believed to be an unwise one if the PREFACE. V capital of the corporation is to be employed here, because the marked tendency is to subject foreign corporations to increased taxation and to stricter supervision. Moreover, the exemption from state taxation in favor of manufacturing and mining cor- porations located in this state is an important element not to be overlooked in determining where taxation is the most severe. Attention is called to the provisions of the Transportation Corporations Law and to the numerous other statutes that will be found in the Appendix, and also to the new legislation of the present year, which is referred to under the word amendments, in the Index. D. A. J. 55 Liberty St., New York, June ist, 1893. NOTE TO THIRD EDITION. In the present edition of this volume the statutes applicable to business corporations are given as they have been amended by the legislatures of 1894 and 1895. The book has also been revised, many recent decisions have been referred to, and vari- ous important alterations in the notes have been made. The bill to amend the Stock Corporation Law, which passed both the senate and the assembly in 189S, was not signed by the Governor ; and as among the provisions of this bill were those authorizing corporations to change their places of business, restricting the liability of stockholders to amounts unpaid on their stock, and allowing the voluntary dissolution of a corpor- ation without the intervention of a receiver, these improvements in the law are deferred to a later date. The amendments of the. last legislature are noted on page 335. Among these will be found an important law which provides for licensing foreign corporations and various other statutes which make material changes in our laws. New York, July 24, 1895. Table of Contents. THE BUSINESS CORPORATIONS LAW. PAGE Section i. Short title and limitation of chapter I Application and scope of the law I 2. Incorporation 3 The certificate of incorporation 4 Filing and recording the certificate 5 3. Restriction upon commencement of business 6 One-half of capital to be subscribed 6 4. Reorganization of existing corporations 7 Reorganization unnecessary 8 5. Payment of capital stock 8 One- half capital to be paid in -within one year 9 6. Full liability corporations 9 Nature of a full liability corporation 10 7. Extension of business 11 Method of altering business 11 8. Consolidation of corporations 12 What corporations may consolidate 13 Organization tax upon consolidation 13 9. Submission of consolidation agreement to stockholders. ... 13 10. Powers of consolidated corporations 15 11. Transfer of property of old corporations to consolidated cor- porations 16 12. Rights of creditors of old corporations 16 13. District steam corporations 17 14. Examination of meters by agent of district steam corpora- tions 18 15. Entry by agent of district steam corporation to cut off steam 19 16. Water companies 20 Formation of water companies 20 (vii) VIU TABLE OF CONTENTS. THE STOCK CORPORATION LAW. Article I. GENERAL POWERS; REORGANIZATION. • PAGE Section i. Short title and application of chapter 22 2. Power to borrow money and mortgage property 22 Extent of power to mortgage 24 Manner of ?naking corporate mortgage 24 3. Reorganization upon sale of corporate property and fran- chises 26 4. Contents -of plan or agreement 27 5. Sale of property ; possession of receiver and suits against him 29 6. Stockholders may assent to plan of readjustment 29 7. Combinations prohibited 30 Illegal combinations 30 Article II. DIRECTORS and OFFICERS; THEIR ELECTION, DUTIES AND LIABILI- TIES. Section 20. Directors 32 Qualifications of directors 33 Election of directors 33 Powers of directors 34 Directors' meetings 36 21. Change of number of directors 36 Method of changing nutnber of directors 37 22. When acts of directors void 37 Meaning of above section 38 23. LiabiUty of directors for making unauthorized dividends. . 38 Improper dividends 39 24. Liability of directors for unauthorized debts and over-issue of bonds 40 Limit o^indebtedness of corporation 40 25. Liability of directors for loans to stockholders 41 Prohibited loans to stockholders 42 26. Transfers of stock by stockholder indebted to corporation, 42 Indorsement on stock certificates necessary 42 27. Officers 42 What officers are necessary 43 TABLE OF CONTENTS. IX PAGE Section 28. Inspectors and their oath 44 Necessity for inspectors 45 29. Books to be kept 45 What books must be kept 46 30. Annual report 47 Contents of the report 48 Time of making and filing report ' 49 Nature of penalty for neglect to report 50 Debts for which directors are liable 51 What directors are liable 51 Who may sue the directors 52 Defenses of directors 53 31. LiabiUty of officers for false certificates, reports or public notices 54 Penalty for making false certificates, etc 55 32. Alteration or extension of business 55 Method of altering or extending business $6 33. Sale of franchise and property 56 Sale of one corporation to another S^ Article III. STOCK ; STOCKHOLDERS, THEIR RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES. Section 40. Issue and transfers of stock 59 Power to issue stock ; 60 Power to hold stock in other corporations 62 41. Subscriptions to stock 63 Payment of subscriptions 64 42. Consideration for issue of stock and bonds 65 For what stock and bonds may be issued. 65 43. Time of payment of subscriptions to stock 66 Forfeiture of stock 67 44. Increase or reduction of capital stock. . . ^ 68 Power to change amount of capital stock 68 45. Notice of meeting to increase or reduce capital stock 68 Method of procedure 69 46. Conduct of such meeting ; certificate of increase or reduc- tion 69 Meeting to increase or reduce stock 70 47. Preferred and common stock 71 Preferred and common stock 72 X TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE Section 48. Prohibited transfers to officers or stockholders 72 Insolvent corporations cannot transfer property to offi- cers or stockholders 73 49. Payment by stockholders of mortgage debt pending fore- closure » 74 Right of stockholders to participate in mortgage or deed of trust 75 50. Application to court to order issue of new in place of lost certificate of stock 75 How new certificates of stock may be obtained 75 51. Order of court upon such application 76 52. Financial statement to stockholders 77 Minority stockholders entitled to statement of affairs. JJ 53. Exhibition of books by transfer agent of foreign corpora- tion 78 Transfer agents of foreign corporations must exhibit transfer books 78 54. Liabilities of stockholders 79 Liability of stockholders to servants and employees.. . . 80 Liability of stockholders to general creditors 80 Who are liable as stockholders 81 To whotn stockholders are liable 82 55. Limitation of stockholders' liability 82 Requirements respecting action against stockholders. . 83 56. Increase or reduction of number of shares 84 Method of changing par value of shares 84 THE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. Section i. Short title 87 2. Classification of corporations 87 3. Definitions 88 4. Qualifications of incorporators 89 Who may be incorporators 89 5. Filing and recording certificate of incorporation 90 Where certificates of incorporation mu.t be filed 91 6. Corporate names 92 When names of corporations conflict 92 Proceedings to change corporate name 92-97 7. Amended and supplemental certificates 97 Amended certificate to correct defects 98 8. Lost or destroyed certificates 98 Filing new certificate if original is lost 98 TABLE OF CONTENTS. XI PAGE Section 9. Certificate and other papers as evidence 99 Proof of incorporation 99 10. Limitation of powers 99 Powers of business corporations 100 n. Grant of general powers loi General powers 102 12. Limitations of amount of property of a non-stock corpora- tion 104 Stock corporation not limited in amount of property that may be held 104 13. Acquisition of additional real property 104 14. Acquisition of property in other States 104 Property may be acquired and disposed of anywhere. . 105 15. Certificate of authority of a foreign corporation 105 Foreign corporation must procure certificate, etc 106 Power of the State to exclude foreign corporations. . . 106 Effect of the commerce clause upon this power 107 United States Supreme Court decisions 107 Decisions in State courts 109 The penalty of the New York statute no To what corporations the statute applies , . 1 1 1 16. Proof to be filed before granting certificate ii2 17. Acquisition of real property in this State by certain foreign corporations 114 Corporations of other States may acquire real prop- \ erty here 114 18. Acquisition by foreign corporations of real property in this State upon judicial sales 115 All foreign corporations may purchase on foreclosure sale, etc 115 19. Prohibition of banking powers 11^ 20. Qualification of members as voters n6 Method of voting at election of directors 117 21. Proxies 118 Power to give proxies 118 22. Challenges 119 Oaths required from persons voting 120 23. Effect of failure to elect directors 120 Corporation not dissolved by failure, etc 120 24. Mode of calling special election of directors 121 Special meeting to elect directors 121 2 6. Mode of conducting special election of directors 121 Xll TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE Section 26. Qualification of voters and canvass of votes at special elec- tion 122 Proceedings at special meetings, etc. 122 27. Powers of Supreme Court respecting elections 123 Summary application by persons aggrieved. 123 28. Stay of proceedings in actions coUusively brought 124 Stockholders may prevent defaults by directors 124 29. Quorum of directors and powers of majority 124 Qualifications and powers of directors 125 30. Directors as trustees in case of dissolution 125 Dissolution by expiration of charter 1 26 31. Forfeiture for non-user 126 Dissolution because of failure to discharge corporate duties 126 Voluntary dissolution 127-132 Involuntary dissolution 132-142 Dissolution by legislative enactment 142-145 32. Extension of corporate existence 143 Extending existence. 147 33. Conflicting corporate laws 148 Relative importance of corporation laws 148 34. Laws repealed 148 35. Saving clause 148 Meaning of the above section 149 36. Construction 149 Effect upon former laws 151 37. Law revived 152 Schedule of laws repealed. 153-163 38. When notice or lapse of time unnecessary 152 39. As to acts of directors 152 40. Alteration and repeal of charter ... 152 TAXATION. Tax upon organization 164 Amount of organizatiaif tax igc PROVISIONS OF THE STATE TAX LAW. Corporations to report annually 165 Penalty for neglect to report 167 Corporations taxable ; amount of tax 168 Corporations and associations taxable 169 Amount of tax 170 Duty to remit tax 170 TABLE OF CONTENTS. XUl PAGE Reports of insurance companies 170 Tax on gross earnings of transportation corporations 172 Tax of these corporations, when payable 173 Corporations taxable hereunder exempt from other State tax 174 Taxes, how applied 174 Saving clause 171; Capital employed in the State the basis of taxation 175 Importance of the above provision 176 Comptroller may examine books 176 Comptroller may call witnesses, etc 177 Adjusting back taxes 178 Interest thereon 180 Corporations to have notice 180 Reviewing comptroller's decision 180 Warrant to collect taxes 181 Comptroller may revise account 182 Power of Supreme Court to review 182 Application of L. 1889, c. 463. . 183 Persons reporting evasions of taxes to be compensated 183 Local taxation of corporations 184 What corporations liable to taxation 184 President, etc., to deliver annual statement to assessors 185 Report to comptroller 185 Penalty for omission to make statement ; how collected 186 When suit may be discontinued 186 How corporations to be assessed 186 Proceedings on application to assessors to reduce valuation 187 Taxes to be stated and collected 188 Capital stock, etc., of corporation taxable 189 How a corporation is taxable for local purposes 189 Place of taxation 190 Local taxation of foreign corporations 191 Other taxation of foreign business corporations 191 Taxation of joint-stock associations 192 License tax on foreign corporations 192 THE TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS LAW. Article I. FERRY CORPORATIONS. Section i . Short title of chapter 195 2. Incorporation of ferry corporations 195 3. Half of capital to be paid in before commencing business. . 196 4. Powers 196 5. Effect of failure to pay in capital stock 196 6. Must post schedule of rates 196 XIV TABLE OF CONTENTS. Article II. NAVIGATION CORPORATIONS. PAGE Section io. Formation of corporation 197 11. Navigation between additional ports 198 12. Payment of capital stock , 198 13. Ferries unauthorized 198 Article III. STAGE-COACH CORPORATIONS. Section 20. Incorporation 198 21. Alteration or extension of route ' 199 22. Powers 199 Article IV. tramway CORPORATIONS. Section 30. Incorporation 199 31. Powers 200 32. May acquire land by condemnation 200 33. Crossings 200 Article V. pipe-line corporations. Section 40. Incorporation 201 41. Location of line 202 42. Condemnation of real property 203 43. Railroad, turnpike, plank-road and highway crossings .... 204 44. Construction across and along canals, rivers and creeks. . . 204 45. Consent of local authorities 205 46. Construction through villages and cities 205 47. Over Indian reservations 206 48. Over State lands 206 49. Additional powers ■. 206 50. Use of line to be public; storage; liable as common car- riers ; rates and charges 207 51. Receipts for property ; cancellation of vouchers 208 53. Monthly stat|mer*= 208 53. Fences, farm crossings and use of line not inclosed 209 54. Taxation of property 1 209 Article VI. GAS and electric LIGHT CORPORATIONS. Section 60. Incorporation 210 61. Powers 211 62. Appointment of inspectors of gas meters 2ii TABLE OF CONTENTS. XV PAGE Section 63. Deputy iuspectors 212 64. inspection of gas meters 212 65. Gas and electric light must be supplied on application.. . . 213 66. Deposit of money may be required 214 67. Buildings may be entered for the examination of meters, lights, etc 214 68. Refusal or neglect to pay rent 215 69. No rent for meters to be charged 215 70. Price of gas 215 Article VII. WATER-WORKS CORPORATIONS. Section 80. Incorporation 216 81. Must supply water; village trustees may contract for same ; tax therefor 217 82. Powers 218 83. Survey and map 219 84. Condemnation of real property ; 219 85. Corporation may contract with other cities, towns or vil- lages ; amended certificate 220 Article VIII. telegraph and TELEPHONE CORPORATIONS. Section 100. Incorporation 220 loi. Extension of lines 221 102, Construction of lines 221 103, Transmission of dispatches 221 104. Consolidation of corporations 222 105. Special policeman 222 Article IX. turnpike, plank-road and bridge corporations. Section 120. Incorpopation 224 121. Restrictions upon location of road 224 122. Agreement fot" use of highway 225 123. Application to board of supervisors 225 124. Commissioners to lay out road 226 125. Possession of and title to real estate 227 126. Use of turnpike road by plank-road 227 127. Width and construction of road 228 128. Construction of bridges 228 129. Certificate of completion of road or bridge 229 130. Gates ; rates of toll, and exemptions 229 131. Toll-gatherers ' 230 XVI TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE Section 132. Penalty for running a gate 231 133. Location of gates and change thereof. 231 134. Inspectors, their powers and duties 232 135. Change of route ; extensions and branches 233 136. Mile-stones, guide-posts and hoist-gates^ 234 137. Location of office of corporation 234 138. Consolidation of corporations and sale of franchise 235 139. Surrender of road 235 140. Taxation and exemption 235 141 . Hauling logs and timber. 236 142. Encroachment of fences 236 143. Penalty for fast driving over bridges 237 144. Acts of directors prohibited 237 145. Actions for penalties 237 146. Proof of incorporation 237 147. When stockholders to be directors 238 148. Dissolution of corporation, road to be a highway 238 149. Town must pay for lands not originally a highway 239 150. Highway labor upon line of plank-road or turnpike 239 151. Extension of corporate existence 240 Article X. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS. Section 160. Laws repealed 241 161. Saving clause 241 162. Construction 241 163. When to take effect 241 Schedule of laws repealed 242 Statutes relating to joint-stock associations 245 Statutes authorizing the formation of limited partnerships. 248 Statute allowing use of corporate name by partnership . . 254 Provisions of the Penal Code 255 Fees of Secretary of State and county clerk 263 Statutes relating to receivers 265 Act to prevent monopolies in necessities 276 Weekly Payment Law 276 Law makipg wages of employees preferred claims 278 Law requiring employees to be paid in cash 278 Law authorizing married women to vote 278 Provisions of the Code of Civ. Pro. relative to actions by and against corporations 279 Extract from the constitution of the State 282 Forms 285 Index 333 Table of Cases. [References are to pages."] A. C. Nellis Co. v. Nellis, 41 St. Rep. 599. 42 Abbott V. Jewett, 25 Hun 603. 29 Abbott V. Petersburg Granite Quar. Co. (Sup. Ct.), 43 St. Rep. 235. 71 Adams w. Mills, 60 N. Y. 533. 51,53 Adderly v. Storm, 6 Hill 624. 34 Adriance v. Roome, 52 Barb. 399. 43 Agate V. Sands, 73 N. Y. 620. 82 Alexander v. Cauldwell, 83 N. Y. 480. 53 Allen z/. Clark, 108 N. Y. 269. 51, 53 Allen V. Ward, 36 N. Y. Super. Ct. 290. 83 Almada, etc. Co. Lim., 38 Ch. D. 415. 66 American Ins. Co. v. Wellman, 69 Ind. 413. Ill American Mortgage Co. v. Tennille (Ga.), 12 L. R. A. 529. 114 American Nat. Bank v. Oriental Mills (R. I.), 23 Atl. Rep. 795 ; 11 Ry. & Corp. L. J. 206 (1891). 5, 61 American Preservers Trust v. Taylor Mfg. Co. (Mo.), 10 Ry. & Corp. L.J. 195 (1891). 31 American Silk Works v. Salomon, 4 Hun 135. 65 American Water Works Co. v. Ven- ner, 45 St. Rep, 441 ; 18 Supp. 379- IS. 44 Anderson v. Speers, 21 Hun 568, 8 Abb. N. C. 382. 39, 41, 55. Anderton v. Wolf, 41 Hun 571. 84 Andrews v. Murray, 33 Barb. 354, 9 Abb. Pr. 8. 50,51 Archer v. American Water Works Co. (N. J. Ch.), 24 Atl. Rep. 508. 61 Arthur v. Griswold, 55 N. Y. 400. 34,55 Asher v. Texas, 128 U. S. 129. 108 Aspinwall v. Sacchi, 57 N. Y. 331. 81, 82 Astor W.N. Y. Arcade R. Co., 113 N. Y. 93. 100 Astor V. Westchester G. L. Co., 33, Hun 333. 25 Atlanta Hill Mining Co. v. Andrews, 55 Super. Ct. 93. 35 Atty.-Genl. v. Great Eastern Ry. Co., 5 App. Cas. 473, 1 1 Ch. D. 480. 34, 100 Averell v. Baker (Supt. Ct.), 44 St. Rep. 540. 47 AveriU ?/. Barber, 25 St. Rep. 194. 84 Babcock v. Schuylkill & L., etc. R. Co., 133 N. Y. 420. 64 Baily v. Bancker, 3 Hill 188. 82 Ballard v. Burgett, 40 N.Y. 314. 62 Banigan v. Bond, 134 U. S. 291. jz Bank, etc. v. Ibbotson, 24 Wend. 473, 54 Bank of Augusta v. Earle, 13 Pet- 519. 105, 109 Bank of California v. Collins, 5 Hura 209. 52 Barnes v. Brown, 80 N. Y. 527. 35 Barnes t/. Suddard, 117 111. 237. 115 Barr v. N. Y., L. E., etc. R. Co., 125 N. Y. 263, 43 Alb. L. J. 151. 35, 124, 125 Bartlett v. Drew, 57 N. Y, 587. 65 Batchelder v. Council Grove Water Co. (Ch. App.), 42 St. Rep. 614.. 26 Bateman v. Western Star Mining Co., 20 S. W. 931 ; N. Y. L. J. Feb. 10, 1893. no Battershall v. Davis, 31 Barb. 323. 65 (xvli) xvm TABLE OF CASES. CRe/ertHcet are to pa^ts. Beach w. Smith, 30N.Y. 316. 64,65 Bean v. A. L. & T. Co., 34 St. R. 620. 29 Beard v. Union & Am. Pub. Co., 71 Ala. 60. 112 Beardsley v. Johnson, 121 N. Y. 224, 16 St. Rep. 773. 34 Beers v. N. Y. Life Ins. Co., 49 St. Rep. 182 ; N. Y. L. J. Dec. 2, 1892. 35.44 Benesch v. John Hancock, etc. Fire Ins. Co., 32 St. Rep. 73. 43 Berford v. N. Y. Iron Mine, 56 N. Y. Super. 236. 124 Beveridge v. New York El. R. Co., 112 N. Y. I. 34, 39, 125 Billings •z'. Robinson, 94 N. Y. 415. 62, 64, 65 Billings z/. Trask, 3oHun 314. 42, 82 Bird V. Hayden, i Robt. 383. 52 Birmingham Nat. Bank v. Keck, 55 How. Pr. 222. 83 Birmingham Nat. Bank v. Mosser, 14 Hun 605. 83 3issell V. N. Y. Central, etc. R. Co., 67 Barb. 385. 53 Blake v. Griswold, 103 N. Y. 429, 104 N. Y. 613. 47, 52, 55 Blake 7/. Wheeler, 18 Hun 496, rev'd 80 N. Y. 128. 53 Bliss V. Matteson, 45 N. Y. 22. 34 Boardman v. Lake Shore, etc. R. Co., 84N. Y. 157. 39 3ohm V. Loewers Gambrinus Brew- ing Co., 30 St. Rep. 424. 44 Bolen V. Crosby, 49 N. Y. 183. 43, 49> 51. 52 Bolton V. Natal Land, etc. Co. (1892), 2 Ch. 124. 39 Bommer v. Am. Spiral Spring Co., 81 N. Y. 468. 90 Bonnell v. Griswold, 80 N. Y. 128, 68 N.Y. 294. 49. 50. 52. 53. 55 Bosley v. National Machine Co., 123 N. Y. 550. 64 Botsford V. Dodge, 65 How. Pr. 145. 52 • BoughtonT/. Otis, 21 N.Y. 261. 51, 53 Boyce v. Montauk Gas Coal Co. (W. Va.), 16 S.W. Rep. 501 ; N.Y. L. J. Feb. 6, 1893. 35 Boyle V. Thurber, 50 Hun 259. 55 Boynton v. Andrews, 63 N. Y. 93. 66 Boynton v. Hatch, 47 N. Y. 225. 42 Brackett v. Griswold, 103 N. Y. 425. 52, 55 Bradley Fertilizer Co. v. South Pub. Co., 44 St. Rep. 119. 90 Bradt v. Benedict, 17 N. Y. 93. 54 Braem v. Merchants' Nat. Bank, 127 N. Y. 508, 40 St. Rep. 327. 73 Brand v. Goodwin, 29 St. Rep. 143. 55 Brewster v. Hatch, 122 N. Y. 349, 10 Abb. N. C. 400. 66, 90 Brick Church v. Mayor, 5 Cow. 538. 103 Bricknell v. Speir, 45 St. Rep. 65 1 . 73 Briggs V. Cornwell, 9 Daley 436. 82 Briggs V. Easterly, 62 Barb. 51. 52 Briggs V. Penniman, 8 Cow. 392. 65, 82 Brinckerhoff v. Bostwick, 88 N. Y. 52. 34 Brinkerhoff v. Brown, 7 Johns. Ch. 217. 54 Brisbane v. D. L. & W. R. Co., 94 N. Y. 204, 25 Hun 438. 39, 61, 76 Bronson v. Dimock, 4 Hun 614. 52 Brower v. Brooklyn Trust Co. (Sup. Ct.), 21 N. Y. Supp. 324. 74 Brown v. Smith, 1 3 Hun 408, 80 N. Y. 650. 9 Bruce v. Driggs, 25 How. Pr. 71. 9, 82 Bruce v. Piatt, 80 N. Y. 379. 50, 51, • 53 Buckeye Marble & Freestone Co. v. Harvey (Tenn., 1892), 46 Alb. L. J. 503. 100 Buffalo, etc. Co. v. Carey, 26 N. Y. 75. 81,90 Buffalo, etc. R. Co. v. Gifford, 87 N. Y. 294. 90 Bulkley v. Whitcomb, 121 N. Y. 107, 41 Alb. L. J.. 463. 82 Burgoyne v. Eastern, etc. R. Co., 13 N. Y. Supp. 537. 112 Burr V. Wilcox, 22 N. Y. 551. 64 Burrall v. Bushwick R. Co., 75 N. Y. 211. 62 Butler V. Smalley, loi N. Y. 71. 49, 54. 55 Byers v. Franklin Coal Co., 106 Mass. 131- 51 C. B. Rogers & Co. v. Simmons, 29 N. E. Rep. 580. Ill • Camden v. Stuart, 144 U. S. 104. 66 Cameron v. Havemeyer, 25 Abb N. C. 438. 30 References ~j a/re io pages, j TABLE OF CASES. XIX Cameron v. New York & Mt. Vernon . Water Co., 133 N. Y. 336, 62 Hun 269. 13, 149, 151 Cameron v. Seaman, 69 N. Y. 39:. 49. S3. 54 Campbell v. Am. Zylonite Co., 122 N. ^- 453. 55 N. Y. Super. Ct. 562. 24, 61, 72 Campbell v. Argenta Gold & S. M. Co., 51 Fed. Rep. i, 46 Alb. L. J. 178. 25 Carley v. Hodges, 19 Hun 187. 52 Carpenter v. Black Hawk Mining Co., 6s N. Y. 43. 24 Carr v. Rischer, 119 N. Y. 117, 50 Hun 157. 49, 50, 52 Carraher v. Mulligan, 54 Hun 638, 28 St. Rep. 439. 49, 54 Carson City Sav. Bank v. Carson City El. Co., 51 N. W. 641. loi Castle V. Lewis, 78 N. Y. 131. 25, . 35 Ca\ uga Lake R. Co. v. Kyle, 64 N. Y. 185. 90 Central City Savings Bank v. Walker, 66N. Y. 424. 126 Central Gold Mining Co. v. Piatt, 3 Daly 263. 24 Central Transportation Co. v. Pull- man's Pal. Car Co., 139 U. S. 24, 4 Am. R. & Corp. Rep. 172. 100 Cerbat Mining Co.- v. State, 29 Hun 81. 167 Chamberlain v. Rochester, etc. Co., 7 Hun 557. 127 Chambers v. Lewis, 28 N. Y. 455. 41, 52 Chandler v. Hoag, 2 Hun 613, 63 N. Y. 624. 49, 51,53 Chapman v. Comstock, 58 Hun 325. 54 . Chase v. Lord, 77 N. Y. i. 54, 66, 82 Chase v. Vanderbilt, 62 N. Y. 307. 34 Chautauqua County Bank v. Risley, 19N. Y. 369. 114 Chemical Nat. Bank v. Colwell, 132 N. Y. 250, 14 St. Rep. 682, 43 St. Rep. 876, 29 St. Rep. 726. S, 33, SI. 52, 53 Chicago Hansom Cab Co. v. Yerkes , (111,), II Ry. & Corp. L. J. 265. 35 Childs V. Smith, 46 N. Y. 34, 38 How. Pr. 328. 90, 91 Christensen v. Eno, 106 N. Y. 97. 62, 66,84 Christensen v. 1. & S. L. B. Co., 52 Hun 478. 62 Christian Union v. Yount, loi U. S. 352. 105 Christiansen v. Colby, 43 Hun 362. 82 Ciancimino v, Man, 48 St. Rep. 697. 124 Cin. Mutual, etc. Co. v. Rosenthal, 55 111.85. Ill Cincmnati Cooperage Co. v. O'Keeffe, 120 N. Y. 603, 44 Hun 64. 49 Clapp V. Wright, 21 Hun 240. 53 Clare v. Thompson, 30 Hun 365. 40 Clark V. Acosta, 9 Bosw. 1 58. 42 Clark V. Myers, 11 Hun 608. 82 Close V. Polter, 2 Misc. Rep. i, 49 St. Rep. 590. 8, 151 Coats V. Donnell, 94 N. Y. 168. 74 Cochran z/. Am. Opera Co., Lim., 20 Abb. N. C. no. 84 Cochran v. Smith, 54 N. Y. Super. Ct. 117. 50 Cochran v. Wiechers, 119 N. Y. 399. 84 Cole V. Millerton Iron Co., 133 N. Y, 164- 35 Cole V. Ryan, 52 Barb. 168. 64 CoUes V. Trow City Directory, 1 1 Hun 397. 100 Colorado Iron Works v. Sierra Grande Min. Co., 15 Col. 499, 22 Am. St. 433- III Columbus, Hocking Valley, etc. R. Co. V. Lanier, N. Y. L. J., Feb. 4, 1893- 35 Com. Ass'n v. Smith, 18 St. Rep. 151- 95 Coman v. Lakey, 80 N. Y. 345. 26 Commonwealth v. American Bell Tel. Co., 18 Atl. Rep. 122. 112 Commonwealth ex rel. v. New York, etc. R. Co., 132 Pa. 591, 19 Atl. 291, 2 Am. R. Corp. Rep. 27. 105, "5 Comptonw. The Chelsea, 128 N. Y. 537. 103 Condouris v. Imperial Turkish, etc. Co., N. Y. L. J. Mch. 29, 1893. 112 Conklin v. Secor Sewing Machine Co., 55 How. Pr. 269. 25 Conro V. Port Henry Iron Co., 12 Barb. 27. 125 Cooper Manufacturing Co. v. Fergu- son, 113 U. S. 727. 107, 109, HI Copeland v. Johnson Mfg. Co., 47 Hun 235. 35 XX TABLE OF CASES. C References are towages. Cornell v. Clark, 104 N. Y. 451. 35 Cornell v. Roach, loi N. Y. 373, 9 Abb. N. C. 275. 49, 52, 54 Cowell V. Springs Co., 100 U. S. 55. los Cox V. Gould, 4 Blatch. 341. 25, 81 Cox V. N. V. Central, etc. R. Co., 61 Barb. 615. 53 Craft V. Cuykendall, 34 Hun 285. 50 Craig Medicine Co. v. Merchants' Bank, 59 Hun 561. 35 Craw V. Easterly, 54 N. Y. 680, 4 Lans. 513. 5. 53 Crutcher v. Kentucky, 141 U. S. 47. 109 Cullern v. London, etc. Building So- ciety, 25 Q. B. Div. 481 (1890). 63 Curtain v. Father Mathew's Soc'y, 3 Daly 20. 103 Curtis V. Leavitt, 1 5 N. Y. 9. 35, 100 Cushman v. Thayer Mfg. Co., 76 N.Y. 365. 61 Cutting V. Damerel, 88 N. Y. 410. 61,65 Cuykendall v. Corning, 88 -N. Y. 129. 82, 83 Cuykendall v. Corning, 10 Fed. Rep. 342. 52 Cuykendall v. Douglass, 19 Hun 577. 71 Dabney v. Stevens, 40 How. Pr. 341, 2 S. W. 415, 43, 52, [25 Dalton V. Goodwin, 25 St. Rep. 858. 55 Davidson v. Westchester Gas Light Co., 99 N. Y. 558. 125 Davies v. N. Y. Concert Co., 36 St. Rep. 816, 128 N. Y. 635. 43 Davis V. Rockingham Inv. Co. (Va.), 155S. W. Rep. 547- 44 Davis Sewing Machine Co. v. Best, 105 N. Y. 59. 44 Dayton v. Borst, 31 N. Y. 435. 64 Dean v. Briggs, 25 Hun 122. 65 Dean v. Mace, 19 Hun |^i. 83 Dean v. Whiten, 16 Hun 203. 80 Dearborn Foundry Co. v. Augustine, 31 Pac. Rep. 327. Ill Decker v. Gardner, 124 N. Y. 334. 132 De Graff ^'. Am. Linen Thread Co., 21 N. Y. 126. 100 Demarest v. Flack. 128 N. Y. 205, S Am. Ry. & Corp. Rep. 264. 90, 99, 105, 106 Deming v. Puleston, 55 N. Y. 655, 35 N. Y. Super. 309, 33 N. Y. Super. Ct. 231. 50, 52, 53, 82. Dempsey v. Willett, 16 Hun 264. 83 Denike v. New York, etc. Lime Co., 80 N. Y. 599. » 9, 25, 127 Dewitt V. Has.ings, 69 N. Y. 518. 90 Diamond Match Co. v. Roeber, 106 N. Y. 473. 30, loi Dickson v. Mayer, 26 Abb. N. C. 257, 35 St. Rep. 482. 74. Dimpfel v. Ohio, etc. R. Co., no U. S. 209. 25 Dodge V. Havemeyer, 4 St. Rep. 561. 82 Dorris v. French, 4 Hun 292. 64, 90 Dorris v. Sweeney, 60 N. Y. 463, 64 Barb. 636. 64, 90 Douglas V. Ireland, 73 N. Y. 100. 52, 84 Douglass V. M. Ins. Co , 1 18 N. Y, 484. 103 DriscoU -v. West Bradley & Cary Mfg. Co., 29 N. Y. 96, 8 J. & S. 488. 62, 103 Dubois V. Hall, 43 Barb. 26. 26 Duche V. Buffalo Grape Sugar Co., 63 Howard 516. 4 Duchess Cotton Mfg. Co. v. Davis, 14 Johns. 238. 67 Duckworth v. Roach, 81 N.Y. 49, 8 Daly 159. 54 Duncomb v. N. Y., etc. R. Co., 84 N. Y. 190. 35 Dunham v. Village, etc., 5 Cow. 462. 103 Durant Land Imp. Co. v. Thomson- Houston Electric Co. (C. P.), 49 St. Rep. 715. 44 Dutcher v. I. & T. Nat. Bank, 50 N. Y. 5. Dutenhoffer v. A. R. Co., 38 St. Rep. 7ro. 29 Dyeing and Printing Estab. v. De Westenberg, N. Y. Daily Reg. Feb. 19, 1886. 147 East N. Y. R. Co. v. Lighthall, 6 Robt. 407. 125 Easterly v. Barber, 65 N. Y.252. 52 53 Easun v. Buckeye Brewing Co., 51 Fed. Rep. 156. 31 Eaton V. Aspinwall, 3 Abb. Pr. 417, 19 N. Y. 121. 91 References | are to pages. \ TABLE OF CASES. XXI Eddy V. Coop. Dress. Asso., 3 Civ. Pro. Rep. 442. 81 Eden Musee Am. Co. v. Carr, 36 Hun 488. 151 Edgerton v. Electric Imp. & Const. Co. (N. J.), 24 Atl. Rep. 540. 66 Edison Electric Light Co. -v. U. S. Light Co., 21 Abb. N. C. 1 19. 17 Ellerman v. Chicago, etc. Stock Yards Co. (N. J. Ch.), II Ry. & Corp. L.J. 97. 31 Ellis V. Howe Machine Co., 9 Daly 406. 43 Elyton Land Co. v. Birmingham Warehouse, etc. Co., 92 Ala. 407, ■ 25 Am. St. 65. 66 Empire Mills v. Alston Grocery (Texas), 12 L. R. A. 366. no Employers' Liability Assur. Corpora- tion f. Employers' Liability Co. of the U. S., 24 Abb. N. C. 368, 10 N. Y. Supp. 845. 92 Erwin v. Navigation Co., 22 Hun 598. 53 Esmond v. Bullard, 16 Hun 65. 51 Estes V. Burns, 35 N. Y. Super, i. 52 Ettlinger v. Persian Rug & Carpet Co., 49 St. Rep. 408. 26 Evening Journal Asso. v. State Board of Assessors, 18 Vroom (N. J.) 36. 170 Everson v. Eddy, 36 St. Rep. 763. 25 Excelsior Grain Binding Co. Lim. v. Stayner, 25 Hun 91, 61 How. Pr. 456. 64 Excelsior Petroleum Co. v. Embury, 4 Hun 648. 39. Excelsior Petroleum Co. v. Lacey, 63 N. Y. 422. 39. £>/ar/if Baker, 6 Wend. 509. 118 £«■ /ar/^ Desdoity, i Wend. 99. 118 Ex parte Murphy, 7 Cow. 1 53. 34 Ex parte Perue Iron Co., 7 Cow. 540. 114 -&^tz;'/^ I/. Wilcox, 7 Cow. 401. 34, 45 Farmers' Loan & Trust Co. v. Curtis, 7 N. Y. 369. 1 14 Farnsworth v. Wood, 91 N. Y. 308. 82 Farrior v. New England Mortgage Co., 88 Ala. 275. no Fenlon v. Dempsey, 50 Hun 131. 47 Ferguson v. Gill, 64 Hun 284, 46 St. Rep. 475. 55 Fidelity Ins., etc. Co. v. Railroad Co., 138 Pa. 494. 25 Fifth Ave. Bank v. Forty-second St., etc. R. Co., 44 St. Rep. 379, N. Y. L. J. Feb. 17, 1893. 61 Fifth National Bank v. Navassa Phosphate Co., 119 N. Y. 256, 56 Hun 136. 44 Filon V. Miller Brewing Co., 38 St. Rep. 602. 44 First Nat. Bank of Jersey City v. Lamon (Ct. App.), 41 St. Rep. 684. 50 Flash V. Conn, 109 U. S. 371. 52, 82 Fougeray v. Cord (N. J.), 12 Ry. & Corp. L. J. 89, 24 Atl. 499. 39 Fov V. McComb, '44 St. Rep. 178. 90 Freeman Nat. Bk. v. Smith, 13 Blatch. C. Ct. 220. 71 French v. McMillan, 43 Hun 188. 47,78 Fritts V. Palmer, 132 U. S. 282. 1 12, 114 Fuller V. Rowe, 57 N. Y. 23. 126 Gadsden v. Woodward, 103 N.Y. 242. 50. 53 Gaff V. Whitney, 2 N. Y. City Ct. 256. 81 Gamble v. Queens County Water Co., 123 N. Y. 91, 23 St. Rep. 409. 34, 35, 65, 84, 100 Gardner v. C. B. Keogh Mfg. Co., 63 Hun 519. 74 Garrison v. Howe, 17 N. Y. 458. 51, 53. 54. 82 Geissenheimer v. Dodge, i How. Pr. N. S. 264. 52 General Auction Estate, etc. Co. v. Smith (1891), 3 Ch. 432. 100 Getty V. Devlin, 54 N. Y. 403, 70 N.Y. 504. 90 Gilchrist v. Helena, etc. R. Co., 47 Fed. Rep. 593. 112 Gildersleeve v. Dixon, 6 Daly 76. 49 Gildersleeve v. Lester, N. Y. L. J. Feb. 7, 1893. 84 Glenn v. Garth, 133 N. Y. 18. 64 Glenn v. Marbury, 145 U. S. 499. 64,67 Glens Falls Paper Mfg. Co. v. White, 18 Hun 214. 58 How. Pr. 172, 81 N. Y. 649. 49, 52, 53. Glines v. Binghamton Trust Co., N. Y. L.J. Feb. 14, 1893. 132 xxu TABLE OF CASES. CRe/trences are to pages,. Gloucester Ferry Co. v. Pennsylvania, 114U. S. 196. 108 Goldw. Clyne, 134 N. Y. 262. 50, 52 Goldsmith v. Smith, 25 Hun 201. 39 Good V. Daland, 121 N. Y. i. 30 Goodrich z/. Dorman, 38 St. Rep. 198. 66 Gould V. Walbridge, 44 St. Rep. 835. 78 Grafton v. Union Ferry Co. (City Ct. B'klyn), 46 St. Rep. 549. 126 Gray v. Oxnard Bros. Co., 59 Hun 389- 30 Great Western Tel. Co. v. Burnham, 79 Wis. 47, 24 Am. St. 698. 67 Greenpoiiit Sugar Co. v. Whitin, 69 N. Y. 328. 24, 25, 102. Grier v. Hazard, 38 St. Rep. 462, 39 St. Rep. 74. 90 Griffeth v. Green, 129 N. Y. 517. 71 Griffith V. Mangan, 42 N. Y. Super. Ct. 369. 84 Grynes v. None, 46 N. Y. 17. 61 Guggenheimerz/. O'Keefe, i St. Rep. 295- 49 Gunn V White Sewing Machine Co., 20 S. W. Rep. 591. no Gurney v. A., etc. R. Co., 58 N. Y. 358. 80 Gurney v. Union Transfer, etc. Co., 29 St. Rep. 274, 57 Super. Ct. 444. 65 Haar v. Consolidated Carson River Dredging Co., 43 St. Rep. i. 112 Haggin v. Comploir D'Escompte De Paris, 23 Q. B. Div. 519. 106 Halstead v. Dodge, 51 N. Y. Super. Ct. 169. 52, 53, 64 Hamilton Coal Co. v. Bernhard, 40 St. Rep. 875. 43 Hammond v. Hastings, 134 U. S. 401. 42 Hampson v. Price's Patent Candle Co., 45 L. J. (Ch.) 437. 34 Handley v. Stutz, 139 U. S»4I7. 35, 66 Handy v. Draper, 89 N. Y. 334, 23 Hun 256. 82, 83, 84 Hanley v. Balch (Mich.t, 53 N. W. Rep. 954. 35 Hardman v. Sage, 124 N. Y. 25, 47 Hun 230. 81, 83 Hare v. Hamilton Brown Shoe Co., 9 So. Rep. 136. no Harris v. Nowell, i Abb. N. C. 127. 82 Harrison v. Vermont Manganese Co., 20 N. Y. Supp. 894. 90 Hatch V. Attrill, 118 N. Y. 383. 66 Hatch V. Dana, loi U. S. 205. 65 Haviland v. Chace, 39 Barb. 283. 65 Hawes v. Gas Consumers' Benefit Co., 36 St. Rep. 48, 9 N. Y. Supp. 490. 61 Hayden v. Wheeler & Tappan Co., 49 St. Rep. 182. 44 Hayes v. Franklin County Lumber Co. (Neb.), S3 N. W. Rep. 381. 67 Hazelton Boiler Co. v. Hazelton Tripod Boiler Co., 30 N. E. Rep. 339- 92 Heath z/. Barm ore, 60 N.Y. 302. 126 Heckmann v. Pinkney, 81 N. Y. 211. 151 Hecla Consol. Gold Mining Co. v. O'Neill, 47 St. Rep. 211. 90 Hegerich'Z'. Keddie, 99 N. Y. 258. 55 Henderdonz/. Bank of Australasia, 40 Ch. D. 170, 58 L. J. Rep. Ct. 117. 44 Hepworth v. Union Ferry Co., 62 Hun 257. 126 Herbert v. Uhl, 49 St. Rep. 496. 65 Herries 7/. Piatt, 21 Hun 132. 80 Herries v. Wesley, 13 Hun 492. 5, 47 Hickory Farm Oil Co. v. Buffalo, etc. R. Co., 2 Ry. & Corp. L. J. 470. 105 Hill V. Conklin, 7 Daly 397. 83 Hill V. Knickerbocker Electric Light & Power Co., 45 St. Rep. 761. 74 Hill V. Newichawanick Co., 71 N. Y. 593, 8 Hun 459. 39 Hitchcock V. Barrett, 50 Fed. Rep. 653- 43 Hoag V. Lamont, 60 N. Y. 96. 52 Hoar V. Consolidated Carson River Dredging Co., 43 St. Rep. i. Hoey V. Coleman, 10 Ry. & Corp. L. J. 127(1891). 192 Hollingshead v. Woodward, 107 N.Y. 96. 53.81,83 Hollins V. St. Paul, etc. R. Co., 29 St. Rep. 208. 29 Holmes & Griggs Mfg. Co. v. Holmes & Wessell Metal Co., 127 N. Y. 252, 4 Am. R. R. & Corp. Rep. 555- 35,63 References "1 are to ^a^Stj, TABLE OF CASES. xxni Holmes, Booth & Haydens v. Wil- lard, 125 N. Y. 75. 34, 35,43, 100 Hoole V. Great Western Ry. Co., L. R. 3 Ch. 262. 39 Hoppers. Sage, 112 N. Y. 530. 39 Horn Silver Mining Co. v. New York, 143 U. S. 305. 106, 108 Horner v. Henning, 93 U. S. 228. 39, 41 Hospes V. Northwestern Mfg. etc. Co. (Minn.), 15 L. R. A. 470, 43 Alb. L. J. 277. 66 Hovey v. Ten Broeck, 3 Robt. 316. 83 Howe V. Deuel, 43 Barb. 504. 34 Howell V. Joseph Edwards Dredging Co., 36 St. Rep. 803. 43 Hoyt V. Thompson, 19 N. Y. 207. 125 Hub Publishing Co. v. Richardson, 37 St. Rep. 541. 90 Hubbell V. S. I. Works, 36 St. Rep. 902. 25 Hudson River Bridge Co. u. Patter- son, 74 N. Y. 365. 190 . Hughes V. Woodward, 3 How. Pr. N. S. 127. 53 Huguenot Nat. Bank v. Studwell, 74 N.Y. 621. 50, 53 Humboldt Driving Park Asso. v. Stevens, 52 N. W. Rep. 568. 71 Huntington v. Attrill, 118 N. Y. 365, I Am. R.R. & Corp. Rep. 418. 43, 55.66 Huntington v. Attrill, 146 U. S. 657 ; see 47 Alb. L. J. 426. 52 Hyatt V. Allen, 56 N. Y. 553. 39 Hyatt V. Esmond, 37 Barb. 606. 82 Hyatt V. Roach, i Abb. N. C. 125. 53 Hyatt V. Swivel, 52 N. Y. Super. Ct. I. 61 Hygeia Water Ice Co. v. Hygeia Ice Co., 19 N. Y. Supp. 602, 47 St. Rep. 71. 92 Inglehart v. Thousand Island Hotel Co., 109 N.Y. 454. 35 In re Application Wells Fargo Ex- press Co., Dec. 27, 1892. 112 In re Balance Valve & Steam Piston Packing Co., N. Y. L. J. Feb. 4. 1893. 99 In re Christian Jensen Co., 128 N.Y. 550, 40 St. Rep. 621, 27 Abb. N. C. 303. 127 In re David Jones Co., L. J. Oct. 14, 1892. 127 In re Dramatic Fund Asso., 5 Ry. & Corp. L. J. 295. 127 In re Home Provident S. F. Asso., 129 N.Y. 288. 127 In re N. Y., Lake Erie, etc. R. Co., 25 Hun 556. 95, 98 In re U. S. M. R., etc. Agency, 115 N. Y. 176. 95 International Life Assur. So. v. Conn. of Taxes, 28 Barb. 318. 190, 191 Isham V. Buckingham, 49 N. Y. 216. 61 J. M. Horton Ice Cream Co. v. Mer- ritt (Sup. Ct.), 43 St. Rep. 416. 44 Jagger Iron Co. v. Walker, 76 N. Y. 521. 52, 83 Jameson v. Caldwell (Or.), 31 Pac. Rep. 279. 35 Jarvis v. Manhattan Beach Co., 53 Hun 356. 61 Jemison v. Citizens' Sa. Bank, 122 N. Y. 135. 100 Jermain v. L. S., etc. R. Co., 91 N. Y. 483- 39 Jessup V. Carnegie, 80 N. Y. 441. 91 Johnson v. Bush, 3 Barb. Ch. 240. 66 Johnson v. Underbill, 52 N. Y. 203, 210, 61, 81, 83 Jones V. Barlow, 62 N. Y. 202. 49, 50, 51, 52, 53 Jones V. Dana, 24 Barb. 398. 99 Jones V. Guaranty & Indemnity Co., 101 U. S. 622. 24 Jones V. Terre Haute, etc. R. Co., 57 N. Y. 196. 34, 39, 60 Joseph V. Davis, 10 So. 830. 66 Jourdan v. Long Island R. Co., 1 1 5 N. Y. 380. 44 Kane v. Bloodgood, 7 Johns. Ch. 90. 39 Karnes v. Rochester, etc. R. Co , 4 Abb. Pr. N. S. 107, 33 N. Y. 238. 39 Keiley v. Mechanics' & Traders' Bank, 39 St Rep. 438. 73 Kelsey v. Pfaulder Process, etc. Co., 41 Hun 20. 47 Kelsey v. Sargent, 40 Hun 150, 23 St. Rep. 409. 35, 43, 84 Kennedy v. Chicago, etc. R. Co., 14 Abb. N. C. 326. 78 Kent V. Quicksilver Mining Co., 78 N. Y. 159. 35, 72, 103 Kilgore v. Smith, 122 Pa. 48. 112 XXIV TABLE OF CASES. ERt/irences art iaptiges. Kimball v. St. Louis, etc. R. Co. (Mass.), 31 N. E. Rep. 697. 112 Kincaid v. Dwinelle, 59 N. Y. 548. 80,83 King V. Barnes, 109 N. Y. 267. 89 King V. Duncan, 38 Hun 461. 84 King V. Union Iron Co., 33 St. Rep. 545- 73.74 Kingsley v. Brooklyn, 4 Abb. N. C. 444. 99 Kirkland v. Kille, 99 N. Y. 390. 49, S3 Knight V. Dederick, 6 Week. Dig. 150. 5° Knowles v. Duffy, 40 Hun 485. 66 Knowlton v. Congress & Empire S. Co., 57 N. Y. 518, 103 U. S. 49. 65.71 Knox V. Baldwin, 80 N. Y. 610. 49, 50, 52, 54, 82 Kraft V. Freeman, etc. Asso., 87 N. Y. 628. 43 Krauser v. Ruckel, 17 Hun 463. 80 Lake Ontario R. Co. v. Munson, 16 N. Y. 451. 90 Lake Superior Iron Co. v. Drexel, 90 N. Y. 87. 66 Langan v. Francklyn, 20 N. Y. Supp. 404. 15. 119 Lawrenceville Cement Co. v. Parker, 39 St. Rep. 864. 25 Leadbetter v. N. H. Leadbetter, Lim- ited, 125 N. Y. 290. 25 Lee V. Neuchatel Asphalt Co., 41 Ch. D. I (1889). 39. Lee V. Pittsburgh C. & M. Co., 56 How. Pr. 373. 43 Leggett V. Bank of Sing Sing, 24 N.Y. 291. 51 Leinkauf v. Caiman, no N. Y. 50. 102 Leinkauf v. Lombard, N. Y. L. J. March 27, 1893. 90. Leisy v. Hardin, 135 U. S. 100. 107, 108, 109 f Leitch V. Wells, 48 N. Y. 585. 62 Leloup V. Port of Mobile, 127 U. S. 640. 108 Leslie V. Lorillard, no N. Y. 519. 34, 35, 100, lOI ILevy V. Cohen (City Ct. N. Y.), 45 St. Rep. 278. 47 Lewis V. Armstrong, 8 Abb. N. C. 385. SI lewis V. Ryder, 13 Abb. Pr. i. 81 Libbey v. Tobey, 82 Me. 397, 2 Am. R. R. & Corp. Rep. 285. 66 Lindsey v. Simmons, 2 Abb. Pr. (N. S.), 69. 83 Live Stock Asso. Lim. v. Levy, 3 St. Rep. 514. loi Liverpool Insurance Company v. Mas- sachusetts, 10 Wall. 566. 109 Livingston v. Lynch, 4 Johns. Ch. 596. 125 Lloyd V. Preston, 146 U. S. 630. 66 Lond. I. F. Co. v. Ferbell, 48 N. Y. 427. 126 Long V. Georgia Pac. R. Co., 91 Ala. 519, 24 Am. St. 931. loi Lord V. Yonkers Fuel Gas Co., 99 N. Y. 547. 24 Lorillard v. Clyde, 86 N. Y. 384. 7, 89 Losee v. BuUard, 79 N. Y. 404. 52, S3. 54 Lovelace v. Doran & Wright Co., 40 St. Rep. 53, 39 St. Rep. 679. 41 Lovett V. German Ref'd Ch., 12 Barb. 67- 33 Lyceum v. Ellis, 30 St. Rep. 242. 24 Lyndon Mill Co. v. Lyndon Literary, etc. Inst., 63 Vt. 581. 44 McCabe v. Goodfellow, 133 N. Y. 80. II McCall V. California, 136 U. S. 104. 108 McClave v. Thompson, 36 Hun 365. 41 McClelland v. Norfolk Southern R. Co., no N. Y. 469. 26 McComb V. Kellogg, 16 St. Rep. 16. 41 McComber v. Barcelona Ap. Asso., 45 St. Rep. 784, 134 N. Y. 598. 43 McCuUoch V. Norwood, 58 N. Y. 562. 83 McCuUough V. Moss, 5 Den. 567. 125 McDermottz/. Board of Police, 5 Abb. Pr. 442. 103 McDermott v. Harrison, 30 St. Rep. 324. 90 McDonald v. Chisholm, 131 111. 274. 25 McDowall V. Sheehan, 129 N. Y. 200, 41 St. Rep. 415, 36 St. Rep. 104. 5, 43, 82 McGourkey v. Toledo, etc. R. Co., 146 U. S. 563. 35 References T are to pages. \ TABLE OF CASES. XXV McHarg v. Eastman, 7 Robt. 137, 47 St. Rep. 770. 50, 51, 52, 54 Mclntyre v. Strong, 63 How. Pr. 43. McLasher v. N. Y. Daily Standard, Daily Reg. Jan. 3, 1884. 92 McMaster v. Davidson, 29 Hun 542. 81 McNab V. McNab & Harlin Mfg. Co., 41 St. Rep. 906, 62 Hun 18. 34, 35. 39 McNaughton v. Osgood, 41 Hun 109. 35 McNeil V. Tenth Nat. Bank, 46 N. Y. 331. 61, 62 Maine v. TKe Grand Trunk Ry. Co., 142 U. S. 217. 108 Manhattan Hardware Co. v. Phalen, 128 Pa. no. 25 Manhattan L. Ins. Co. v. Forty- second, etc. R. Co., 46 St. Rep. 130. 44 Mann v. Carrie, 2 Barb. 294. 65, 67 Manning v. Quicksilver Mining Co., 24 Hun 360. 39 Mappier v. Mortimer, 11 Abb. Pr. N. S. 455- 84 Mane v. Garrison, 13 Abb. N. C. 235. 118 Marine Bank v. Butler Col. Co., 23 St. Rep. 318. 43 Martin v. Niagara Falls Paper Mfg. Co., 122 N. Y. 165, 44 Hun 130. 24. 25, 35, 43 Martin v. William J. Johnston Co., 25 Abb. N. C. 350. 47 Martin Anti-Fire Car Heater Co , 47 St. Rep. 26. 43 Mather v. Eureka Mower Co., 118 N. Y. 629. 43 Mather v. Union L. & T. Co., 26 St. Rep. 58. 44 Mathews v. Aiken, i N. Y. 595. 50 Mathews v. Asso. Press of N. Y., 136 N. Y. 333. 103 Mathews v. Dubuque Mattress Co., 54 N. W. Rep. 225. -44 Mathez v. Neidig, 72 N. Y. 100. 82 Matter of Bank ot Attica, 35 St. Rep. 708. 95 Matter of Bethune, 4 Dem. 392. 53 Matter of Brooklyn Elevated R. Co. , 125 N. Y. 434. 127 Matter of Bylin v. Friendship Ass'n, 46 Hun 223. 76 Matter of Chenango Co. Mutual Ins. Co., 19 Wend. 635. 45 Matter of David Jones Brewing Co., N. Y. L. J. May 11, 1893. 103 Matter of Empire City Bank, i8N.Y. 199. 34, ^2 Matter of Hudson R.R. Co., 19 Wend. 135 34 Matter ol Importers' & Grocers' Ex- change, 43 St. Rep. 625. 127 Matter of Le Blanc, 75 N. Y. 598, 14 Hun 8. 39 Matter of Lighthall Mfg. Co., 47 Hun 258. 45, 118 Matter of Long Island R. Co., 19 Wend. 37. 34 Matter of Manhattan Dispensary, 7 St. Rep. 871. 95 Matter of Martin, 42 St. Rep. 409. 47 Matter of Mohawk, etc. R. Co., 19 Wend. 135. 45 Matter of Newcomb, 42 St. Rep. 442. 123 Matter of New York, etc. Invest- ment Co., 40 St. Rep. 139. 8, 165 Matter of North Shore, etc. Co., 63 Barb. 556. 34 Matter of Pioneer Paper Co., 36 How. III. 123 Matter of Reciprocity Bank, 22 N. Y. 17. 81 Matter of Richmond Retail Coal Co., 9 Ry. & Corp. L. J. 31. 31 Matter of Santa, etc. M. Co., 21 S' Rep. 89. 81, 127 Matter of Schuyler Steam Tow Boiil Co., 136 N. Y. 169, 43 St. Rep. 163. 127 Matter of Simonds Soap Co., 41 St. Rep. 355. 127 Matter of Stonebridge, 37 St. Rep. 617. 132 Matter of Syracuse, etc. R. Co., 91 N. Y. I. 123 Matter of The Mart, 22 Abb. N. C. 227. 127 Matter of Union Ins. Co., 22 Wend. 590- 33 Matter of Vandenburgh v. B'way R. Co., 29 Hun 348. 120 Matter of Van Vechten, 9 Week. Dig. 158. 123 Matter of Westchester Iron Co., 15 How. Pr. 7. 127 Matter of Wheeler, 2 Abb. Pr. N. S. 36'- 34 XXVI TABLE OF CASES. [References are to pages. Matter of White, 45 Hun 580. 119 Matter of Woven Tape Skirt Co., 85 N.Y. 506. 132 Matter of U. S. Mercantile Rep. Co., 24 St. Rep. 548. 95 Mayor, etc. v, Eislen, 2 Civ. Pro. R. 125- 53 Mayor, etc. v. Governor, etc. of Bank of England, 21 Q. B. D. 160. 102 Mead v. Keeler, 24 Barb. 20. 43 Memphis, etc. R. Co. v. Wood, 88 Ala. 630, I Am. R. & Corp. Rep. 55- 63 Merchants' Bank v. Bliss, 35 N. Y. 412. 39, 50, 54 Merchants' Bank v. Livingston, 74 N. Y. 223. 62 Merchants' Mfg. Co. v. Grand Trunk Ry. Co., 63 How. 459. 105 Meriden Tool Co. v. Morgan, i Abb. N. C. 125. 90 Merrick v. Brainard, 34 N. Y. 208. 105 Merrill v. Consumers' Coal Co., 1 14 N. Y. 216. 43 Merrill v. G. C. Co., 23 St. Rep. 1 14. 44 Merriman v. Knox (Ala.), 1 1 So. Rep. 741. no Metropolitan Concert Co. Lim. v. Abbey, 52 N. Y. Super. Ct. 97. 35 Meyer z*. Blair, 19 Abb. N.C. 214. 64 Miller 2/. Fenton, 11 Paige ;8. 50 Miller v. White, 50 N. Y. 137. 49, 50. 51. 53 Mills V. Stewart, 41 N. Y. 384. 67 Mitchell V. Vermont Copper Co., 67 N. Y. 280. 67 Moore v. Mansert, 49 N. Y. 332. 49, 151 Moore v. Met. Nat. Bank, 55 N. Y. 41. 62 Moore v. Robertson, 43 St. Rep. 245. 61 Moore v. Williams, 41 St. Rep. 892. 61 Moran v. Lydecker, 27 Hu#582, 1 1 Abb. N. C. 298. 9, 127 Morey v. Ford, 32 Hun 446. 53 Morg.-in V. Skiddy, 62 N. Y. 319. 90 Morrill v. C. T. Segar Mfg. Co., 32 Hun 543. 34 Moss V. Averell, 10 N. Y. 449. 1 14 Moss V. Oakley, 2 Hill 268. 82 Moulton V. Beecher, i Abb. N. C. 193- 53 Munson v. Syracuse, etc. R. Co., 103 N. Y. 58. 34, 35. 90 Murad v. Thomas, 66 How. Pr. 100. 55 Nassau Gas Light Co. v. Brooklyn, 89 N. Y. 409. 170 National Bank v. Fenton, 23 Hun 309- 51 National Broadway Bank v. Wessell Metal Co., 59 Hun 470. 73 National Park Bank v. German Am. Warehousing Co., 116 N.Y. 281. 44 National Tube, etc. Co. v. Gilfillan, 124 N. Y. 302. 80, 8 1 National Tube Works Co. v. Ballou, 146 U. S. 517. 112 Nay V. Levy, 13 Week. Dig. 428. 49 New England Iron Co. v. Gilbert El. R. Co., 91 N. Y. 153. 83 New York Car Oil Co. v. Richmond, 6 Bosw. 219. 99 New York, Lake Erie, etc. R. Co. v. Nichols, 119 U. S. 296. 40 New York State L. & T. Co. v. Hel- mer, 77 N. Y. 64. 116 Nimmons v. Tappan, 2 Sweeny 652. 52. 53. 55 Nordell v. Wahlstedt, N. Y. L. J. Jan. 16, 1890, vol. 2, p. 1924. 53 Norfolk, etc. Railroad v. Pennsyl- vania, 136 U. S. 114. 106, 108 Norris v. DeWolf, 12 Hun 666, 76 N. Y. 597. 51 Ooregum Gold Mining Co. v. Roper (1892), A. C. 125. 66 Ormsby v. Vermont Copper Co., 56 N. Y. 623, 8 J. & S. 406. 35 Osborne & Cheeseman Co. v. Croome, 14 Hun 164. 53 Oswego Starch Factory v. Dolloway, 21 N. Y. 449. 4 Otter V. Brevoort Petroleum Co., 50 Barb. 247. 65 Outterson v. Fonda Lake Paper Co., 49 St. Rep. 556. 44 Oviatt V. Hughes, 41 Barb. 542. 51, 52, 81 Owen V. Smith, 31 Barb. 641. 126 Palmer v. Cypress Hill Cemetery, 122 N. Y. 429. loi Palmer v. Lawrence, 3 Sandf. Ch. 161. 64 References "1 are io pages.A TABLE OF CASES. xxvn Parks V. Automatic Punch Co., 14 St. Rep. 710. 39 Parrot v. Colby, 6 Hun 55, afFd 71 N. Y. 597. 83 .Parrot v. Sawyer, 87 N. Y. 622. 83 Partridge v. Badger, 25 Barb. 146. 33.43 'Patterson v. Robinson, 26 St. Rep. i 685, 36 Hun 622. 41 Patterson v. Robinson, 116 N. Y. 193- 44 Paul V. Virginia, 8 Wall. 163. 108, III Paulding v. Chrome Steel Co., 94 N. Y. 334- 25, 73, 74 Peck z/. Doran & Wright Co., 57 Hun 343- loi Peckham v. Van Wagenen, 83 N. Y. 40. 39 Pembina Mining Co. v. Pennsylvania, 125 U. S. 181. 106, 108 Pensacola Tel. Co. v. Western Union Tel. Co., 96 U. S. I. 108 People V. A. & S. R. Co., 7 Abb. Pr. N. S. 291. 67 People V. Albany Hospital, 11 Abb. Pr. N. S. 4. 123 People V. Albany Ins. Co., 92 N. Y. 458. 170 People V. Albany R. Co., 38 How. Pr. 228. 33 People TJ. American Bell Tel. Co., 117 N. Y. 241. Ill, 177 People V. American Loan & T. Co., 43 St. Rep. 332. 112 People V. Assessors of Olean, 15 St. Rep. 461. 190 People V. Atlantic Ave. R. Co., 125 N. Y. 513. 51 People V. Ballard, 134.N. Y. 269. 35, 132 People V. Broadway R. Co. of B'klyn, 126 N. Y. 29. 100, 127 People V. Brooklyn, etc. R. Co., 89 N. Y. 75. 28 People V. Buffalo Stone & Cement Co., 131 N. Y. 140. 9, 50, III People V. Bull, 42 N. Y. Super. Ct. 19. S3 People V. Carr, 36 Hun 488. 68 People V. Com. of Taxes, 99 N. Y. 254. 190 People V. Davenport, 91 N. Y. 574. 174 People V. Equitable Trust Co., 96 N. Y. 389- 177 People V. Equity Gas Light Co., 32 St. Rep. II 28. 132 People z/. Fire Asso., 92 N. Y. 311. 174 People V. Fire Underwriters, 7 Hun 248. 103 People V. Formosa, 131 N. Y. 478. no People V. Gold & Stock Tel. Co., 98 N. Y. 67. 169, 174, 190 People V. Home Insurance Co., 92 N. Y. 328. 169 People V. Horn Silver Mining Co., 105 N. Y. 76, 143 U. S. 305. 169, 170, 176 People V. Hydrostatic Paper Co., 88 N. Y. 623. 132 People V. Jaehne, 103 N. Y. 182. 151 People V. Knickerbocker Ice Co., 99 N. Y. 181. 170 People V. McLean, 80 N. Y. 254. 190 People V. Martins, 10 St. Rep. 650, affd by U. S. Sup. Ct. Apl. 24, 1893. 165 People V. Medical Soc'y, 24 Barb. 570. 103 People V. Metropolitan R. Co., 26 Hun 82. 125 People V. N. Y. Floating, etc. Dock Co., 92 N. Y. 487. 170 People V. Newburgh, etc. Plank Road Co., 23 Hun 172. 8 People V. North River Sugar R. Co., 121 N. Y. 582. 51 People V. O'Brien, in N. Y. i. 127, 132 People V. Pennsylvania R. Co., N. Y. L. J. April 20. 1893. 191 People V. Remington, 45 Hun 329. 80 People V. Remington & Sons, 54 Hun 480 132 People V. Rice, 57 Hun 486, 128 N. Y. 591. 165 People V. Sailors' Snug Harbor, 54 Barb. 532. 103 People V. Schurz, iioN. Y. 443, aff'd by U. S. Supreme Ct. Apl. 24, 1893. 16S People V. Spring Valley, etc. Co., 92 N. Y. 383. 169 People V. St. Louis, etc. R.Co., 19 Abb. N. C. I. 78 People V. The Milk Exchange, 133 N. Y. 565- 31 XXVIU TABLE OF CASES, LKe/trencei are to pages. People V. The North River Sugar Refining Co., 121 N. Y. 582. 13, 30, 31 People V. Troy House Co., 44 Barb. 625. 6s People V. Tuthill, 31 N. Y. 550. 34 People V. Twaddle, 18 Hun 427. 33, 120 People V. Ulster & D. R. Co., 128 N. Y. 240. 51, 127 People V. Walker, 17 N. Y. 503. 126, 142 People V. Weniple, 117 N. Y. 136. People ex r'el American, etc. Co. v. Wemple, 129 N. Y, 558. 169, 176 People ex rel. Bank of Commerce v. Com. of Taxes, 23 N. Y. 192. 190 People ex rel. Belknap v. Beach, 19 Hun 259. 4 People ex rel. Blossom v. Nelson, 46 N. Y. 477. 91 People ex rel. Broadway, etc. R. Co. V. Com. of Taxes, i T. & C. 635. 190 People ex rel. Brush Electric Mfg. Co. 7/. Wemple, 129 N. Y. 543. 170 People ex rel. Butchers' Hide, etc. Co. V. Asten, 100 N. Y. 597. 189 People ex rel. Central Crosstown R. Co. V. Barker, N. Y L. J. Dec. 10, 1892. 189, 190 People ex rel. Church of Holy Com. V. Assessors, 106 N Y. 671. 190 People ex rel. Daniels v. Crawford, N. Y. L. J. April 22, 1893, Feb. 4, 1893. 78 People ex rel. Davennort v. Rice, N. Y. L. J. Dec. 21, 1892. 91 People ex rel. Davis Colby, etc. Co. v. Campbell, 48 St. Rep. 817. 177 People ex rel. Edison Electric 111. Co. V. Wemple, 129 N. Y. 664. 170 People ex rel. Edison Gen'l 111. Co. V. Tax Com'rs, N. Y. L. J. Dec. 8, 1892. 190 People ex rel. Edison 111. C8. z/. Wem- ple, 133 N. Y. 617. 183 PeoDle ex rel. Eickemeyer Field Co. v. Rice, N. Y. L. J. Dec. i, 1892, aff'd by Ct. App., N. Y. L. J. April 26, 1893. 13, 165. People ex rel. Fairfield Chemical Co. V. Coleman, 115 N. Y. 178. 189 People ex rel. Hanover Fire Ins. Co. V. Coleman, 44 Hun 47. 190 People ex rel. Harriman v. Paton, 20 Abb. N. C. 172. 78 People ex rel. Hatch v. Lake Shore, etc. R. Co., II Hun i. 78 People ex rel. Keystone Gas Co. v. Assessors of Olean, 15 St. Rep, 462. 191 « People ex rel. McMaster v. Super- visors of Niagara, 4 Hill 20. 188, 190 People ex rel. McDonald v. U. S. Mer- cantile Rep. Co., 20 Abb. N. C. 192. 47 People ex rel. Man. Fire Ins. Co. v. Com. of Taxes, 76 N. Y. 64. 190 People ex rel. Miller v. Cummings, 72 N. Y. 433. 121 People ex rel. Municipal Gas Co. -v- Rice, 74 Alb. L. J. 418. 56 People ex rel. Mutual Un. Tel. Co. v. Com. of Taxes, 99 N. Y. 254. 190 People ex rel. Pacific Mail S S. Co. ■z/. Com. of Taxes, 64 N. Y. 541. 190 People ex rel. Pacific Mail S.S. Co. v. Com. of Taxes, 46 How. Pr. 315. 190 People ex rel. Panama R. Co. v. Commissioners of Taxes, 104 N. Y, 240. 1 89 People ex rel. Parsons Mfg. Co. v. Moore, 11 St. Rep. 850. 190 People ex rel. Peabodv v. Chicago Gas Trust Co. (111.), 22 N. E. 798, I Am. R. R. & Corp. Rep. 562. 63 People ex rel. Piatt v. Wemple, 117 N. Y. 136. 169, 192 People ex rel. Putzel v. Simonson, 61 Hun 338. 123 People ex rel. Seth Thomas Clock Co. ii. Wemple, 133 N. Y. 323. 176 Peojile ex rel. Smith v. Commission- ers, loi N. Y. 651. 190 People ex rel. Southern Cotton Oil Co. z/. Wemple, 131 N. Y. 64. no, 176 People ex rel. Standard Gas Light Co. V. Gilroy, N. Y. L. J. April 10, 1893. 149 People ex rel. Stobo v. Eadie (Sup, Ct.), 43 St Rep. 649. 47 People ex rel. The New York Phono- graph Co. V Rice, 128 N. Y. 591 57 Hun 486. 15 People ex rel. Twenty-third St. R. Co. V. Commissioners of Taxes, 95 N. Y. 554. 189 References "1 are io pages. \ TABLE OF CASES. XXIX People ex rel. Union Trust Co. v. Coleman, 126 N. Y. 433. 189 People ex rel. Utica, etc. R. Co. -v. Shields, 6 Hun 556. 190 People ex rel. Van Nest v. Commis- sioners of Taxes, 80 N. Y. 573. tgo People ex rel. W. U. T. Co. v. Dolan, 126 N. Y. 166. 190 People ex rel. Warren v. Carter, 109 N.Y. 576. 190 People ex rel. West Shore R. Co. v. Pitman, 9 St. Rep. 469. 190 People ex rel. West Side, etc. R. Co. V. Com. of Taxes, 31 Hun 32. 190 People ex rel. Williamsburgh Gas Light Co. V. Assessors of BrooWyn, 76 N. Y. 202. 189 People ^;ir rel. Winchester as Treas. v. Coleman, 133 N. Y. 279, 45 St. Rep. 217. 192 Perkins?/. Hatch, 4 Hun 137, 64 N.Y. 634. 82 Perry v. Hoadley, 19 Abb. N. C. 76. 64, 82 Peter Cooper's Glue Factory v. Mc- Mahon, 15 Abb. N. C. 314. 190 Pfohl V. Simpson, 74 N. Y. 137. 82 Philadelphia, etc. R. Co. v. Hotchkiss, 82 N. Y. 471. 33 Philadelphia Fire Association v. New York, 119 U. S. no. 106, 109 Phillips V. Therasson, 11 Hun 141. 81 Phillips V. Wickham, i Paige 59°- 33. 125 Phoenix Warehouse Co. v. Badger, 67 N. Y. 294. 64, 65 Pier V. George, 86 N. Y. 613. 52 Pier V. Hanmore, 86 N. Y. 95. 48, 50, 55 Pierce v. iVIaye, 36 St. Rep.* 829. 124 Pierson v. Cronk, 26 Abb. N. C. 25, 13 N. Y. Supp. 845. 30 Pitcher v. Drayton, 17 Hun 429. 80 Pittsburg Carbon Co. L'd v. McMil- lin, 119 N. Y. 46. 30, 132 Pleas V. Housman, 17 St. Rep. 671. 9 Plimpton V. Bigelow, 93 N. Y. 592. 105 Pollock V. Nat. Bk., 7 N. Y. 274. 62, 76 Post V. Simmons, 16 St, Rep. 246. 29 Potts V. Wallace, 146 U. S. 689. 44 Pratt z;. Eaton, 79 N. Y. 449. 116 Pratt V Short, 79 N. Y. 437. in, 116 Preston v. Loughran, 58 Hun 210. 25 Printing Co. v. Assessors, 22 Vroom (N. J.) 75. 170 Pi!gh V. Hurtt, 52 How. Pr. 22. 84 Railroad Co. v. Nickals, 119 U. S. 296. 66 Railway Age v. Garnett, 17 Week. Dig. 250. 92 Raisbeck z/.Oesterricher, 4 Abb. N. C. 444. 90, 91, 99 Rathbon v. Snow, 123 N. Y. 343. 43. S3 Recamier Mfg. Co. v. Seymour, 24 St. Rep. 54. 44 Rector, etc. v. Vanderbilt, 98 N. Y. 170. 51, 54 Reed v. Bank of Newburgh, 6 Paige 337. 33 Reed v. Hoyt, 51 N. Y. Super. Ct. 121. 35 Reed v. Keese, 60 N. Y. 616. 53 Re Germicide Co., 48 St. Rep. 294. 119 Re Townshend, 18 N. Y. Supp. 905, 46 St. Rep. 135. n9 Revere Copper Co., etc. v. Dimock, 90 N. Y. 33. 51 Reynolds v. Mason, 6 Week. Dig. 531- 52 Rice V. Rockefeller, 134 N. Y. 174. 61 Richards z'.Brice, 15 Daly 144. 82 Richards v. Crocker, 19 Abb". N. C. 73- 55. 82 Richelieu Hotel Co. v. International Encamp. Co., 29 N. E. Rep. 1044. 34 Richmond v. Iron, 121 U. S. 27. 84 Rittenhouse v. Winch, 32 St. Rep. 506. 25 Roach V. Duckworth, 95 N. Y. 391. 50 Robins v. Shelby Taxing District, 120 U. S. 489. 108 Robinson v. Attrill, 66 How. 121. 41 Robinson v. Thompson, 20 Week. Dig. 551. 40 Rochester Savings Bank v. Averell, 96 N. Y. 467, 26 Hun 643. 24, 25 XXX TABLE OF CASES. [References are to pages. Rocky Mountain Nat. Bank v. Bliss, 89 N. Y. 338. 83 Rogers v. New York & Texas Land Co., 134 N. Y. 197. 90 Rome Savings Bank v. Krug, 102 N. Y. 331. 116 Rorke v. Thomas, 56 N. Y. 559. 39, 50, 51 Rossie V. Lead M. Co., 5 Hill 137. 35 Rudd z/. Robinson, 126 N.Y. III. 35 Ruggles V. Brock, 6 Hun 164. 64 Runyan v. Lessee of Coster, 14 Pet. 122. 105 Rutter V. Kilpatrick, 63 N. Y. 604. 64 Ryder z/. Bushwick R. Co., 45 St. Rep. 388. 61 Sandborn v. Lefferts, 58 N. Y, 179. 50, 52, 53, 54 Sanders v. Wilmington Cotton Mills, N. Y. L. J.Feb. 15, 1893. 112. Sargent v. Sargent Granite Co., N. Y. L. J. April 25, 1893. 44 Savings Asso. v. O'Brien, 51 Hun 45. 84 Sawyer v. Rosebrock, 48 Hun 453. 83 Schenck v. Andrews, 46 N. Y. 589. 66 Schoharie Valley R. Co., 12 Abb. N. S. 394. 123 Schoonmaker 7'. Brooks, 24 Hun 553. 53 Schurr v. New York & B. S. L Co., 18 N. Y. Supp. 454, 45 St. Rep. 645. loi Scott V. Middletown R. Co., 86 N. Y. 200. 43 Scoville V. Thayer, 105 U. S. 143. 68 Seacord v. Pendleston, 55 Hun 579. 90 Sears v. Waters, 44 Hun loi. 53 Seneca County Bank v. Lamb, 26 Barb. 595. in Seymour v. Spring Forest (pemetery Asso., 45 St. Rep. 520. 25 Seymour v. Sturgess, 26 N. Y. 134. 82 Shaler & Hall Quarry Co. v. Bliss, 27 N. Y. 297. 51, 53 Shaler & Hall Quarry Co. v. Brewster, 10 Abb. 464. 51 Sheldon Hat Blocking Co. 7/. Eicken- myer Hat B. Co., 90 N. Y. 607. 35 Shellington v. Howland, 53 N. Y. 371, 67 Barb. 14. 47, 81, 83 Sheridan Electric Light Co. v. Chat- ham Nat. Bank, 127 N. Y. 517, 52 Hun 580. 34 Sheridan v. Sherid|in Electric Light Co., 38 Hun 396. 84 Sherlock v. Ailing, 93 U. S. 99. 108 Sherman Center Town Co. v. Morris, 2 Am. R. & Corp. Rep. 399. loi Sherman v. Slayback, 58 Hun 255. 50 Short V. Medbury, 29 Hun 39. 83 Skinner v. Smith, 134 N. Y. 240, 56 Hun 437. 35, 127 Slee V. Bloom, 19 J. R. 456. 54 Small V. Herkimer Mfg. Co., 2 N. Y. 330- 67 Small z*. Minneapolis Electric Matrix Co., 9 Ry. & Corp. L. J. 193. 31, 35 Smith V. Alabama, 124 U. S. 465. Hi Smith V. Alvord, 63 Barb. 415. 105 Smith V. American Coal Co., 7 Lans. 317. 39, 62 Smith V. Consolidated Stage Co., 18 Abb. Pr. 419. 35 Smith V. Danzig, 3 Civ. Pro. Rep. 129. 53 Smith V. Martin Anti-Fire Car Heater Co., 47 St. Rep. 26. 43 Sodus Bay, etc. R. Co. v. Hamlin, 24 Hun 390. 64 Spencer v. Clark, 17, Week. Dig. 490. 84 Squires v. Brown, 22 How. Pr. 35. 53 St. Louis, etc. R. Co. v. Phila. Fire Asso., 55 Ark. 163. 112 Star V. Andrews, 31 St. Rep. 188. 25 State V. McGrath, 5 S. W. Rep. 29. 92 State V. Nebraska Distilling Co., i Am. R. R. & Corp. Rep. 604, 46 N. W. Rep. 155. 31 State ex rel. Watson v. Standard Oil Co. (Ohio), 15 L. R. A. 145. 31 Sterne, z/. Hermann, 11 Abb. Pr. N. S. 376. 52 Stockton V. Central R. Co., 24 Atl. Rep. 964, 17 L. R. A. 97. 31 Stokes V. Detrick (Md.), 23 Atl. Rep. 846. 35 Stokes V. Stickney, 96 N. Y. 323. 52 References ~] are to Pa^s.\ TABLE OF CASES. XXXI Stoutenburgh v, Hennick, 129 S. U. 141. 108 Stover V. Flack, 30 N. Y. 64. 81 Strong V. Brooklyn C. T. R. Co., 93 N. Y. 426. 71 Strong V. Smith, 15 Hun 222. 34, 123 St ong V. Sproul, 4 Daly 326. 50 Strong V. Wheaton, 38 Barb. 616. 82, 83 Sturges V. Vanderbilt, 73 N. Y. 384. 83, 126, 142 Sullivan v. Venner, 45 St. Rep. 683. 35 Sutherland ii. Olcott, 95 N. Y. 93. 9, 68 Talbot V. Fidelity & Casualty Co., 13 L. R. A. 584. 106 Tallmadge v. Fishkill Iron Co., 4 Barb. 382. 82 Taylor v. Attrill, 31 Hun 132. 55 Taylor v. Earl, 8 Hun i. 35 Taylor v. Nostrand (Ct. App.), 45 St. Rep. 397. 43 Thacher v. King (Mass.), 31 N. E. Rep. 53. 41 The American Grocer v. The Grocer, 25 Hun 398. 92 Thomas v. Musical Mu. Pro. Union, 121 N. Y. 45, 49 Hun 171. 103, 124, 132 Thompson v. Stanley, 20 N. Y. Supp. 317- 84 Throop V. Hatch Lithographic Co., 125 N. Y. 530, 58 Hun 149. 73 Tighe V. Pope, 16 Hun 180. 29 Tinkham v. Bost, 31 Barb. 407. 126 Toledo Tie & Lumber Co. v. Thomas (W. Va.), 2 Am. R.R. & Corp. R. 251. Ill Torbett v. Goodwin, 42 St. Rep. 323. 55 Tovey v. Culver, 54 N. Y. Super. Ct. 404. 52 Tracy v. Yates, 18 Barb. 152. 81 Tradesman's Nat. Bank v. Manhat- tan Lumber Co., 18 N. Y. Supp. 920. 44 Trask v. Peekskill Plough Works, 6 Hun 2j6. 15 Trevor v. Whitworth, L. R. 12 App. Cas. 409 (1887). 63 Tucker v. Gilman, 121 N. Y. 189, 45 Hun 193. 65, 67, 82, 83 Twin Lock Oil Co. v. Marbury, 18 Alb. L. J. 112. 42 Tyng V. Clark, 9 Hun 269. 50, 53. Union Hotel Co. v. Hersee, 79 N. Y. 454. 64 Union Steamboat Co. v. Buffalo, 82 N. Y. 351. 4 United States v. Nelson (Minn.), 52 Fed. Rep. 646. 31 United States Vinegar Co. v. Schlegel, N. Y. L. J. March 30, 1893. 30, 90 Utica Cotton Mfg. Co. v. Supervisors of Oneida, i Barb. Ch. 432. 188, 190 Vail V. Hamilton, 20 Hun 355, 85 N. Y. 453. 24,26,34,118 Van Aernam v. Bleistein, 102 N. Y. 355- II Van Amburgh v. Baker, 81 N. Y. 46. 53 Van Cott V. Van Brunt, 82 N. Y. 535, 2 Abb. N. C. 283. 53, 65, 66 Van Wagenen v. Clark, 22 Hun 497. 65 Vanderburgh v. Broadway R. Co., 29 Hun 348. 33 Vanderpoel v. Gorman, N. Y. L. J. Mch. 24, 1893. 73, no, 112 Varnum v. Hart, 1 19 N. Y. loi. 74 Vatable v. N. Y., L. E., etc. R. Co., 96 N. Y. 49. 28 Veeder v. Baker, 83 N. Y. 156. 50, 53.55 Veeder v. Judson, 91 N. Y. 374. 82, 132 Veeder v. Mudgett, 95 N. Y. 295. 9, 65,71, 81 Veiller v. Brown, 18 Hun 271. 65, 81 Vernon v. Palmer, 48 N. Y. Super. 231- SI, 53 Vernon So. v. Hills, 6 Cow. 26. 33 Victory Webb Printing Co. v. Beech- er, 97 N. Y. 651, 26 Hun 48. 49, 51 Viele V. Wells, 9 Abb. N. C. 277. 83 Vincent v. Sands, 33 N. Y. Super. 511, II Abb. Pr. N.S.366. 49,51, 53 Virginia Tide Water Coal Co. v. Mer- cantile Trust Co., 35 St. Rep. 141. 39 Wahlig V. Standard Pump Mfg. Co., 25 St. Rep. 864. 44 xxxu TABLE OF CASES. CRe/trencts are towages. Wait V. Nashua Armory Asso. (N. H.), 14 L. R. A. 356. 44 Waite V. Ferguson, 14 Abb. Pr. 379. 82 Wakefield v. Fargo, 90 N. Y. 213. 80, 81 Wakeman v. Dalley, 51 N. Y. 27. 34 Wallace v. Walsh, 125 N. Y. 26. 49 Walton V. Coe, 1 10 N. Y. 109. 84 Walton V. Goodwin, 58 Hun 87. 55 Washburn & Moen Mfg. Co. v. Clark, 43 St. Rep. 709. 81 Weaver v. ISorden, 49 N. Y. 286. 62 Webster z*. Turner, 12 Hun 264. 35 Weed V. Weed, 94 N. Y. 243. 28 Weeks v. Love, 33 N. Y. Super. Ct. 397. 82 Weeks v. Silver Islet Co., 54 N. Y. Super. I. 67 Welch V. Importers' & Traders' Nat. Bank, 122 N. Y. 177. 5, 24, 25, Welch V. Old Dominion, etc. R. Co., 31 St. Rep. 916. 90 Wellington v. C. C. & I. Co., 52 Hun 408. 81 Wenlock v. River Dee Co., 10 App. Cas. 354, 19 Q. B. D. 155. 24 Westelo V. Dewitt, 36 N. Y. 340. 61 Westerfield v. Radde, 67 How. Pr. 204. 49 Western Trans. Co. v. Scheu, 19 N. Y. 408. 4 Western Wooden Ware Asso. v. Starkey (Mich.), 9 Ry. & Corp. L. J. 158. 31 Weymouth v. Dimock, 41 How. Pr. 92. 50 Weymouth, etc. Packet Co. (1891), i Ch. 66. 66 Wheeler v. Millar, 90 N. Y. 353. 62, 64, 65, 67, 82 Wheeler v. Miller, 24 Hun 541. 83 Whitaker v. Masterton, 106 N. Y. 277. 48, 55 White V. Price, 39 Hun 394, 81, 118 Whitehall, etc. R. Co. v. Meyers, i6 Abb. Pr. N. S. 34. 64 Whitford v. Laidler, 94 N. Y. 145. 102 Whitney v. Cammann, 45 St. Rep. 570. 49 Whitney Arms Co. v. Barlow, 63 N, Y. 62, 68 N. Y. 34. 48, 49, SI, 52, 53. 54 Whittlesey v. Frantz, 74 N. Y. 456. 64 Wickens v. Foster, 22 W. D. 426. SS Wilcox Silver Plate Co. v. Green, 72 N. Y. 17. 90 ' Wiles V. Suydam, 64 N. Y. 173, 10 Hun 578. 50, 52, 53, 82, 84 Williams v. Meyer, 41 Hun 545. 67 Williams v. Montgomery, N. Y. L. J. May 4, 1893. 118 Williams v. Taylor, 120 N. Y. 244. 67 Williams v. Western Union Tel. Co., 93 N. Y. 162. 39, 40, 62, 66, 71 Wintringham v. Rosenthal, 25 Hun 580. 65 Witter V. Grand Rapids, etc. Co., 78 Wis. 543, 9 Ry. & Corp. L. J. 236 (1891). 25 Wood V. Corry Water Works Co., 44 Fed. Rep. 146, 12 L. R. A. 168. 25 Wood V. Knapp, 100 N. Y. 109. 103 Wood V. Lary, 47 Hun 550. 40, 66 Woodruff z/. Erie Ry. Co., 93 N. Y. 609. loi Woodruff & Beach Iron Works v. Chittenden, 4 Bosw. 406. 82 Woodward v. Holland Medicine Co., 39St. Rep. 411. 132 Worthington Company v. Rfister Binding Co., N. Y. L. J. Dec. 9, 1892. 74 Wyckoff" V. Lawson, N. Y. Trans. App., p. 2. 49 Wyckoff w. Union L. & T. Co., 33 St. Rep. 422. 90 Wyman v. Benner, N. Y. L. J. Jan. 31, 1893. 34 Young V. Brice, 18 St. Rep. 945. 11 Young V. Godwin, 46 St. Rep. 934. 55. Young V. Rondout, etc. Gas Light Co, 129 N. Y. 57. 13 Zelaya Mining Co. v. Meyer, 28 St. Rep. 759. 64 Ziegler v. Hoagland, 52 Hun 385, 25 St. Rep. 453. 34, 84 Zoller V. O'Keefe, 15 Abb. N. C. 483. 49 The Business Corporations Law. BEING LAWS OF 1 892, CHAPTER 69 1, ENTITLED: "AN ACT TO AMEND THE BUSINESS CORPORATIONS LAW," AND AMENDING LAWS OF 1890, CHAPTER 567, ENTITLED : " AN ACT IN RELATION TO BUSI- NESS CORPORATIONS, CONSTITUTING CHAPTER FORTY-ONE OF THE GENERAL LAWS"; WITH THE AMENDMENTS OF 1893-1895. Section i. Short title and limitation of chapter. 2. Incorporation. 3. Restriction upon commencement of business. 4. Reorganization of existing corporations. 5. Payment of capital stock. 6. Full liability corporations. 7. Extension of business. 8. Consolidation of corporations. g. Submission of consolidation agreement to stockholders. 10. Powers of consolidated corporations. 11. Transfer of property of old corporations to consolidated corpora- tions. 12. Rights of creditors of old corporations. 13. District steam corporations. 14. Examination of meters by agent of district steam corporations. 15. Entry by agent of district steam corporation to cut off steam. 16. Water companies. Section i. Short title and limitation of chapter. — This chapter shall be known as the business corporations law. t^- 2 BUSINESS CORPORATIONS LAW. [§ I Application and scope of the law. — This is the one general law of the State governing the organization of business corporations. It takes the place of the former Manufacturing Act of 1848 and the Business Act of 1875. Banking, insurance and transportation corporations do not come within its provisions,' but under the amendment of 1895 every corporation having a capital stock and formed for any lawful business purpose or pur- poses, not partaking of the nature of banking or insurance, may be organized under it. This is an important broadening of the scope of the act.* The General Corporation Law and the Stock Corporation Law do not authorize the organization of any corporations. § 2. Incorporation. — Three or more persons may be- come a stock corporation other than a moneyed or a transportation corporation for any lawful business purpose or purposes except a business partaking of the nature of banking or insurance, by making, signing, ac- knowledging and filing a certificate which shall contain : 1. The name of the proposed corporation. 2. The purpose or purposes for which it is to be formed. 3. The amount of the capital stock and if any portion be preferred stock the preferences thereof. 4. The number of shares of which the" capital stock shall consist, each of which shall not be less than five nor more than one hundred dollars, and the amount of capi- tal not less than five hundred dollars, with which s^id corporation will begin business. 5. The city, village or town in which its principal business office is to be located. 6. Its duration. ' Seepast, pp. 87, 88. ' See second edition of this book. § 2] BUSINESS CORPORATIONS LAW. 3 7. The number of its directors, not less than three nor more than thirteen. 8. The names and post-office addresses of the directors for the first year. 9. The pos^-office addresses of the subscribers and a statement of the number of shares of stock which each agrees to take in the corporation. The certificate may contain any other provision for the regulation of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the corporation and any limitation upon its powers, and upon the powers of its directors and stockholders, which does not exempt them from any obligation or from the performance of any duty imposed by law. Compare L. 1811, c. 67, §§ i, 2 ; L. 1815, c. 47, § i I L- 1816, t. 58, §§ i. 2 : L. 1817, c. 223 ; L. 1818, c. 67 ; L. 1819, c. 102 ; L. 1821, c. 14; L. 1848, c. 40, §§ I, 2 ; L. 1851, y.. 14 ; L. 1853, c. 117 ; L. 1853. c. 333, § i I L- 1855, c. 301 ; L. 1857, c. 29, §§ I, 3 ; L. 1857, c. 262 ; L. 1863, c. 63 ; L. 1864, c. 337 ; L. 1865, c. 234 ; L. 1865, c. 307 ; L. 1866, c. 371 ; L. 1866, u. 799, § i ; L. 1866, c. 838 ; L. 1867, c. 509 ; L 1868, c. 781 ; L. 1869, c. 605 ; L. 1870, t. 773 ; L. 1871, c. 535, § I ; L. 1871, c. 657, § I ; L. 1872, c. 248 ; L. 1872, c. 426 ; L. 1872, v. 609 ; L. 1872, c. 820 ; L. 1873, c. 616 ; L. 1873, c. 814 ; L. 1874, c. 143 ; L. 1874, c. 149 ; L. 1875, i;. 113 ; L. 1875, c. 365 ; L. 1875, c. 611, §§ i, 3 ; L- 1877, c- 374, § I ; L. 1879, c. 290 ; L. 1880, c. 85 ; L. 1880, c. 241, § i ; L. 1881, c's 58, 232, and 589 ; L. 1881, c. 351 ; L. 1881, c. 650 ; L. 1882, c. 273 ; L. 1882, c. 309 ; L. 1883, c. 238 ; L. 1883, c. 240 ; L. 1884, c. 267 ; L. 1885, c. 84 ; L. 1885, c. 535 ; L. 1888, c. 313 ; L. 1890, c. 23 ; L. i8go, c. 119 ; L. i8go, c. 508 ; L. 1890, c. 567, § 2 ; L. 1895, c. 671. The certificate of incorporation. — Three or more persons of full age ' may form a business corporation. One of such persons must be a resident of New York, and two-thirds of them must also be citizens of the Umted States.*' The certificate of incorporation must conform to the above section, ^ Post, General Corporation Law, 'Fast, General Corporation Law, § 4. § 4- 4 BUSINESS CORPORATIONS LAW. [§ 2 and in reference to the various matters required to be stated therein it may be said : (i) The name of the corporation must not too closely resemble that of any other corporation. Apart from this, no restriction is placed upon the selection of a corporate name,' and a partnership name may be continued without change. (2) The purpose or purposes for which^the corporation is formed should be clearly and fully stated.'' Tlie certificate of incorporation is the business charter of the particular corporation to which it relates, and it is of the utmost importance to the company that its powers should be properly described.* (3) The amount of the capital stock must be stated, and it should appear from the certificate whether the stock is all common stock or partially preferred, and where there are classes of preferred stock, the certifi- cate should also show the character of the preferences. It is to be noticed that specific permission is given to a company to have preferred stock at the outset, and also to issue it subsequently upon the consent of all the common stockholders. ■• No restriction is put upon the amount of capital stock that a corporation may have, and there is provision both for increasing and reducing capital subsequently.* (4) Shares of stock must not be less than five dollars, nor more than one hundred dollars, and the number of shares must of necessity be proportioned to the amount of the entire capital and the value of each share. The value of shares may be altered subsequently if this is desired.' A statement of the amount of capital with which the corporation will begin business must also be made. (5) The location of the principal business office of the company is a matter of importance,' for the corporation is taxed for local purposes in the town or ward where this office is situated.* There is no provision in the law for changing this office.' (6) The duration of a business corporation before 1895 could not be fixed for a longer period than fifty years. Now, however, there is no limit upon the duration of such a corporation. But there is ample provision in the statutes for forcing the ' See post, General Corporation Law, ^ Past, Stock Corporation Law, §§ 44 § 6. et seq. ^ Under the act of 1848, it was im- " Post, Stock Corporation Law, § 56. proper to combine various general ob- 1 See Union Steamboat Co. v. Buffalo, jects. See People ex rel. Belknap v. 82 N. Y. 351 ; Western Trans. Co. v. Beach, 19 Hun 259. But the present Scheu, 19 N. Y. 408 ; Oswego Starch law specifically says "pu^ose or pur- Factory v. Dolloway, 21 N. Y. 449. ^''^"■" 8 /'wif, pp. 190, 191. 3 See under former statutes Duche v. » § „ of L. 1890, c. 567, founded on Buffalo Grape Sugar Co., 63 How. 516 ; § ^ of L. 1861, .. 170, was omitted from People ex rel. Belknap v. Beach, 19 j^e law in 1892. See People ex rel. u. "'^" ^Sg. Barker, N. Y. L. J. July 10, 1895, first * Post, Stock Corporation Law, § 47. page. §2] BUSINESS CORPORATIONS LAW. dissolution of a corporation that does not comply with the law. Under the General Corporation Law the existence of a company may be extended.' (7) The number of directors, two of whom must be residents of New Yorlc,' must not be less than three nor more than thirteen. It has been held under former laws that those named in the certificate of incorporation may act for the first year without being stockholders.' Subsequent directors must each hold one share of stock.^ The number of directors may be altered if this is found desirable.* (8) The names and post-office addresses of the directors for the first year should be given. (9) The post-office addresses of the sub- scribers and a statement of the number of shares of stock which each agrees to take in the corporation must also be given. The word " subscribers " is here used to designate the persons who subscribe the certificate, although its more general use in corporation law is to denote the subscribers to the stock of the corporation. No specific amount of stock need be subscribed in order to form the corporation. The last paragraph of subdivision 9, in § 2, gives ample opportunity to corporations to adopt individual schemes of corporate control, and to limit the powers of the stockholders, the directors, and even the corporation itself.* The certificate of incorporation may also contain provisions reserving the rights of cumulative voting,' of issuing preferred stock," and of holding stock in other corporations.' (For form see post. Forms, I.) Filing and recording the certificate. — The certificate of incorporation must be filed and recorded in the office of the secretary of state, and there- after a duplicate certificate or a certified copy must be filed and recorded in the office of the county clerk of the county in which the corporation has its ' Post, General Corporation Law, ^ See Chemical Nat. Bank v. Colwell, § 32. The Business Corporations Law, 43 St. Rep. 876 ; Herries v. Wesley, 13 post, % 7, also provided for the extension Hun. 492. of the term of existence of a business ^ Post, Stock Corporation Law, § 21. corporation, but the provision in the e As to charter limitations upon the General Corporation Law now exists gale of stock, see American Nat. Bank z/. alone, as the other has been re- Oriental Mills (R. I.), 23.Atl. Rep. 795. P^^'^*^- , ''Post, General Corporation Law, ' Post, General Corporation Law, „ ■ ?i, T^ ,1 et. 1. ,„„ XT V ° Post, Stock Corporation Law, § 47. 'McDowell V. Sheehan, 129 N. Y. ' '^ > o-n 200 ; Welch v. I. & T. Nat. Bank, 122 ' Po^t, Stock Corporation Law. N. Y. 177; Craw v. Easterly, 4 Lans. §40- 513- 6 BUSINESS CORPORATIONS LAW. [§ 3 principal office.^ The fees for filing the certificate in the office of the secre-" tary of state are $10," and for recording fifteen cents a folio,' and for filing in the county clerk's office six cents, and for recording ten cents a folio.^ Before the certificate can be filed in the secretary of state's office, the organization tax of one-eighlh of one per cent. upon. the capital of the corporation must be paid to the state treasurer.' The best course in presenting papers personally is to take them to the secretary of state's office, and having secured his approval of the certificate, to proceed to the state treasurer's office with a certified check for the organi- zation tax, and having paid this tax, to return to the secretary of state's office and deposit the certificate in that office, paying the necessary fees. After this has been done, a duplicate of the certificate or a certified copy, with a receipt for the payment of the organization tax, which is given by the state treasurer, must be filed in the office of the clerk of the county where the corporation has its principal office. If the papers are forwarded by mail, it seems to be the preference of the secretary of state's office to have a certified check for the organization tax sent direct to the state treasurer, and the cer- tificate of incorporation, with the fees for filing, sent to the secretary of state. Where this course is followed, the state treasurer should be instructed to hold the check for the organization tax until the certificate of incorporation is approved by the secretary of state. § 3. Restrictions upon commencement of business. — No such corporation shall incur any debts until the amount of capital specified in its certificate of incorporation, as the amount of capital with which it will begin businesSi shall have been paid in in money or property. See L. 1875, c- 611, § 7 ; L. 1890, c. 567, § 3 ; L. 1895, c. 671. Amount to be paid in before debts are incurred. — The above section is new, and it takes the place of the provisions which required one-half of the capital to be>.subscribed and a certificate of the fact to be made and recorded,. Now no second certificatais required. Ten per cent, must be paid in cash ' /"oj-/. General Corporation Law, § 5. ■'Code of Civ. Pro. § 3304, post, * L. 1892, c. 6B3, Art. II., subd. 12 Appendix, (rep'g L. 1882, c. \t,(i),post. Appendix. 'For provisions of the law requiring *L. 1892, c. 683, Art. II., subd. 6, the payment of this tax, seep. 164. post. Appendix § 4] BUSINESS CORPORATIONS LAW. 7 upon all subscriptions, which are payable in money.' Subscriptions payable in property may be made upon the organization of the company,'' and no cash payment is required upon them, § 4. Reorganization of existing corporations. — Any stock corporation heretofore organized, except a moneyed or transportation corporation, or a corporation the business of which partalces of the nature of banking or insurance, may reincorporate under this chapter in the following manner : The directors of the corporation shall call a meeting of the stockholders thereof by publishing a notice, stating the time, place and object of the meeting, signed by at least a majority of them, in a newspaper of the county in which its principal business office is situated, once a week, for, at least, three successive weeks, and by serving upon each stockholder, at least three weeks be- fore the meeting, a copy of such notice either personally or by depositing it in the post-office, postage prepaid, addressed to him at his last known post-office address. The stockholders shall meet at the time and place speci- fied in the notice and organize by choosing one of the directors chairman, and a suitable secretary, and shall then take a vote of those present in person or by proxy upon the proposition to re-incorporate under this chapter, and if votes representing a majority of all the stock of the corporation shall be cast in favor of the proposition, the officers of the meeting shall execute and acknowledge a certificate of the proceedings, which certificate shall also contain the statements required by section two of this chapter, and shall be filed in the offices where certi- ' Post, Stock Corporation Law, § 41. ' Lorillard v. Clyde, 86 N. Y. 384. 8 BUSINESS CORPORATIONS LAW. [§ 5 ficates of incorporation under this chapter are required to be filed. From the time of such filing such corporation shall be deemed to be a corporation organized under this chapter, and if originally organized or incorporated under a general- law of this State, it shall have and exercise all such rights and franchises as it has hereto- fore had and Exercised under the laws pursuant to which it was originally incorporated, and such reorganization shall not in any way affect, change or diminish the exist- ing liabilities of the corporation. See L. 1875, c. 611, § 32 ; L. 1880, c. 187, § i ; L. 1885, c. 540, § i ; L. 1890, c. 567. § 5 ; L. 1895, c. 671. Reorganization unnecessary. — There is no reason which forces existing corporations to reorganize under the provisions of this section. The corporation laws of the State repealed by the existing laws are merged in the new laws, and all corporations formed under the repealed laws are now governed by the existing laws.' No advantage either is to be derived by these corporations from reincorporation, as the statute seems to contemplate the formation of the same corporation without change. Corporations formed under special charters may find the law of value to them. But it is held that the organization tax of one-eighth of one per cent, must be paid if a corporation takes advantage of this l^w.^ This is inequitable, and the legislature should alter the rule and provide that the tax should apply only to increased capital, as was provided in the recent legislative bill of the counsel to revise the tax laws.' (For form see post. Forms, III.) § 5. Payment of capital stock.— One-half of the capital stock of every such corporation shall be paid in within one year from its incorporation, or the corporation shall be dissolved, and the directors within thirty days after 'See Close v. Potter, 2 %Iisc. Rep. man, J., Special Term). See also the I ; 5 Misc. 543 ; People v. Bell, 24 decisions in reference to this tax in N. Y. St. Rep. 114. As to reorganiza- cases of the consolidation of corpo- ition proceedings under another statute, rations, post, p. 165, and 138 N. Y. see People v. Newburgh, etc. Plank 614. 3load Co., 23 Hun 172. ' Senate Bill, No. 321, Feb. 3, 1893, ^ See Matter of New York, etc. In- § 180. •vestment Co., 40 St. Rep. 139 (Fiurs- § 6] BUSINESS CORPORATIONS LAW. 9 t such payment shall make a certificate of the fact of such payment, which shall be signed and acknowledged by a majority of the directors, and verified by the president or vice-president and secretary or treasurer, and filed in the offices where the certificates of incorporation are filed. The dissolution of any such corporation for any cause shall not take away or impair any remedy against it, its stockholders or officers, for any liabilities incurred pre- vious to its dissolution. See L. 1848, c. 40, §S 10, ii ; L. 1875, c. 6[i, §§ 37, 38 ; L. 1890, u. 567, § 6. One-half capital to be paid in within one year. — The present law re- quires one-half of the capital of every business corporation to be paid in within one year, and calls for the filing of a certificate of this payment. There is no time specified within which the entire capital of the com- pany must be paid in. The decisions upon the corresponding sections of the Manufacturing Act relate to the filing of a certificate upon the full payment of capital.' And for the most part they bear upon the question of the individual liability of stockholders which arose under the former laws upon neglect to file the certificate required by them. The neglect to file the certificate called for by the above section does not affect the liability of stockholders under the present laws.* The provision imposing the penalty of dissolution is the same as the former provision which re- lated to the payment of the entire capital.* The corporation is not dissolved by a mere failure to pay in the capital called for; proceedings must be takeri against it in order to effect its dissolution.'' Where the failure to record the corresponding certificate under the law of 1848 was due to the negligence of the county clerk, the penalty of liability to stockholders was not enforced.' The certificate must be verified.' {,For form see post, Forms, IV.) § 6. Full liability corporations. — - Every corporation formed under this chapter may be or become a full ' See Veeder v. Mudgett, 95 N. Y. * Denike v. New York, etc. Lime 295 ; Brown v. Smith, 13 Hun 408, Co., 80 N. Y. 599 ; Moran v. Lydecker, affi'd 80 N. Y. 650 ; Plaas v. Housman, 27 Hun 5S2. See 143 N. Y. 676 ; 128 17 St. Rep. 671 ; Southworth & Jones, N. Y. 240 ; 125 N. Y. 434. 2ded., §100. 'Sutherland v. Olcott, 95 N. Y. ' See post, Stock Corporation Law, 93. See Bruce v. Driggs, 25 How. § 54. Pr- 71. ' People V. Buffalo Stone & Cement ' Brown v. Smith, 13 Hun 408, affi'd Co., 131N. Y. 140. See 143 N. Y. 398. 80 N. Y. 650. See 124 N. Y. 25. lO BUSINESS CORPORATIONS LAW. [§ 6 liability corporation by inserting a statement in the cer- tificate of incorporation, that the corporation thereby formed is intended to be a full liability corporation ; and in case of an existing corporation, which, is not a full liability corporation, it may become such by filing in the offices where certificates of incorporation are required to be filed, a supplemental certificate stating that thereafter the corporation intends to be a full liability corporation, which certificate shall be executed and acknowledged by the president and treasurer of the corporation or by the board of directors, and shall have annexed thereto a copy of a resolution, adopted by a two-thirds vote of the board of directors, and the written consent of all the stock- holders of the corporation, authorizing and consenting to the change of the corporation to a full liability cor- poration. If the corporation is formed as or becomes a full liability corporation, all the stockholders of the cor- poration shall be severally individually liable to its cred- itors for all its debts and liabilities, and may be joined as defendants in any action against it. No execution shall issue against any stockholder individually until execution has been issued against the corporation and returned un- satisfied, and all the stockholders shall contribute a pro- portionate share, according to the number of shares of stock owned by each, of the amount paid by any stock- holder on a judgment recovered against him individually for a debt of the corporation, and he may recover from the other stockholders in the corporation in a joint or several action, the proper portion due by them and each of them, of the amount paid by him on any such judg- See L. 1875, c. 611, § 34 ; L. i8go, c. 567, § 7. Nature of a full liability corporation. — A corporation with full liability is a body which possesses many corporate advantages, but whose stock- holders are not free from personal liability. Each stockholder in such a § 7] BUSINESS CORPORATIONS LAW. II corporation is liable to its creditors for all its debts and liabilities. The above section provides that an execution must be issued against the cor- poration and returned unsatisfied before one may be issued against any individual stockholder, and that a stockholder who pays a judgment may have contributions from other stockholders.' . Joint stock associations may be formed under the statutes of the State applicable to these organizations." They resemble full liability corpora- tions in many respects. A limited liability corporation may be converted into a full liability corporation by the unanimous consent of its stock- holders. (For form see post. Forms, I.) * § 7. Extension of business. — Any corporation incorpo- rated under this article within one year from the date of its certificate of incorporation, may extend its business beyond that mentioned in its original certificate, provide ing the proposed extension of business shall be of the same general character as that stated in and which might have been properly included in the original certificate, by executing and filing as required for the original certificate, an amended certificate stating the extension of business proposed and that the same has been authorized by a vote of stockholders representing three-fourths of the capital stock, at a meeting called and held, as provided in section two, and a copy of the proceedings of such meeting, verified by the affidavit of at least three of the directors present thereat, shall be filed with such amended certificate. *This section has been repealed by L. 1895, c. 671. Section 32 of the Stock Corporation covers the same subject.^ (For form see post. Forms, V.) ■ CoiEpare L. 1875, c. 611, § 186, and N. Y. 355, and post. Appendix. See see Young v^ Brice, 18 St. Rep. 945. aSso post. Taxation Laws. 2 See McCabe v. Goodfellow, 133 ' See post. Stock Corporation Law, N. Y. 89 ; Van Aerman v. Bleistein, 102 -p. 55. 12 BUSINESS CORPORATIONS LAW. § 8 § 8. Consolidation of corporations. — Any two or more corporations organized under the laws of this state for the purpose of carrying on any kind of business of the same or of a similar nature, which a corppration organ- ized under this chapter might carry on, may consolidate such corporations into a single corporation, as follows : The respective corporations may enter into and make an agreement signed by a majority of their respective boards of directors and under their respective corpo- rate seals, for the consolidation of such corporations, prescribing the terms and conditions thereof, the mode of carrying the same into effect, the name of the new corporation, the number of directors who shall man- age its affairs, not less than three nor more than thirteen, the names and post-office addresses of the directors for the first year, the term of its existence, not exceeding fifty years, the name of the town or towns, county or counties, in which its operations are to be carried on, the name of the town or city and county in this state in which its principal place of business is to be situated, the amount of its capital stock, which shall not be larger in amount than the fair aggregate value of the property, franchises and rights of such corporations, and the number of shares into which the same is to be divided, the manner of dis- tributing such capital stock among the holders thereof, and if such corporations, or either of them, shall have been organized for yie purpose of carrying on any part of its business in any place out of this state, the agree- ment shall so state, with such other particulars as they may deem necessary. See L. 1867, c. 960, § i ; L. 1877, c. 374. § 2 ; L. 1873, c. 616, § i ; L. 1884, c. 367, § I ; L. 1890, c. 567, § 13 ; L- 1895, i;. 671- ' Post, General Corporation Law, § 33. § g] BUSINESS CORPORATIONS LAW. 1 3 What corporations may consolidate. — The above section makes three things essential in order that corporations may consolidate. First, the corporations desiring to consolidate must be organized under the laws of this State ; second, they must be formed for the purpose of carrying on business " of the same or of a similar nature" ' ; and third, each corporation must be engaged in carrying on business of a kind that a corporation may carry on under the Business Corporations Law. Proceedings to consolidate begun under a former statute before its repeal may be carried to completion thereunder, notwithstanding its repeal during the process of consolidation.'' In proceedmgs to consolidate, the next following sections should be carefully followed, as a strict compliance with the statute is necessary. (For- forms see post, Forms, VI.) Organization tax upon consolidation. — Upon the consolidation of two corporations the statute provides that an organization tax of one-eighth of one per cent, shall be imposed upon the excess of capital over and above the aggregate capital of the two companies consolidating.' It is now settled that three corporations consolidating are also entitled to the benefit of this provision— the word two in the statute being used to include two or more.* § 9. Submission of consolidation agreement to stock- holders. — Such agreement shall be submitted to the stockholders of each of such corporations, at a meeting thereof to be called upon notice of at least two weeks, specifying the time, place and object thereof, and ad- dressed to each at his last known post-office address, and deposited in the post-office, postage prepaid, and pub- lished for at least two successive weeks in one of the newspapers in each of the counties of this state in which either of such corporations shall have its place of busi- ness, and if such agreement shall be approved at each of such meetings of the respective stockholders separately, ' See Young v. Rondout, etc. Gas ation Laws, where this subject is more Light Co., 129 N. Y. 57. fully discussed. * Cameron v. New York & Mt. * People ex rel. Eickmeyer Field Co. Vernon Water Co , 133 N. Y. 336, 62 v. Rice, N. Y. L. J., Dec. i, 1892 (G. T. Hun 269. See also People v. North 3d D.). Affirmed by the Court of Ap- River Sugar Refining Co., 121 N.Y. 582. peals. See Table of Cases. "See L. 1892, c. 668, post. Tax- 14 BUSINESS CORPORATIONS LAW. [§ 9 hy the vote by ballot of the stockholders owning at least two-thirds of the stock, the same shall be the agreement of such corporations, and a sworn copy of the proceed- ings of such meetings, made by the secretaries thereof, respectively, and attached thereto, shall be presumptive evidence of the holding and action of such meetings. Such agreement and verified copy of proceedings of such meetings shall be made in duplicate, one of which shall be filed in the ofifice of the secretary of state, and the other in the office of the clerk of the county where the principal business office of the new corporation is to be situated in this state/ and thereupon such corporations shall be merged into the new corporation specified in such agreements, to be known by the corporate name therein mentioned, and the provisions of such agreement shall be carried into effect as therein provided. If any stockholder, not voting in favor of such agreement to consolidate, shall at such meeting, or within twenty days thereafter, object to such consolidation and demand pay- ment for his stock, such stockholder or such new cor- poration, if the consolidation takes effect at any time thereafter, may at any time within sixty days after such meeting apply to the supreme court at any special term thereof held in the district in which any county is sit- uated in which such new corporation may have its place of business, upon at least eight days notice to the new corporation, for the appointment of three persons to ap- praise the value of such stock and the court shall appoint three such appraisers and designate the time and place of their first meeting, with such directions in regard to their ' The fees to be paid the secretary of cording a certificate of incorporatioa state and the county clerk are the same See ante, p. 5. that must be paid upon filing and re- § lo] BUSINESS CORPORATIONS LAW. 1 5 proceedings as shall be deemed proper, and also direct the manner in which payment for such stock shall be made to such stockholder. The court may fill any va- cancy in the board of appraisers occurring by refusal or neglect to serve or otherwise. The appraisers shall meet at the time and place designated, and they or any two of them, after being duly sworn honestly and faithfully to discharge their duties, shall estimate and certify the value of such stock at the time of such dissent, and deliver one copy to such new corporation, and another to such stock- holder if demanded ; the charges and expenses of the appraisers shall be paid by the new corporation. When the new corporation shall have paid the amount of such appraisal, as directed by the court, such stockholder shall cease to have any interest in such stock and in the cor- porate property of such corporation, and such stock may be held or disposed of by such new corporation.' See L. 1867, c. g6o, §§ 2, 3 ; L. 1873, c. 616, §§ 2, 3 ; L, 1884, c. 367, §§ 2, 3 ; L. 1890, c. 567, § 14. § 10. Powers of consolidated corporations. — Such new corporation in addition to the general powers of corpora- tions shall enjoy the rights, franchises and privileges possessed by each of the corporations so consolidated,' subject to the restrictions, liabilities, duties and provi- sions contained in this chapter so far as the same may be applicable to the purposes for which it shall have been organized and expressed in the agreement for consolida- tion, and may prosecute or carry on any kind of business ' Consult : Langan v. Francklyn, 20 ' See People ex rel. The New York N. Y. Supp. 404 ; Trask v. Peekskill Phonograph Co. v. Rice, 128 N. Y. Plough Works, 6 Hun 236 ; American 591 ; 57 Hun 486. Water Works Co. v. Venner, 45 St. Rep. 441. l6 BUSINESS CORPORATIONS LAW. [§§ II, 12 which each of the consolidating corporations was author- ized by law to conduct. See L. 1867, c. 960, § 4; L. 1873, c. 616, §4; L. 1884, c. 367, §§ 4, T, L- 1890, c. 567, § 15, amended. § II. Transfer of property of old corporations to consol- idated corporations. — Upon such consolidation and organ- ization of such new corporation, all and singular the rights, privileges, franchises and interests of every kind belonging to or enjoyed by the corporations so consoli- dated, and every species of property, real, personal and mixed, and things in action thereunto belonging, men- tioned in such agreement of consolidation, .shall be deemed to be transferred and vested in, and may be en- joyed by, such new corporation, without any other deed or transfer ; and such new corporation shall hold and enjoy the same, and all rights of property, privileges, franchises and interests in the same manner and to the same extent as if the several corporations so consolidated had continued to retain the title and transact the business of such corporations, and the title to real and personal property and rights and privileges acquired and enjoyed by either of the corporations shall not revert or be im- paired by such consolidation, or anything relating thereto. See L. 1867, c. 960, § 5; L. 1873, c. 6i6, § 5; L. 1884, c. 367, § 5; L. 1890, c. 567, § 16, amended. § 12. Rights of creditors of old corporations. — The rights of creditors of any corporation that shall so be consoli- dated shall not in any manner be impaired, nor any lia- bility or obligation f«r the payment of any money due or to become due to any person or persons, or any claim or demand for any cause existing against any such corpora- tion or against any stockholder thereof be released or impaired by any such consolidation ; but such new corpo- ration shall succeed to and be held liable to pay and dis- §13] BUSINESS CORPORATIONS LAW. 1 7 charge all such debts and liabilities of each of the corporations consolidated in the same manner as if such new corporation had itself incurred the obligation or liability to pay such debt or damages and the stockholders of the respective corporations consolidated shall continue, subject to all the liabilities, claims and demands existing against them as such, at or before the consoHdation ; and no action or proceeding then pending before any court or tribunal in which any corporation that may be so- consolidated is a party, or in which any such stockholder is a party, shall abate or be discontinued by reason of such consolidation, but may be prosecuted to final judg- ment, as though no consolidation had been entered into ; or such new corporation may be substituted as a party in place of any corporation so consolidated, by order of the court in which such action or proceeding may be pending/ See L. 1867, c. q6o, § 6; L. 1873, c. 616, § 6; L. 1884, u. 367, § 6; L. 1890, C- 567, § 17, amended. § 13. District Steam corporations. — Any corporation now or hereafter incorporated for the purpose of supplying steam to consumers from a central station or stations through pipes laid in the public streets, shall be known as a district steam corporation and upon the application in writing of the owner or occupant of any building or premises, within one hundred feet of any street main laid down by any such corporation, and payment by him of all money due from him to it, such corporation shall supply steam as may be required for heating such building or premises, notwithstanding there may be rent or com- pensation in arrears for steam supplied, or for meter, pipe or fittings furnished to a former occupant thereof, unless such owner or occupant shall have undertaken or agreed ' Consult: Edison Electric Light Co. v. U. S. Electric Light Co., 21 Abb' N. C. 119. 2 1 8 BUSINESS CORPORATIONS LAW. [§ 1 4 with the former occupant to pay or to exonerate him from the payment of such arrears, and shall refuse or neglect to pay the same ; and if, for the space of twenty days after such application, and the deposit, if required, of a reasonable sum to cover the cost of connection and two months' steam supply, the corporation shall refuse or neglect to supply steam as required, it shall forfeit to such applicant the sum of ten dollars and the further sum of five dollars for every day thereafter during which such refusal or neglect shall continue; but no such corporation shall be required to lay a service pipe for the purpose of supplying steam to any applicant where the ground in which such pipe is required to be laid shall be frozen, or otherwise present serious obstacles to laying the same, nor unless the applicant, if required, shall deposit in advance with the corporation a sum of money sufficient to pay for two months' steam supply and the cost of the necessary connections and of the erection of a meter and such other special apparatus as are required for use in connection with such steam supply, nor unless the appli- cant shall provide the space and right of way necessary for the erection, maintenance and use of such connections and apparatus, and signify his assent in writing to the reasonable regulations of the corporation with reference to the supply of steam to consumers. See L. 1885, c. 549, §§ i, 2; L. 1890, c. 567, § 18. § 14. Examinaticip of meters by agent of district steam corporations. — Any such corporation may make an agree- ment with any of its customers, by which any of its officers or agents shall be authorized at all reasonable times to enter any dwelling, store, building, room or place, supplied with steam by such corporation and occu- pied by such customer, for the purpose of inspecting and § 15] BUSINESS CORPORATIONS LAW. 1 9 examining the meters, devices, pipes, fittings and appli- ances for supplying or regulating the supply of steam, and for ascertaining the quantity of steam consumed, or the quantity of water resulting from the condensation of steam consumed. Every such agreement shall further provide that such officer or agent shall exhibit his written authority if requested by the occupant of such dwelling, store, building, room or place. Any person who shall directly or indirectly prevent or hinder such officer or agent from entering such dwelling, store, building, room or place, or from making such inspection or examination, in violation of such agreement, shall forfeit to the corpo- ration the sum of twenty-five dollars for each offense. See L. 1880, c. 263, § 4; L. i8go, c. 567, | ig. § 15. Entry by agent of district steam corporation to cut off steam. — If any person or persons, corporation or as- sociation supplied with steam by any such corporation, shall neglect or refuse to pay the rent or remuneration for such steam, or for the meter, device, pipes, fittings or appliances, let by such corporation for supplying steam, or for ascertaining the quantity of steam con- sumed, or the quantity of water resulting from the con- densation of the steam consumed, agreed upon or due for the same, as required by his, their or its contract with such corporation, the latter may thereupon stop and pre- vent the steam from entering the premises of such person, persons, corporation or association, so neglecting or refusing to pay such rent or remuneration, and may also in any case, in which a person is liable to pay a forfeiture, or to a fine or imprisonment, by reason of any act to or towards such corporation or its property for which such forfeiture, fine or penalty is imposed by law, stop and prevent the steam from entering the premises of the !20 BUSINESS CORPORATIONS LAW. [§ 1 6 person so liable, or if such person be an officer or agent of any corporation or association, stop and prevent the steam from entering the premises of such corporation or association. In all cases in which such corporation is authorized to stop and prevent the steam from entering any premises, it may, by its officers, agents, or workmen, enter into or on such premises between the hours of eight o'clock in the forenoon and six o'clock in the afternoon and cut off, disconnect, separate and carry away any meter, device, pipe, fitting or other property of the corpo- ration ; and may cut off, disconnect and separate any meter, device, pipe or fitting, whether the property of the corporation or not, from the mains or pipes of such cor- poration. See L. 1880, c. 263, § 5; L. 1883, c. 237; L. 1890, c. 567, § 20. § 16. Water companies. — No corporation shall be formed under this chapter for the purpose of accumulating, storing, conducting, furnishing or supplying water for domestic, manufacturing or municipal purposes in the city of New York. Any corporation formed for the purpose of supplying any other city of the State with water, if unable to agree with the owners of any real property required for the purpose of the corporation for the purchase thereof may acquire title thereto by condemnation. See L. 1880, c. 85; L. 1881, c. 472; L. 1887, c. 486. Formation of water companies. — The first paragraph of the above sec- tion seems to imply that a corporation formed " for the purpose of accumu- lating, storing, conductmg, furnishing or supplying water for domestic, manufacturing or municipal purposes," may be organized under the Business Corporations Law, provided that its operations are not to be carried on in the city of New York. The first section of the Business Corporations Law, however, prohibits the formation under that law of any corporation that may be formed under another law of the State,' and ' See ante, p. i. § 1 6] BUSINESS CORPORATIONS LAW. 21 the Transportation Corporations Law specially provides for the formation of water-works corporations.' These corporations, however, are such as are formed " for the purpose of supplying water to any of the cities, towns or villages,. and the inhabitants thereof in this State." The prohi- bition of section one of the Business Corporations Law, therefore, seems to extend only to the particular class of water corporations authorized to be formed under the Transportation Corporations Law, and water com- panies formed for purposes other than those specified in that law, would seem to be within the scope of the Business Corporations Law, provided that their operations are not to be carried on in New York City. Water companies formed under the Manufacturing Act of 1848, had the power to condemn lands by the laws of 1880, c. 85, and 1881, c. 472. This power was taken away from them by the repeal of the last-men- tioned laws, by L. 1890, c. 567, § 21, and the object of the second para- graph of the above section is to restore the power of condemnation. ' See^osi, Appendix. The Stock Corporation Law. BEING LAWS OF 1892, CHAPTER 688, ENTITLED: "AN ACT TO AMEND THE STOCK CORPORATION LAW," AMENDING LAWS 1890, CHAPTER 564, ENTITLED : " AN ACT IN RELATION TO STOCK CORPORATIONS, CON- STITUTING CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT OF THE GENERAL LAWS," AS AMENDED TO JUNE I, 1893. ARTICLE I. General Powers; Reorganization (§§ 1-7). 2. Directors and Officers; their Election, Duties AND Liabilities (§§ 20-32). 3. Stock; Stockholders, their Rights and Liabili- ties (§§ 40-55)- ARTICLE I. GENERAL POWERS; REORGANIZATION. Section i. Short title, and application of chapter. 2. Power to borrow money and mortgage property. 3. Reorganization upon sale of corporate property and franchises. 4. Contents of plan or agreement. 5. Sale of property ; possession of receiver and suits against him, 6. Assent of stockholders to plan of readjustment. 7. Combinations prohibited. Section i. Short title and application of chapter. — This chapter shall be known as the stock corporation law, but article one shall not apply to monied corporations. See L. i8go, c. 563, § i. § 2. Power to borrow money and mortgage property. — In addition to the powers conferred by the general corpora- tion law, every stock corporation shall have power to borrow money or contract debts, when necessary for the transaction of its business, or for the exercise of its cor- porate rights, privileges or franchises, or for any other lawful purpose of its incorporation ; and may issue and (22) § 2] STOCK CORPORATION LAW. 23 dispose of its obligations for any amount so borrowed, and may mortgage its property and franchises to secure the payment of such obligations or of any debt con- tracted for the purposes herein specified ; and the amount of the obligations issued and outstanding at any one time secured by such mortgages, excepting mortgages given as a consideration for the purchase of real estate, and mortgages authorized by contracts made prior to May first, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, shall not ex- ceed the amount of its paid up capital stock, or an amount equal to two-thirds of the value of its corporate property at the time of issuing the obligations secured by such mortgages, in case such two-thirds value shall be more than the amount of such paid up capital stock. No such mortgages, except purchase-money mortgages shall be issued without the consent, of the stockholders owning at least two-thirds of of * the stock of the corporation, which consent shall be in writing and shall be filed and recorded in the office of the clerk or register of the county where it has its principal place of business, or shall be given by vote at a special meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose ; and a certificate of the vote at such meeting, signed and sworn to by the chairman and secretary of such meeting, shall be filed and recorded as aforesaid. When authorized by such con- sent, the directors, under such regulations as they may adopt, may confer on the holder of any debt or obligation secured by such mortgage the right to convert the prin- cipal thereof, after two and not more than twelve years from the date of the mortgage, into stock of the corpora- tion ; and if the capital stock shall not be sufficient to meet the conversion when made, the stockholders shall, * So in original. %. 24 STOCK CORPORATION LAW. [§ 2 in the manner herein provided, authorize an increase of capital stock sufficient for that purpose. See L. 1864, c. 517, § 2 ; L. 1867, c. 480, § i; L. 1869, k.. 706, § i; L. 1871, c. 481, § 2; L. 1S75, c. 88, § i; L. 1875, c. 611, § 13; L. 1878, c. 163, § i; L. 1878, c. 203, § 39; L. 1880, c. 182, § i; L. 1888, c. 394; L. 1890, c. 564, § 2; L. 1892, c. 337. Extent of power to mortgage. — The above section gives ample power to corporations in respect to the purposes for which they may mortgage. The decisions ' of the State relating to the power to mortgage for the purpose of securing future debts, were based upon prio"" statutes ' now repealed, and the clause in the above section authorizing the borrowing of money by a corporation for any lawful purpose of its incorporation, removes any doubt as to the power of a corporation to secure by mort- gage any lawful obligation. But it qualifies the general power to mortgage ' and places a limit upon the amount of corporate obligations of this character that may be outstanding at any one time, by providing that these obligations must not exceed the amount of the paid-up capital of the company, or an amount equal to two-thirds of the value of its corporate property at the time of issuing such obligations, in case such two-thirds value shall be more than the amount of its paid-up capital.* In calculating the amount of the obligations, mortgages given in consid- eration for the purchase of property and mortgages authorized by contracts made prior to May i, 1891, are excepted. Manner of making corporate mortgage. — This section provides that two-thirds of the stock ° of the corporation must consent to the giving of the mortgage, and that this consent may be evidenced in either one of two ways, namely: (1) Stockholders owning at least two-thirds of the ' See Lord v Yonkers Fuel Gas Co., 122 N. Y. 165; Campbell v. American 99 N. Y. 547; Carpenter-z;. Black Hawk Zylonite Co., 122 N. Y. 455; Welch v. Mining Co., 65 N. Y. 43; Central Gold L & T. Bank, 122 N. Y. 177. Where Mining Co. z>. Piatt, 3 Daly 263; a corporation has a restricted right to Martin?/. Niagara Falls Paper M'f'g Co., mortgage, its bonds and mortgages 122 N. Y. 165. See also Jones f. Guar- beyond that limit were held to be void anty and Indemnity Co., loi U. S. 622. in the case of Baroness Wenlock v. ' See L. 1864, c. 517; L. 1878, c. 163; River Dee Co. (H. L.), 10 App. Cas. Southworth & Jones on Mfg. & Bus. 354 (1885). See also a later report o£ Corporations, § 134 ei seqM the same case, 19 Q B. D. 155 (1887), ' See Rochester Savings Bank v. where it was held that the person loan- Averell, 96N. Y.457; GreenpointSugar ing the money to the company would Co. V. Whitin, 69 N. Y. 328. But a be subrogated to the rights of creditors corporation cannot mortgage its fran- who were paid therewith. K;hises without statutory authority. * Two-thirds of the issued stock is Carpenter v. Black Hawk Gold Mining sufficient, Lyceum v, Ellis, 30 St. Rep. Co., 65 N. Y. 43. 242 ; Vail v. Hamilton, 20 Hun 355. 85 *See Martin v. Niagara Falls, etc. Co., N. Y. 453. §2] STOCK CORPORATION LAW. 2$ stock of the corporation may sign a written consent,' which shall be filed and recorded in the office of the clerk or register of the county where the corporation has its principal place of business ; or (2), the consent may be given by vote at a special meeting of the stockholders called to consider the question, and a certificate of the vote at such meeting, signed and sworn to by its chairnian and secretary, shall be filed and recorded in the same manner as the written consent is required to be filed and recorded. As the law makes no provision for calling this meeting in any special manner, it should be called in accordance with the by-laws of the corpo- ration. It is also provided by the above section that the consent given may confer on the holders of any debt or obligation secured by such mortgage the right to convert the principal, within the specified time, into stock of the corporation ; and it also provides that if the capital stock shall not be sufficient to meet the conversion when made, the stock- holders shall authorize an increase of capital stock for the purpose. It would seem that it would be safer for the corporation to reserve for itself the right to make this conversion rather than to confer the right upon the creditors, and, at all events, that a corporation should guard itself from the complication which might arise in case those who are the stockholders of the company at the time of the agreed-upon conversion should refuse to vote for an increase of capital stock. A chattel mortgage, containing a clause that the mortgage shall become instantly due if a judgment is recovered against the corporation, is payable at once upon the entry of Judgment, and there is no property upon which the judgment creditor may levy.' If the payment of bonds > A mortgage given after the required Co., 33 Hun 333; Cox v. Gould, 4 consent is obtained but not filed, is Blatch. 341; Fidelity Ins. etc. Co. v. valid against the corporation and its Railroad Co., 138 Pa. 494 (i8gi); Man- stockholders. Martin w. Niagara Falls hattan Hardware Co. v. Phalen, 128 Paper Mfg. Co., 122 N. Y. 165. See Pa. no; Witter v. Grand Rapids, etc. in reference to disputed mortgages, Co., 78 Wis. 543; 9 Ry. & Corp. L. J. Campbell v. Argenta Gold & S. M. Co., 236 (i8gi); McDonald v. Chisholm, 131 51 Fed. Rep. i; 46 Alb. L. J. 178; Sey- 111. 274; Wood v. Corry Water Works mour V. Spring Forest Cemetery Asso., Co., 44 Fed. Rep. 146; 12 L. R. A. 168 45 St. Rep. 520; Dimpfel v. Ohio, etc. (1890); Paulding v. Chrome Steel Co., R. Co., noU. S. 209; Hubbell v. S. I. 94 N. Y. 334; Conklin v. Secor Sewing Works, 36 St. Rep. 902; Rochester Machine Co., 55 How. Pr. 269. If Savings Bank v. Averell, 96 N. Y. 467: there are but two stockholders, and 26 Hun 643; Denike v. N. Y. R. L. these consent, the mortgage is valid, etc. Co., 80 N. Y. 599; Greenpoint Welch ». Importers' & Traders' Nat. Sugar Co. v. Whitin, 69 N. Y. 328; Bank, 122 N. Y. 177; Star v. Andrews, Lawrenceville Cement Co. v. Parker, 31 St. Rep. 188; Castle v. Lewis, 78 39 St. Rep. 864; Everson v. Eddy, 36 N. Y. 131. St. Rep. 763; Preston w. Loughran, 58 ' Leadbetter v. N. H. Leadbetter, Hun 210; Rittenhouse v. Winch, 32 St. Limited, 125 N. Y. 290. Rep. 506; Astor v. Westchester G. L. 26 STOCK CORPORATION LAW. [§ 3 issued by a corporation is subject to a contingency, they are not nego- tiable.' A stockholder may bring an action to foreclose a trust mortgage when the trustee is incapacitated, and there is need of proceeding.' The provisions of the trust deed must be followed.* No consent is required to make a purchase-money mortgage valid, although it is better practice to obtain the consent. A*mortgage executed without the requisite consent may be set aside.' (For forms of certificate and consent to mortgage, see post. Forms, VII.) § 3. Reorganization upon sale of corporate property and franchises. — When the property and franchises of any domestic stock corporation shall be sold by virtue of a mortgage or deed of trust, duly executed by it, or pur- suant to the judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, or by virtue of any execution issued thereon, and the purchaser at such sale shall acquire title to the same in the manner prescribed by law, he may associate with him any number of persons, not less than the num- ber required by law for the incorporation of such corpo- ration, a majority of whom shall be citizens and residents of this state, and they may become a corporation, and take and possess the property and franchises thus sold, and which were at the time of sale possessed by the cor- poration whose property shall have been so sold, upon making, acknowledging and filing in the ofifices where certificates of incorporation are required by law to be filed, a certificate in which they shall describe by name and reference to the law under which it was organized, the corporation whose property and franchises they have acquired, and the court by whose authority the sale had been made, with the date of the judgment or decree ' McClelland v. Norfolk Southern R. ■• Coman v. Lakey, 80 N. Y. 345; Co., no N. Y. 469. Dubois v. Hall, 43 Barb. 26; Thomas ' Ettlinger v. Persian Rug & Carpet on Mortgages, § 121, Co., 49 St. Rep. 408. 5 Vail v. Hamilton, 20 Hun 355; 85 ' Batchelder v. Council Grove Water N. Y. 453. Co., 42 St. Rep. 614. § 4] STOCK CORPORATION LAW. 27 authorizing or directing the same, and a brief description of the property sold, and also the following particulars : 1. The name of the new corporation intended to be formed by the filing of such certificate. 2. The maximum amount of its capital stock and the number of shares into which it is to be divided, specify- ing the classes thereof, whether common or preferred, and the amount of and rights pertaining to each class. 3. The number of directors, not less nor more than the number required by law for the old corporation, who shall manage the affairs of the new corporation, and the names and post-office address of the directors for the first year. 4. Any plan or agreement which may have been en- tered into at or previous to the time of sale, in anticipa- tion of the formation of the new corporation, and pursuant to which such purchase was made. Such cor- poration shall be vested with and be entitled to exercise and enjoy all the rights, privileges and franchises, which at the time of such sale belonged to, or were vested in the corporation, last owning the property sold, or its receiver, and shall be subject to all the provisions, duties and liabilities imposed by law on such corporations. See L. 1873, c. 469 ; L. 1874, c. 430, §§ i, 2 ; L. 1878, c. 203, § 5 ; L- 1890, c. 564, § 3, unchanged. § 4. Contents of plan or agreement— vAt or previous to the sale the purchasers thereat, or the persons for whom the purchase is to be made, may enter into a plan or agreement, for or in anticipation of the readjustment of the respective interests therein of the mortgage creditors and stockholders of the corporation owning such property and franchises at the time of sale, and for the representa- tion of such interests of creditors and stockholders in the bonds or stock of the new corporation to be formed, and 28 STOCK CORPORATION LAW. [§ 4 may therein regulate voting by the holders of the pre- ferred and common stock at any meeting of the stock- holders, and by the holders and owners of any or all of the bonds of the corporation foreclosed, or of the bonds issued or to be issued by the new corporation, and such right of voting by bondholders shall be exercised in such manner, for such period, and upon such conditions, as shall be therein described. Such plan or agreement must contain suitable provision for the bondholders voting by proxy, and must not be inconsistent with the laws of the state and shall be binding upon the corporation, until changed as therein provided, or as otherwise provided by law. The new corporation when duly organized, pur- suant to such plan or agreement and to the provisions of law, may issue its bonds and stock in conformity with the provisions of such plan or agreement, and may at any time within six months after its organization, compromise, settle or assume the payment of any debt, claim or lia- bility of the former corporation upon such terms as may be lawfully approved by a majority of the agents or trustees intrusted with the carrying out of the plan or agreement of re-organization, and may establish prefer- ences in respect to the payment of dividends in favor of any portion of its capital stock and may divide its stock into classes, but the capital stock of the new cor- poration shall not exceed in the aggregate, the maximum amount of stock mentioned in the certificate of incor- poration, nor shall the bonds issued by it exceed in the aggregate the amouRt which a corporation is authorized by the provisions of this article to issue,' See L. 1873, c. 469 ; L. 1874, c. 430, §§ i, 2 ; L. 1890, c. 564, § 4, unchanged. ' Upon the general subject of the re- New York, Lake Erie, etc. R. Co., (j6 organization of a corporation upon a N. Y. 49 ; People v, Brooklyn, etc. sale of its franchise, see : Vatable v. R. Co., 89 N. Y. 75 ; Weed v. Weed, 94 §§ 5. 6] STOCK CORPORATION LAW. 29 § 5. Sale of property ; possession of receiver and suits against him. — The supreme court may direct a sale of the whole property, rights and franchises covered by the mort- gage or mortgages, or deeds of trust foreclosed at any one time and place to be named in the judgment or order, either in case of the non-payment of interest only, or of both the principal and interest due and unpaid and secured by any such mortgage or mortgages or deeds of trust. Neither the sale nor the formation of the new corporation shall interfere with the authority or posses- sion of any receiver of such property and franchises, but he shall remain liable to be removed or discharged at such time as the court may deem proper. No suit or proceeding shall be commenced against such receiver un- less founded on willful misconduct or fraud in his trust after the expiration of sixty days from the time of his discharge ; but after. the expiration of sixty days the new corporation shall be liable in any action that may be commenced against it, and founded on any act or omis- sion of such receiver for which he may not be sued, and to the same extent as the receiver, but for this section would be or remain liable, or to the same extent that the new corporation would be had it done or omitted the acts complained of. See L. 1873, c. 469 ; L. 1874, c. 430, §§ i, 2 ; L. 1876, c. 446, §§ i, 2 ; L. 1890, c. 564, § 5, unchanged. § 6. Stockholders may assent to plan of readjustment.-^ Every stockholder in any corporation, the franchises and property whereof shall have been thus sold, may assent to the plan of readjustment and re-organization of inter- N. Y. 243 ; Dutenhoffer v. A. R. Co., Abbott he election are elected.' Each stockholder is entitled to one vote for or against each director for every share of stock held by him for ten days immediately preceding the election," unless the corporation has reserved the right of cumulative voting in its cer- tificate of incorporation or is otherwise entitled to this right,' or unless the corporation in its certificate of incorporation has qualified the power of the stockholders in this respect.' Subsequent sections of the General Corporation Law regulate the method of voting at the annual election, the giving of proxies, and the proceedings to be taken to elect directors when the directors themselves fail to provide for the annual meeting. The appointment of inspectors of elections and the manner of their per- formance of their duties are regulated by a subsequent provision of the Stock Corporation Law." In case a complete board is not elected, such candidates as receive the proper number of votes are legally chosen.' The election of unqualified persons is voidable but not void.'" Elections will ' See Chemical Nat. Bank v. Colwell, * See an/e, p. 5. 43 St. Rep. 876; 132 N. Y. 224. 'See/M^ General Corporation Law, 2 Compare L. 1848, c. 40, § 3 ; L. §§ 20-30. 1875, c. 6ii, § lo. See Vanderburgh z/. " I'ost, % 28. Broadway R. Co., 29 Hun 348. ' Matter of Union Ins. Co., 22 Wend. 5 Consult : Phillips ». Wickham. i 590 ; Vanderburgh v. Broadway R. Co., Paige 590 ; People v Twaddle, 18 29 Hun 348. Hun 427 ; Reed v. Bank of Newburgh. "• People v. Albany R. Co., 38 How. 6 Paige 337. Pr 228 ; Lovett v. German Refd. Ch., * See /flj^. General Corporation Law, 12 Barb. 67 ; Partridge v. Badger, 25 § 20. Barb. 146 ; Vernon So. v. Hills, 6 ' See ^osi. General Corporation Law. Cow 26. §20- 3 34 STOCK CORPORATION LAW. [§ 20 not be set aside for mere irregularities not affecting the result,' but the meeting must be properly called and in all essential matters the law must be carelully followed.* The right to vote is determined by the books of the company.' An election held on a day subsequent to the regular date of the election is valid.'' (For form of notice of annual meeting, see post. Forms, IX.) Powers of directors. — The general power conferred upon trustees of manufacturing companies under the law of 1848 and expressed as fol- lows, " Companies shall be managed by not less than three nor more than thirteen trustees," is now contained in section 29 of the General Corporation Law.' The authorities holding under previous laws that the directors in the absence of qualifying provisions in the statute, or in the by-laws of the company, are entitled to supreme authority, are still ap- plicable." Courts will not interfere with the actions of a majority of the directors, unless they are unquestionably against the interests of the cor- poration.' Directors must always act within the charter and by-laws of the company.' They are the trustees for the stockholders ' and the creditors,'" and they must manage the affairs of the corporation in good faith." They may appoint an executive committee to act for them.'' They are permitted to deal with the corporation, but a director is not ' Matter of Hudson R. R. Co., 19 Wend. 135 ; Matter of Wheeler, 2 Abb. Pr. N. S. 361 ; People v. Tuthill, 31 N. Y. 550 ; Matter of Long Island R. Co., 19 Wend. 37 ; Ex f arte Murphy, 7 Cow. 153. ' See Spelling on Corporations, § 386, and cases cited. * See post. General Corporation Law, § 20, and see Vail v. Hamilton, 85 N. Y. 453 ; Beardsley v. Johnson, 121 N. Y. 224, 16 St. Rep. 773 ; Strong f. Smith, 15 Hun 222 ; Adderly v. Storm, 6 Hill 624 ; Matter of Empire City Bank, 18 N. Y. 199 ; Ex parte Will- cocks, 7 Cow. 401. " Beardsley v. Johnson, t2i N. Y. 224. See Matter of North Shore, etc. Co., 63 Barb. 556. ' See post. ' Beveridge v. New York El. R. Co., 112 N. Y. i; Munson v. Syracuse, etc. R. Co., 103 N. Y. 58 ; McNab v. McNab& HarlinMfg. Co., 41 St. Rep. 906, 62 Hun 18 ; see note 7. ' Gamble v. Queens County Water Co., 123 N. Y. 91 ; Leslie v. Lorillard, no N. Y. 519. Memo, by Patterson, J., in Wyman v. Benner, N. Y. L. J. Jan. 31, 1S93. See Richelieu Hotel Co.z/. International Encampment Co., 29 N. E. Rep. 1044 (1892) ; Atty.-Genl. V. Great Eastern R. Co., 11 Ch. D. 480 ; Hampson v. Price's Patent Can- dle Co., 45 L. J. (Ch.) 437. " They cannot release subscriptions. Jones V. Terre Haute R. Co., 57 N. Y. 196 ; Howe v. Deuel, 43 Barb. 504. " Chase v. Vanderbilt, 62 N. Y. 307. '"Bliss V. Matteson, 45 N. Y. 22. " Brinckerhoff v. Bostwick, 88 N. Y. 52 ; Ziegler v. Hoagland, 25 St. Rep. 453 ; Arthur v. Griswold, 55 N. Y. 400 ; Wakeman v. Dalley, 51 N. Y. 27 ; Holmes, Booth and Haydens v. Willard, 125 N. Y. 75. '" Sheridan Electric Light Co. v. Chatham Nat. Bank, 127 N. Y. 517, aff'g 52 Hun 580 ; see Morrill v. C. T. Segar Mfg. Co., 32 Hun 543. § 20] STOCK CORPORATION LAW. 35 allowed to vote upon any question in which he has a personal interest.' Their power to contract in the ordinary affairs of the corporation is supreme, and it is impossible to put a time limit upon their contracts. They may borrow money for the uses of the corporation.'^ Directors cannot dispose of all the assets of the company even with the consent of a majority of the stockholders/ although stockholders so consenting would be estopped from attacking such action ; * and where stockholders do not object to a transfer of assets in payment of a debt it will be held valid.' Dissentmg stockholders should act promptly* and equitably.' A transfer made by the directors with the consent of all stockholders is illegal as respects creditors of the company." If there are no creditors such a transfer is valid,' unless a monopoly is thereby formed.'" Entries made in the books of the corporation are not always evidence against directors." A majority of the directors constitute a quorum unless it is otherwise provided by law ; a meeting of less than a quorum will not be enjoined unless irreparable injury is threatened." Two trustees, being the entire board, may obligate the company.'^ Co. ' Gamble v. Queens County Water Co., 123 N. Y. gi. See McNab v. McNab & H. Mfg. Co., 62 Hun 18 ; Martin v. Niagara Falls Paper Mfg. Co., 122 N. Y. 165 ; Chicago Hansom Cab Co. V. Yerkes (111.), 11 Ry. & Corp. L. J. 265 (iSg2) ; McGourkey v. Toledo, etc. R. Co., 146 U. S. 563 ; Jameson ». Caldwell (Or.), 31 Pac. Rep. 279, ^^^ editorial in N. Y. L. J. Dec. 19, 1892 ; Beers v. N. Y. Life Ins. Co., 49 St. Rep. 182 ; Inglehart v. Thou- sand Islands Hotel Co. , 109 N. Y. 454 ; Cornell v. Clark, 104 N. Y. 451 ; Mun- son V. Syracuse, etc. R. Co., 103 N. Y. 58 ; Reed z,. Hoyt, 51 N. Y. Super. Ct. 121 ; Kelsey v. Sargent, 40 Hun 150 ; McNaughton v. Osgood, 41 Hun 109 ; Copeland v. Johnson Mfg. Co., 47 Hun 235 ; Atlanta Hill Mining Co. V. Andrews, 55 Super. Ct. 93 ; Barr v. N. Y., L. E., etc. R. Co., 43 Alb. L. J. 151 ; Barnes v. Brown, 80 N. Y. 527 ; Duncomb v. N. Y., etc. R. Co., 84 N. Y. 190. 'Curtis V. Leavitt, 15 N. Y. 9 ; Kent V. Quicksilver Mining Co., 78 N. Y.^ 159- 5 People V. Ballard, 134 N. Y. 269 ; Taylor v. Earl, 8 Hun i ; Smith v. Consolidated Stage Co., 18 Abb. Pr. 419 ; Rossie v. Lead. M. Co. . 5 Hill 137. See also Skinner v. Smith, 134 N. Y. 240 ; Metropolitan Concert Co. Lim. V. Abbey, 52 N. Y. Super. Ct. 97. See, however, § 33, post. ^ Webster v. Turner, 12 Hun 264. See Stokes v. Detrick (Md.), 23 Atl. Rep. 846. ' Holmes & Gibbs Mfg. Co. v. Holmes & Wessell Metal Co., 4 Am. R. & Corp. Rep. 555, note. See Skinner V. Smith, 134 N. Y. 240 ; Sheldon Hat Blocking Co. v. Eickenmyer Hat B. Co., go N. Y. 607. ° See Boyce v. Montauk Gas Coal Co. (W. Va.), 16 S. W. Rep. 501 ; N. Y. L. J. Feb. 6, 1893. ' Hanley v. Balch (Mich.), 53 N. W. Rep. 954 *Cole f. Millerton Iron Co., 133 N. Y. 164. ° See decision of Ingraham, J., in Columbus, Hocking Valley, etc. R. Co. V. Lanier, N. Y. L. J. Feb, 4, 1893. '" Small V. Minneapolis Electric Ma- trix Co., 4 Am, R. & Corp. R. 31. " Rudd V. Robinson, 126 N. Y. in. " Sulivan v. Venner. 45 St. Rep. 688. " Castle V. Lewis, 78 N. Y. 131. 36 STOCK CORPORATION LAW. f§ 21 Directors' meetings.— Meetings of directors of a corporation should be called in the manner provided for in the by-laws, and if no provision is there made in regard to the subject, a reasonable notice must be given to each -director. A majority of the board must be present to constitute a quorum, unless the by-laws otherwise provide.' Theire is no provision of the law requiring meetings to be held within this State, and there would seem to be no reason why the directors, who are agents of the corpora- tion, should not meet lawfully anywhere where the corporation may do business.'^ The law of the State is not, however, settled upon this question,' and the prudent course is for the directors to hold importaiit meetmgs within the State, except in those cases where the corporation has established a place of business in some other State. In these latter cases there should be no objection to a meeting of directors in the locality ■where the corporation itself has a legal status. Meetings of directors or stockholders held out of the State are binding upon those participating in them.'' Directors cannot vote by proxy at meetings of the board.' § 21. Change of number of directors.— The number of directors of any stock corporation may be increased or reduced, but not above the maximum nor below the minimum number prescribed by law, when the stock- holders owning a majority of the stock of the corporation shall so determine, at a meeting to be held at the usual place of meeting of the directors, on two weeks' notice in writing to each stockholder of record. Such notice shall be served personally or by mail, directed to each stockholder at his last known post-office address. Proof of the service of such notice shall be filed in the office of the corporation at or before the time of such meeting. The proceedings of such meeting shall be entered in the minutes of the corporation and a transcript thereof, verified by the president and secretary of the meeting ' Post, General Corporation Law, ' See Ormsby v. Vermont Copper § 29. Co., 56 N. Y. 623; affi'g 8 J. & S. 406. ^ Morawetz on Corporations, § 533, '' See Handley v. Stutz, 139 U. S. 417. and cases cited; Spelling on Corpora- ' Craig Medicine Co. v. Merchants' tions, § 383, and cases cited; Cook on Bank, 59 Hun 561. For provisions of Stock, Stockholders, etc., 2d ed., § 592, the civil and penal codes, affecting and cases. directors, see post, Appendix. '§ 2 2] STOCK CORPORATION LAW. 37 shall be filed in the offices where the original certificates of incorporation were filed. If a corporation formed under or subject to the banking law, the consent of the superintendent of banks, and if an insurance corporation the consent of the superintendent of insurance, shall be first obtained to such increase or reduction of the number of directors. See L. 1848, c. 37; L. i860, c. 269, § 2; L. 1863, c. 134, § i; L. 1867, c. 248, § 2; L. 1875, c. 4, § 1; L. 1875, c. 611, § 10; L. 1878, c 316, § 2; L. , 1879, c. 395, § i; L. 1881, c. 422; L. 1885, c. 171, § i; L. i8go, c. 23; L. 1890, c. 564, § 21; L. 1891, c. 57. Method of changing number of directors. — If a corporation desires to change the number of its directors, it may do so, provided that it does not decrease the number to less than three nor mcrease it to more than 'thirteen, by securing a vote of the stockholders owning a majority of the stock of the corporation, at a meeting to be held at the usual place of meeting of the directors. Two weeks' notice of this meeting in writing must be served personally upon each stockholder of record, or be sent by mail directed to each stockholder at his last known post-office address. Proof of the service of the notice must be filed in the office of the corpo- ration at or before the time of the meeting. The proceedings of the meeting must be entered in the minutes of the corporation and a tran- script of the proceedings, verified by the president and secretary of the meeting, must be filed in the office of the secretary of state and of the county clerk of the county where the corporation has its principal place of business. (For form of certificate, see post, Forms, X.) §22. When acts of directors void. — When the directors of any corporation for the first year of its corporate exist- ence shall hold over and continue to be directors after the first year, because of their neglect or refusal to adopt the by-laws required to enable the stockholders to hold the annual election for directors, all their acts and pro- ceedings while so holding over, done for and in the name of the corporation, designed to charge upon it any lia- bility or obligation for the services of any such director, or any officer, or attorney or counsel appointed by them. 38 STOCK CORPORATION LAW. [§ 23 and every such liability or obligation shall be held to be fraudulent and void. See L. 1885, c. 489; L. 1890, c. 564, § 22, unchanged. Meaning of above section. — The above provision imposes the only- penalty prescribed by the law for a failure to adopt by-laws. It relates entirely to the by-law enabling stockholders to hold an annual elec- tion for directors. By its terms, when the directors for the first year fail to adopt a by-law permitting the stockholders to meet and elect direct- ors, all the acts and proceedings of the directors who are holding over, designed to charge upon the corporation any liability or obligation for the services of a director, officer, or attorney appointed by them, are fraudulent and void. No decisions are found under this section, but any stockholder, it would seem, might prevent the corporation from paying out any salaries to officers, directors, or any sum of money to attorneys so long as the directors neglect or refuse to comply with its terms. § 23. Liability of directors for making unauthorized divi- dends. — The directors of a stock corporation shall not make dividends, except from the surplus profits arising from the business of such corporation ; nor divide, with- draw or in any way pay to the stockholders, or any of them, any part of the capital of such corporation, or reduce its capital stock, except as authorized by law. In case of any violation of the provisions of this section, the directors under whose administration the same may have happened, except those who may have caused their dis- sent therefrom to be entered at large upon the minutes of such directors at the time, or were not present when the same happened, shall jointly and severally be liable to such corporation and to the creditors thereof to the full amount of the capital of such corporation so divided, withdrawn, paid out or reduced. But this section shall not prevent a division and distribution of the assets of any such corporation remaining after the payment of all its debts and liabilities upon the dissolution of such cor- poration or the expiration of its charter. See R. S., Part I., ch. 18, title 4, §2, 8th Ed., p. 1728 ; Birdseye's Ed., p. 678 ; § 23] STOCK CORPORATION LAW. 39 L. 1848, c. 40, § 13 ; L. 1854, c. 232, § 14 ; L. 1857, c. 546, § 13 ; L. 187s, c 611, § 19 ; L. i8go, c. 564, § 23- Improper dividends. — The penalty for paying dividends which are not from the surplus profits, or which impair the capital stock of the cor- poration, is, that all directors present at the meeting voting to declare the dividend, except those who cause their dissent to be entered upon the minutes of the meeting, are jointly and severally liable both to the corporation and to its creditors for the full amount of the capital of the corporation, so divided, withdrawn, paid out, or reduced.' Former stat- utes of the State made trustees and directors liable only to the creditors of the corporation and not to the corporation itself. The Penal Code also imposes criminal liability for the declaration of unauthorized dividends.* An interesting question was argued in a recent English case. There, it was claimed that where a mining company was taking out its bituminous rock year by year it was using up its capital, and that it was improper for it thus to convert its capital into money and to pay dividends without making provision for a surplus fund which would serve to maintain its capital intact.^ In this and other cases in England dividends somewhat impairing capital have been allowed."* When dividends shall be paid is ordinarily in the discretion of the directors, and the courts will not interfere.' Dividends when declared" belong to the stockholders of record ; ^ they may be assigned by them unless the by-laws of the com- pany prevent. A transferee of stock is not entitled to declared divi- dends unless the sale is made under a contract giving them to him." A ' Consult Williams v. Western Union Tel. Co., 93 N. Y. 162 ; Excelsior Petroleum Co. v. Lacey, 63 N. Y. 422 ; Rorke v. Thomas, 56 N. Y. 559 ; Mer- chants' Bank v. Bliss, 35 N. Y. 412 ; Excelsior Petroleum Co. v. Embury, 4 Hun 648 ; Anderson v. Speers, 21 Hun 568 ; Hornor v. Henning, 93 U. S. 228. See also Bolton v. Natal Land, etc. Co. (1892), 2 Ch. 124 ; see Virginia Tide Water Coal Co. v. Mercantile Trust Co., 35 St. Rep. 141. * Post. Appendix. 2 Lee V. Neuchatel Asphalt Co., 41 Ch. D. I (1889I *See Verner v. General, etc. Trust, 1894, 2 Ch. 239; Wilmer v. Macnamara & Co. L. J. Notes of Cases, May 4, 1895. See L. R. 3 Ch. 262. ' Williams v. Western Union Tel. Co., 93 N. Y. 162; McNab v. McNab & H. Mfg. Co., 62 Hun 18; Karnes V. Rochester, etc. R. Co., 4 Abb. Pr. N. S. 107; 33 N. Y. 238; Fougeray v. Cord (N. J.), 12 Ry. & Corp. L. J. 89 ; 24 Atl. Rep. 499. °See Beveridge v. N. Y., etc. R. Co., 112 N. Y. I. ' See Jermain v. L. S., etc. R. Co.. 91 N.Y. 483; Peckham z/.Van Wagenen, 83 N. Y. 40 ; Brisbane v. D. L. & W. R. Co., 94 N. Y. 204 ; 25 Hun 438 ; Matter of Le Blanc, 75 N. Y. 598 ; 14 Hun 8 ; Smith V. American Coal Co., 7 Lans. 317 ; Manning v. Quicksilver Mining Co., 24 Hun 360 ; Jones v. Terre Haute R. Co., 57 N. Y. 196 ; Kane v. Bloodgood, 7 Johns. Ch. go. "See Hopper v. Sage, 112 N. Y. 530 ; Hyatt v. Allen, 56 N. Y. 553 : Goldsmith v. Smith, 25 Hun 201 ; Parks V. Automatic Punch Co., 14 St. Rep. 7:0; Hill V. Newichawanick Co., 71 N. Y. 593; 8 Hun 459; Boardman V. Lake Shore, etc. R. Co., 84 N. Y. 157- 40 STOCK CORPORATION LAW. [§ 24 corporation may declare stock dividends provided they are based upon actual accumulations of property.' § 24. Liability of directors for unauthorized debts and over-issue of bonds. — No stock corporation, except a monied corporation, shall create any debt, if thereby its total indebtedness not secured by mortgage shall exceed the amount of its paid-up capital stock, and the directors creating or consenting to the creation of any such debt shall be personally liable therefor to the creditors of the corporation. If bonds or other obligations of the cor- poration, secured by mortgage, are issued in excess of the amount authorized by law, or in violation of law, the directors voting for such over-issue, or unlawful issue, shall be personally liable to the holders of the bonds or other obligations illegally issued for the amount held by them, and to all persons sustaining damage by such illegal issues for any damage caused thereby. See L. 1848, t. 40, § 23 ; L. 1853, c. 117, § 23 ; L. 1875, c. 611, § 22 ; L. 1890, c 564, § 24- Limit of indebtedness of corporation. — The above section must be read in connection with section 2 of the Stock Corporation Law.' A distinction is made in the statute between debts secured by mortgages and other debts, and it is provided by the above section that no stock corporation " shall create any debt if thereby its total indebtedness, not secured by mortgage, shall exceed the amount of its paid-up stock." ^ The words " not secured by mortgage " would seem to exclude all mort- gage indebtedness and to authorize a general indebtedness up to the limit of paid-up capital. If this interpretation of the statute is correct a corporation that had mortgaged its property up to the limit allowed by section 2 of this law, may still create ordinary debts up to the limit above specified without violating the law. And this seems to be the natural meaning of the section, which in this regard differs from the laws of 1848 and 1875, a^nd is entirely without interpretation by the courts. It is, however, in its present shape a faulty provision and one which allows too ' Williams v. Western Union Tel. '' Ante, p. 22. Co., 93 N. Y. 162 ; Wood v. Lary, 47 ' See Robinson o. Thompson, 20 Hun 550 ; N. Y., Lake Erie, etc. R. Week. Dig. 551; Clare v. Thompson, Co. V. Nichols, 119 U. S. 296. 30 Hun 365. § 25] STOCK CORPORATION LAW. 4 1 much freedom in this regard. The decisions under the section of the law of 1848 corresponding to the above,' relate principally to the peculiar provision of that law to the effect that liability should extend to the excess of indebtedness over capital and not to the whole debt. It was also held that the action to recover for this liability would survive.' This section also imposes a penalty upon the directors who vote for an over-issue or an unlawful issue of bonds or other obligations secured by mortgage. All such directors are personally liable to the holders of the bonds or obligations illegally issued for the amount held by them, and they are alsb liable to all persons sustaining damage by such illegal issue. § 25. Liability of directors for loans to stockholders. — No loan of moneys shall be made by any stock corporation, except a monied corporation, or by any officer thereof out of its funds to any stockholder therein, nor shall any such corporation or officer discount any note or other evidence of debt, or receive the same in payment of any installment or any part thereof due or to become due on any stock in such corporation, or receive or discount any note, or other evidence of debt, to enable any stock- holder to withdraw any part of the money paid in by him on his stock. In case of the violation of any provision of this section, the officers or directors making such loan, or assenting thereto, or receiving or discounting such notes or other evidences of debt, shall, jointly and sever- ally, be personally liable to the extent of such loan and interest, for all the debts of the corporation contracted before the repayment of the sum loaned, and to the full amount of the notes or other evidences of debt so received or discounted, with interest from the time such liability accrued. See L. 1848, c. 40, § 14; L. 1853, c. 117, § 14; L- 1875. c. 611, § 20; L. 1890, c. 564, § 25. ' See Chambers v. Lewis, 28 N. Y. 16; Robinson v. Attrill, 66 How. 121. 455; Anderson w. Speers, 21 Hun 568; See further, Lovelace v. Doran & McClave v. Thompson, 36 Hun 365; Wright Co., 40 St. Rep. 53; Hornorz/. Patterson v. Robinson, 26 St. Rep. Henning, 93 U. S. 228; Thacher v. 685; 36 Hun 622, 116 N. Y. 193. King (Mass.), 31 N. E. Rep. 53. » McComb V. Kellogg, 16 St. Rep. 42 STOCK CORPORATION LAW. [§§ 26, 2/ Prohibited loans to stockholders. — Directors and officers are forbidden by the above section to make any loan of corporate funds to a stock- holder of the corporation, or to discount any stockholder's note, or to receive any such note in payment of any part of a subscription to stock, or to receive or discount any such note to enable a stockholder to with- draw any money paid by him on his stock. In case of a violation of these provisions, the directors and officers participating therein, are jointly and severally liable to the extent of the su.m loaned ' and for the amount of the note received or discounted as the section provides." § 26. Tranfers of stock by stockholder indebted to corpo- ration. — If a stockholder shall be indebted to the corpora- tion, the directors may refuse to consent to a transfer of his stock until such indebtedness is paid, provided a copy of this section is written or printed upon the certificate of stock. See L. 1875, c. 611, § 12; L. i8go, c. 564, § 26, unchanged. Indorsement on stock certificates necessary. — To enable directors to refuse to transfer the stock of a stockholder who is indebted to the cor- poration, the above section must be printed upon the certificate of stock. The section is permissive only." § 27. Officers. — The directors of a stock corporation may appoint from their number a president, and may appoint a secretary, treasurer, and other officers, agents and em- ployes, who shall respectively have such powers and per- form such duties in the management of the property and affairs of the corporation, subject to the control of the directors, as may be prescribed by them or in the by-laws. The directors may require any such officer, agent or em- ploye to give security for the faithful performance of his duties, and may regiove him at pleasure. The policy ' Consult, Twin Lock Oil Co v. ' See A. C. Nellis Co. v. Nellis, Marbury, 18 Alb. L. J. 112; Clark v. 41 St. Rep. 599. Acosta, 9 Bosw. 158; Billings v. Trask, ^ Consult Hammond v. Hastings, 30 Hun 314; Boynton v. Hatch, 47 N. 134 U. S. 401, as to the lien of a Y. 225. corporation upon shares of stock under a Michigan statute. § 27] STOCK CORPORATION LAW. 43 holders of an insurance corporation siiall be eligible to election or appointment as its officers. See L. 1848, c. 40, § 5; L. 1853, c. 117 § 5; L. 1853, c. 135, § 6; L. 1854, c. 232, § 5; L. 1857, c. 546, § 6; L. 1874, c 143, § 5; L. 1875, c. 6u, §§6, 10; L. 1877, c. 228, § 5; L. 1878, c. 203, § 7; L. 1890, c. 564, § 27. What officers are necessary. — Although the above section is permissive, the law requires stock certificates ' and reports of business corporations " to be signed by two officers, and it is therefore necessary that there should be a president and a secretary or treasurer. Moreover, to insure compliance with these laws, it is advisable that there should be four officers, namely, a president, a vice-president, a secretary, and a treasurer. The president must be chosen from the board of directors, and the vice- president, if given the ordinary right to act in behalf of the president in his absence, should also be a director. The secretary and treasurer need not be members of the board.' The officers derive their powers from the by-laws, and from the action of the directors. It may be said also that the non-action of the directors — that is, their acquiescence in officers' assumption of power ' — is fre- quently a source of liberal authority.' Officers may not, however, exceed the charter powers of the company so as to bind dissenting stockholders,' but if the corporation itself sanctions the abuse of power, the delinquent officers cannot be made to suffer the consequences.' An agent appointed to act from a certain time, cannot bind the corporation before his agency begins.' Officers are not entitled to salaries if there is no agree- ment express or implied.' If the president of a corporation makes acon- ' Post, Stock Corporation Law, § 40. 365; Dabney v. Stevens, 40 How. Pr. ''Post, Stock' Corporation Law, § 30. 341; Adriance v. Roome, 52 Barb, 399. 3 See Bolen v. Crosby, 49 N. Y. 183. ■> Holmes, B. & H. v. Willard, 125 * See Holmes, B. & H. v. Willard, 125 -N. Y. 75; Hitchcock v. Barrett, 50 Fed. N. Y. 75; Kraft v. Freeman, etc. Asso., Rep. 653; Smith z", Martin Anti Fire Car 87N.Y. 628; Marine Bank z(. Butler Col. Heater Co., 47 St. Rep. 26; McComb Co., 23 St. Rep. 318; Mead v. Keeler, v. Barcelona Ap. Asso., 45 St. Rep. 24 Barb. 20; Partridge v. Badger, 25 784, 134 N. Y. 598. Barb. 146; Lee v. Pittsburgh C & M. * Rathbun v. Snow, 123 N. Y. 343. Co., 56 How. Pr. 373; Scott v. Middle- As to authority of an agent, see Taylor town R. Co., 86 N. Y. 200; Ellis v. v. Nostrand (Ct. App.), 45 St. Rep. Howe Machine Co., 9 Daly 406; Ham- 397; Hamilton Coal Co. v. Bernhard, ikon C. Co. V. Bernhard, 40 St. Rep. 40 St. Rep, 875; Howell w. Joseph Ed- 875. wards Dredging Co., 36 St. Rep. 803; 'See also, Martin v. Niagara Falls Benesch z/. John Hancock, etc. Ins Co., Paper Mfg. Co., 122 N. Y. 165; Mer- 32 St. Rep. 73. rill V. Consumers' ^Coal Co., 114 N. Y. ° Mather v. Eureka Mower Co., it8 216; Davies v. N. Y. Concert Co., 36 N. Y. 629. See Kelsey v. Sargent, 40 St. Rep. '816; 128 N. Y. 635. Hun 150; McDowell v. Sheehan. 129 * Huntington v. Attrill, 118 N. Y^ N. Y. 200; 36 St. Rep 104; Outterson 44 STOCK CORPORATION LAW. [§28 tract which is within the powers of the corporation, the burden of showing it was not authorized or approved is upon the corporation.' An officer has no right to bring an action without the authority of the directors.' And a president issuing forged certificates of stock, does not bind the Corporation to one who makes an individual loan to him.^ In England pensions may be given to retired officers or to their families.'' § 28. Inspectors and their oath. — The inspectors of election of every stock corporation shall be appointed in the manner prescribed in the by-laws, but the inspectors- of the first election of directors and of all previous meet- ings of the stockholders shall be appointed by the board of directors named in the certificate of incorporation. No director or officer of a monied corporation shall be eligible to election or appointment as inspector. Each inspector shall be entitled to a reasonable compensation for his services, to be paid by the corporation, and if any V. Fonda Lake Paper Co., 49 St. Rep. 556; Sargent w. Sargent Granite Co., N. Y. L. J., April 25, 1893. ' Patterson »/. Robinson, 116 N. Y. 193; Fifth Nat Bank !>. Navassa Phos- phate Co., 119 N. Y. 256; 56 Hun 136. See also, as to the power of a presi- dent: Jourdan v. Long Island R. Co., 115 N. Y. 380; Tradesman's Nat. Bank V. Manhattan Lumber Co (Sup Ct.), 18 N. Y. Supp. 920; J. M. Horton Ice Cream Co. v Merritt (Sup. Ct.), 43 St. Rep. 416; Potts V. Wallace, 146 U. S. 689; Lyndon Mill Co. v. Lyndon Lit- erary, etc. Inst., 63 Vt. 581 (1891); Wait V. Nashua Armory Asso. (N. H.), 14 L. R. A. 356, note (1891); Merrill v. G. C. Co., 23 St. Rep. 114 '' American Water- Works Co. v. Venner, 45 St. Rep. 441. See Re- camier Mfg. Co. v. Seymour, 24 St. Rep. 54. ' Manhattan L Ins. Co. v. Forty- Second, etc. R. Co., 46 St. Rep. 130. As to the powers of ofBcers to make and endorse notes, see Fifth Nat. Bank v. Navassa Phosphate Co., 119 N. Y. 256; Wahlig V. Standard Pump Mfg. Co., 25 St. Rep. 864; Nat. Park Bank v. German Am. Warehousing Co., n6 N, Y. 281; Mather v. Union L. & T. Co., 26 St. Rep. 58; Davis Sewing Machine Co. v. Best, 105 N. Y. 59; Davis v. Rockingham Inv. Co. (Va ), 15 S. W. Rep- 547; Mathews v. Dubuque Mat- tress Co., 54 N. W. Rep. 225 (1893). As to power of secretary to make a lease, see: Filon w. Miller Brewing Co., 38 St. Rep 602; Bohm v. Loewers Gambrinus Brewing Co., 30 St. Rep. 424; Hayden z/. Wheeler & Tappan Co., 49 St. Rep 182. See article in Am. Law Reg. & Rev. for March, 1893, on the " Relation of Officer of Corporation to Stockholder." Until a resignation is accepted it does not go into effect. Durant Land Imp. Co. t/. Thomson-Houston Electric Co. (C. P.), 49 St. Rep. 715. * See Henderson v. Bank of Austral- asia, 40 Ch. D. 170; 58 L. J. Rep., (Ch.) 117 (1888). See Beers v. N. Y. Life Ins. Co., N. Y. L J., Dec. 2, 1892. § 29] STUCK CORPORATION LAW. 45 inspector shall refuse to serve, or neglect to attend at the election, or his office become vacant, the meeting may appoint an inspector in his place unless the by-laws other- wise provide. The inspectors appointed to act at any meeting of the stockholders shall, before entering upon the discharge of their duties, be sworn to faithfully exe- cute the duties of inspector at such meeting with strict impartiality, and according to the best of their ability, and the oath so taken shall be subscribed by them, and immediately filed in the office of the clerk of the county in which such election or meeting shall be held, with a certificate of the result of the vote taken thereat. See R. S., Part I., ch. 18, title 4. § 7 ; 8th Ed., p. 1730 ; Birdseye's Ed., p. 680 ; L. 1890, c. 564, § 28. (For form of oath and of certificate of inspectors, see post. Forms, XI.) Necessity for inspectors. — There must be at least two inspectors of election.' The inspectors at the first election are to be appointed by the directors named in the certificate of mcorporation, but all subsequent inspectors must be elected as the by-laws require. The form of oath to be taken by inspectors and the form of report to be made by them and filed in the county clerk's office will be found in a subsequent part of this book. The necessity of filing this report in the county clerk's office in every case is not apparent. The requirement makes the law needlessly cum- bersome and exacting. So much so that in ordinary cases it probably will not be generally complied with. The provision might with advan- tage be modified so as to compel the inspectors to file a report when they were requested so to do by a stockholder or creditor. § 29. Books to be kept. — Every stock corporation shall keep at its office, correct books of account of all its busi- ness and transactions, and a book to be known as the stock-book, containing the names, alphabetically arranged, of all persons who are stockholders of the corporation. ' See Matter of Lighthall Mfg. Co., 635 ; Ex parte Willcocks, 7 Cow. 402 ; 47 Hun 258. See also Matter of Che- Matter of Mohawk, etc. R. Co., ig nango Co. Mut. Ins. Co., 19 Wend. Wend 135. 46 STOCK CORPORATION LAW. [§ ^9 showing their places of residence, the number of shares of stock held by them respectively, the time when they respectively became the owners thereof, and the amount paid thereon. The stock-book of every spch corporation shall be open daily, during business hours, for the inspec- tion of its stockholders and, judgment creditors, who may make extracts therefrom. No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the corporation, its stockholders and creditors for any purpose, except to render the trans- feree liable for the debts of the corporation according to the provisions of this chapter, until it shall have been entered in such book as required by this section, by an entry showing from and to whom transferred. Such lat- ter book shall be presumptive evidence of the facts therein so stated in favor of the plaintiff, in any action or proceeding against such corporation or any of its offi- cers, directors or stockholders. Every corporation that shall neglect or refuse to keep or cause to be kept such books, or to keep any book open for inspection as herein required, shall forfeit to the people the sum of fifty dol- lars for every day it shall so neglect or refuse. If any officer or agent of any such corporation shall willfully neglect or refuse to make any proper entry in such book or books, or shall neglect or refuse to exhibit the same, or allow them to be inspected and extracts taken therefrom as provided in this section, the corpora- tion and such officer or agent shall each foreit and pay to the party injured a^enalty of fifty dollars for every such neglect or refusal, and all damages resulting to him there- from. See R. S., Part I., ch. 18, title 4, § i, 8th Ed., p. 1728 ; Birdseye's Ed., p. 678 ; L. 1848, c. 40, § 25 ; L. 1853, c. 117, § 25 ; L. 1874, c. 143, § 14; L. 1875, c. 611, §§ 16, 17 ; L. 1890, c. 564, § 2g. What books must be kept. — The above section requires every stock corporation to keep, (i) correct books of account of all its business and § 3o] STOCK CORPORATION LAW. 47 transactions and (2) a book to be known as a stock-book, (i) The books of account are not required to be open to inspection, and the purpose of requiring them to be kept is probably to show the relative rights of stockholders, directors, and creditors in case the corporation is involved in Htigation. The penalty for neglecting to keep these books is fifty dollars a day for every day there shall be such neglect. (2) The stopk- book must be kept open for the inspection of stockholders and judgment creditors,' and extracts may be taken from it. And if the corporation shall refuse compliance with the section, the corporation and the officers so refusing "shall each forfeit and pay to the party injured a penalty of fifty dollars for every such neglect or refusal and all damages resulting to him therefrom." The books need only be open during reasonable hours.' And by the above section the refusal must be willful. Entries in the stock-books of the, corporation are presumptive evidence against it.' The corporation may be forced to keep a stock-book.'' § 30. Annual report. — Every stock corporation, except monied and railroad corporations, shall annually, during the month of January, or, if doing business without the United States, before the first day of May, make a report as of the first day of January, which shall state : 1. The amount of its capital stock, and the proportion actually issued. 2. The amount of its debts or an amount which they do not then exceed. 3. The amount of its assets or an amount which its assets at least equal. Such report shall be signed by a majority of its direct- ors, and verified by the oath of the president or vice- ' See People ex rel. Stobo v. Eadie 192 ; Fenlon v. Dempsey, 50 Hun 131 ; (Sup. Ct.), 43 St. Rep. 649 ; Martin v. French v. McMillan, 43 Hun 189 ; Kel- William J. Johnston Co., 25 Abb. N. C. say v. Pfaulder Process, etc. Co., 41 350 ; Matter of Martin (Sup. Ct.), 42 Hun 20. St. Rep. 409 ; Levy v. Cohen (City ' Blake v. Griswold, 103 N. Y. 429 ; Ct. N. Y.), 45 St. Rep. 278. See Harries v. Waslay, 13 Hun 492. Averall v. Barker (Sup. Ct.), 44 St. ■" Shellington v. Howland, 67 Barb. Rep. 540. 14 ! Kelsey v. Pfaulder Process, etc. ' People ex rel. McDonald v. U. S. Co., 41 Hun 20. Mercantile Rap. Co., 20 Abb. N. C. 48 STOCK CORPORATION LAW. [§ 3O president and treasurer or secretary, and filed in the office of the secretary of state and in the office of the county clerk of the county where its principal business office may be located. If such report is not so jnade and filed, all the directors of the corporation shall jointly and sev- erally be personally liable for all the debts of the corpora- tion then existing, and for all contracted before such report shall be made. No director shall be liable for the failure to make and file such report if he shall file with the secretary of state, within thirty days after the first day of February, or the first day of May, as the case may be, a verified certificate, stating that he has endeavored to have such report made and filed, but that the officers or a majority of the directors have refused and neglected to make and file the same, and shall append to such certifi- cate a report containing the items required to be stated in such annual report, so far as they are within his knowl- edge or are obtainable from sources of information open to him, and verified by him to be true to the best of his knowledge, information and belief. See L. 1848, c. 37, § I2 ; L. 1848, c. 40, § 12 ; L. 1853, c. 117, § H2 ; L. 1853, c. 135, § 16 ; L. 1854, c. 232, § 24 ; L. 1857, c. 546, § 12 ; L. 1861, c. 147, § 9 ; L. 1875, c. 6u, § 18 ; L. 18/8, c. 203, § 44 ; L. 1890, c. 564, § 30 ; L. 1892, t. 2, amended. Contents of the report. — The report called for by the above section must specify : first, the amount of the capital stock of the corporation and the proportion actually issued ; second, the amount of its debts or an amount which they do not then exceed ; third, the amount of its assets or an amount which its assets at least equal.' In reference to the first of these three requirements, it may be said that the total amount of the authorized stock at the corporation should be stated as well as the amount of stock that has been actually issued, without regard to the question whether the stock has been paid in. The present law differs from the law of 1848 in this respect." Secondly, the statute makes a statement of an amount which the debts do not exceed at the time of ' See as to the manner in which the - Compare L. 1848, ch. 40, § 12 ; court will read the report, Whitney Whitaker v. Masterton, 106 N. Y. 277 ; Arms Co. *. Barlow, 63 N. Y. 62. Pier v. Hanmore, 86 N. Y. 95. § 3°] STOCK CORPORATION LAW. 49 the report a compliance with its terms.' And thirdly, the statute would seem to be satisfied by the naming of any amount which the assets of the corporation equal. The report will be liberally construed.' It must be signed by a majority of the directors,' and verified * by the oath of the president or vice-president, and treasurer or secretary. A secretary of a corporation cannot be held responsible by the directors for not making the report.* Time of making and filing repoi:t. — ^The report must be niade " an- nually during the month of January,' or, if the corporation is doing busi- ness without the United States, before the first day of May in each year. But in either case the report is to be made as of the first day of January. It must be filed in the office of the secretary of state and in the office of the county clerk of the county where the corporation has its principal business office. The statute does not specifically call for a filing within the month of January, and the decisions under the law of 1848, which allowed a filing and publishing within a reasonable time after the expira- tion of the twenty days allowed by that law for the making of the report, seem to be applicable to the present statute." But the safe course is to file " the report within the time specified for making it, and if this is not done some adequate excuse probably would be necessary to obviate the consequences of the delay. A report cannot be properly filed before the first day of January.'" No publication of the report is now required. That a company has not commenced active business is no reason for not filing a report." If, however, business has been entirely abandoned,'' if ' See also Glens Falls Paper Co. v. L. 1848, ch. 40, § 12, as am'd L 1875, White, iS Hun 214. c 510; Victory Webb Printing Co. v. ''Whitney Arms Co. v. Barlow, 63 Beecher, 97 N. Y. 651; 26 Hun 48; N. Y. 62 ; Bonnell v. Griswold, 80 Knox v. Baldwin, 80 N. Y. 610 ; Carr N. Y. 128. w- Rischer, 50 Hun 157 ; Moore v. 'See Wallace v. Walsh, 125 N. Y. Mansert, 49 N. Y. 332; Bonnell v. 25 ; Miller Any stock corporation, domestic or foreign, now exist- ing or hereafter organized, except monied corporations, may purchase, acquire, hold and dispose of the stocks, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness of any cor- poration, domestic or foreign, and issue in exchange therefor its stock, bonds or other obligations if authorized so to do by a provision in the certificate of incorporation of such stock corporation, or in any certificate amenda- tory thereof or supplementary thereto, filed in pursuance of law, or if the corporation whose stock is so purchased, acquired, held or disposed of, is engaged in a business similar to that of such stock corporation, or engaged m the manufacture, use or sale of the property, or in the construction or operation of works necessary or useful in the business of such stock corporation, or in which or in connection with which the manufactured articles, product or property of such stock corporation are or may be used, or is a corporation with which such stock corporation is or may be authorized to consolidate. When any such corporation shall be a stockholder in any other corpora- tion, as herein provided, its president or other officers shall be eligible to the office of director of such corpora- tion, the same as if they were individually stockholders therein and the corporation holding such stock shall possess and exercise in respect thereof, all the rights, powers and privileges of individual owners or holders of such stock. Any stock corporation may, in pursuance of a unani- mous vote of its stockholders voting at a special meeting called for that purpose by notice in writing signed by a § 40] STOCK CORPORATION LAW. 6 1 majority of the directors of such corporation stating the time and place and object of the meeting, and served upon each stockholder appearing as such upon the books of the corporation, personally or by mail at his last-known post- office address at least sixty days prior to such meeting, guarantee the bonds of any other domestic corporation engaged in the same general line of business. See L. 1811, c. 67, § 7 ; L. 1848, c. 37, § 8 ; L. 1848, c. 40, § 8 ; L. 1848, c. 259, § 13 ; L. 1850, c. 140, § 8 ; L. 1853, c. 117, § 8 ; L. 1853, c. 135, § 10; L. 1854, c. 232, § 8 ; L. 1857, c. 546, § 8 ; L. 1867, c. 974, § 8 ; L. 1872, c. 146, § I ; L. 1874, c. 143, § 8 , L. 1878, c. 203, § 9 ; L. 1888, c. 462, § 5 ; L. 1890, c. 564, § 40. (For form of certificate of stock, see post. Forms, XIII.) Power to issue stock. — Every stock corporation may issue' stock to the limit fixed by its certificate of incorporation. The certificates of stock must conform to the provisions of the charter and must be signed by two of the officers of the company, namely : the president or vice-president and the secretary or treasurer, and sealed with the seal of the corporation. The consideration for the issue of stock is provided for by Section 42, following,-' and the transfer of stock should be provided for by the by-laws.' Section 29 of the Stock Corporation Law requires every transfer to be entered in the transfer book of the company. Any person who is entered therein as an owner, may be held liable as a stockholder, and only those so entered may exercise the privileges of stockholders.* The corporation may waive its right to rely upon the book if it so elects.' Stock issued by the president of a corporation under the authority of an executive committee, but not approved by the directors, confers no title upon one who is not a bona fide purchaser.* If stock is issued by officers upon a special agreement, this must be complied with or they will be responsible.' Questions frequently arise with respect to the ' Jones V. Terre Haute, etc. R. Co., = McNeill v. Tenth Nat. Bank, 46 N. 57 N. Y. 196. Y. 331; Hyatt v. Swivel, 52 N. Y. 2 Post, Stock Corporation Law, § 42. Super. Ct. i. See Isham v. Bucking- 3 Upon the issuing of new certificates ham, 49 N. Y. 216. the former certificates should be called * Ryder v. Bushwick R. Co., 45 St. in. See Brisbane v. Delaware, L. etc. Rep. 388. Co. , 94 N. Y. 204. ' Moore v. Robertson, 43 St. Rep. ■■Campbell v. Am Zylonite Co., 55 245; Moore ». Williams,4i St. Rep. 892. N. Y. Super. Ct. 562. 122 N. Y. 451. 62 STOCK CORPORATION LAW. [§40 rights of individuals who have transferred stock without making the requisite entry in the transfer book of the corporation.' Shares are not transferable until all previous calls have been paid, and by printing a preceding section of the law on the back of stock certificates, no stock belonging to a stockholder who is in debt to the corporation, can be transferred while the debt is unpaid.^ If, however, stodk certificates are transferable without restriction, the motive of a purchaser in buying shares is immaterial, and the corporation cannot refuse to transfer the certificates to one who is working against it.^ Provisions requiring certain formalities in the transfer of stock, are for the benefit of the cor- poration and may be waived/* A corporation is bound by statements made by its authorized transfer officer in regard to the genuineness of stock.^ Certificates of stock are distinct from the stock itself, being merely evidence of that stock.* They are not negotiable,' but one with all the evidences of title may give a good title.* Stock should be trans- ferred upon a purchase.' Power to hold stock in other corporations. — The above section gives corporations comprehensive power to hold the stocks and bonds of other ' Brisbane ij. Delaware, etc. R. Co., 94 N. Y. 204; Johnson v. Underbill, 52 N. Y. 210; Jarvis u. Manhattan Beach Co., 53 Hun 356; Cushman v. Thayer Mfg. Co., 76 N. Y. 365; Cut- ting V. Damerel, 88 N. Y. 410; Westelo V. Dewitt, 36 N. Y. 340; Grynes v. None, 46 N. Y. 17. ' Ante, p. 42. ' See Rice v. Rockefeller, 134 N. Y. 174. See Editorial N. Y. Law J., Dec. 12, 1B92. See also Hawes v. Gas Con- sumers Benefit Co , 36 St. Rep. 48, 9 N. Y. Supp. 490; Archer v. American Water Works Co, (N. J. Ch ), 24 Atl. Rep. 508. ^ " McNeill V. Tenth Nat. Bank, 46 N. Y. 331. See American Nat. Bank v. Oriental Mills, 11 Ry. & Corp. L. J. 206 (i8gi). ^ Fifth Ave. Bank v. Forty-Second St., etc. R. Co., 44 St Rep. 379, aff'd by Ct. of Appeals, N. Y. L. J., Feb. 17, 1893. See article on "Liability of Corporations for Transferring Shares on Forged Powers of Attorney," 26 Am. Law Rev. 809 (Nov., Dec, 1892). See also note, 14 Abb. N. C. 441. * See Christensen v. Eno, 106 N. Y. 97; Williams v. Western Union Tel. Co., 93 N. Y. 162; Burrall v. Bushwick R. Co., 75 N Y. zii; Wheeler v. Millar, 90 N. Y. 353. See Christensen V. \. & S. L. B. Co., 52 Hun 478. ■■ Weaver v. Borden, 49 N. Y. 286. See note 8. " See Merchants' Bank v. Livingston, 74 N. Y. 223; McNeill v. Tenth Nat. Bank, 46 N. Y. 331; Leitch v. Wells, 48 N. Y. 585; Moore v. Met. Nat. Bank, 55 NY, 41; Ballard v. Burgett, 40 N. Y. 314. ' Driscoll V. West Bradley, etc. Mfg. Co., 59 N. Y. i; Smith ». Am. C. C, etc., 7 Lans. 317; Pollock v. Nat. Bank, 3 Seld. 274; Billings v. Robinson, 94 N. Y. 415. §41] STOCK CORPORATION LAW. 63 corporations. The statute as it now exists is more liberal than the Manufacturing Act of 1848 was at the time of its repeal.' Although a corporation is not authorized to purchase stocks of other corporations, it may take them in payment for a debt.' But without legislative authority a corporation cannot purchase the stock of other corporations ^ or deal in its own shares.^ § 41. Subscriptions to stock. — If the whole capital stock shall not have been subscribed at the time of filing the certificate of incorporation, the directors named in the certificate may open books of subscription to fill up the capital stock in such places, and after giving such notices as they may deem expedient, and may continue to re- ceive subscriptions until the whole capital stock is sub- scribed. At the time of subscribing, every subscriber, whose subscription is payable in money, shall pay to the ' L. 1866, c. 838, provided as fol- lows : § 3, "It shall be lawful for any company, heretofore or hereafter or- ganized under the provisions of this act, or the act hereby amended, to hold stock in the capital of any corporation engaged in the business of mining, manufacturing, or transporting such materials as are required in the prose- cution of the business of such company, so long as they shall furnish or trans- port such materials for the use of such company, and for two years thereafter, and no longer; and also to hold stock in the capital of any corporation which shall use or manufacture materials, mined or produced by such company; and the trustees of such company shall have the same power with respect to the purchase of such stock and issuing stock therefor as are now given by the law with respect to the purchase of mines, manufactories, and other prop- erty necessary to the business of manu- facturing, mining and other companies. But the capital stock of such company shall not be increased without the con- sent of the owners of two-thirds of the stock, to be obtained as provided by sections twenty-one and twenty-two of the act hereby amended. "§4. When any such manufacturing company shall be a stockholder m any other corporation, its president or other officers shall be eligible to the office of trustee of such corporation, the same as if they were individually stockholders therein." See also L. 1883, l. 361. ' Holmes & Griggs Mfg. Co. v. Holmes & Wessell Metal Co., 127 N. Y. 252. And see ante, p. 58. ^ See note 2, and see Memphis, etc. R. Co. V. Wood, 88 Ala. 630, i Am. R. R. & Corp. Rep. 55, note. ■* Trevor v. Whitworth, 12 App. Cas. 409 (1887); People ex rel. Peabody v. Chicago Gas Trust Co. (111.), 22 N. E. 7g8, T Am. R. R. &: Corp. Rep. 562; CuUerne v. London, etc. Building So- ciety, 25 Q. B. Div. 481 (1890). 64 STOCK CORPORATION LAW. [§ 4^ directors ten per centum upon the amount subscribed by him in cash, and no such subscription shall be received or taken without such payment. See L. 1850, c. 140, § 4 ; L. 1854, c. 232, § 11 ; L. 1867, c. 974, § 4 ; L. 1875, c. 6u, § 5 ; L. 1878, c. 203, § 4 ; L- 1888, c. 462, § 3 ; L. 1890, c. 564, §41. Payment of subscriptions. — Subscribers to the stock of a corporation who agree to pay their subscription in money must pay to the directors ten per cent, upon the amount subscribed by them in order to make valid subscriptions.' The corporation is not authorized to do business until one-half of the stock is subscribed and a certificate to that effect is made and filed.* Subsequent payments upon subscriptions are regulated by section 43.' One who subscribes to stock becomes a stockholder,* but the consent of the subscriber is essential.' If he is induced to subscribe by fraud he may bring an equitable action to have his subscription can- celled.* Subscriptions made in accordance with a prospectus which shows stock to be issued for less than par are not enforceable by the company.' Subscriptions are enforceable although no certificates of stock are issued,* and although nothing has been paid upon his stock a sub- scriber is liable to creditors, to the amount of his subscription.' A per- son signing a fictitious name is liable in his own right." Agreements among subscribers do not limit their liability to third parties." But sub- scribers are relieved from their subscriptions so far as the corporation is concerned, if the managers materially depart from the purposes for which the company was formed ''^ unless they consent to the change.'^ Sub- ' Consult : Excelsior Grain Binding «Bosley v. National Machine Co., Co. Lim. V. Stayner, 61 How. Pr. 456, 123 N. Y. 550. 25 Hun gi ; Perry v. Hoadley, 19 Abb. ' Zelaya Mining Co. v. Meyer, 28 St. N. C. 76 ; Beach v. Smith, 30 N. Y. Rep. 759. 116. " Phoenix Warehouse Co. z;. Badger, '' Anie, p. 6. 67 N. Y. 294; Burr v. Wilcox, 22 'As to calls see Billings v. Robin- N. Y. 551 ; Halstead v. Dodge, 51 N.Y. son, 94 N.Y. 415 ; Dayton z/. Borst, 31 Super. Qt. 169; Cole v. Ryan, 52 N. Y. 435 ; Glenn z/. Marbury, 145 Barb. 168. „ U. S. 499. ° Wheeler v. Millar, 90 N. Y. 353. ■"Babcock v. S. & L., ^c. R. Co., "Union Hotel Co. v. Hersee, 79 133 N. Y. 420; Whittlesey ■'. Frantz, N. Y. 454, 74 N. Y. 456 ; Rutter -■. Kilpatrick, 63 " Whitehall,etc. R. Co. v. Meyers, 16 N. Y. 604 ; Burr t. Wilcox 22 N. Y. Abb. Pr. N. S. 34. 551 ; Palmer v. Lawrence, 3 Sandf. '* Dorris v. Sweeney, 60 N. Y. Ch. 161. 463. * Glenn ?/. Garth, 133 N. Y. 18. See '^Sodus Bay, etc. R. Co. v. Hamlin, Dorris v. French, 4 Hun 292 ; Meyer v. 24 Hun 390 ; Dorris v, French, 4 Hun Blair, 19 Abb. N. C. 214. 292 ; Ruggles v. Brock, 6 Hun 164. Erratum. For the second sentence in the note on page 64 the following should be substituted ; The corporation is not authorized to begin business until the amount of capital with which it is to begin, as spe- cified in the certificate of incorporation, has been paid in in money or property. §42] STOCK CORPORATION LAW. 65 scribers may transfer their interests.' Unpaid subscriptions may be reached by creditors ' and by a receiver of the corporation.^ (For form of subscription to stock, see post. Forms, XIV.) § 42. Consideration for issue of stock and bonds. — No corporation shall issue either stock or bonds except for money, labor done or property actually received for the use and lawful purposes of such corporation. No such stock shall be issued for less than its par value. No such bonds shall be issued for less than the fair market value thereof. See L. 1848. c. 40, § 14 ; L. 1853, c. 333, § 2 ; L. 1854, c. 232, § 11 ; L. 1857, c. 546, § 14 ; L. 1870, c. 773, § 2 ; L. 1875, c. 6n, § 14 ; L. i8go, c. 564, § 42. For what stock and bonds may be issued. — Stock or bonds of a busi- ness corporation may be issued for money, labor, or property. All stock,, for whatever it is issued, must be given out at its par value. If issued for money, the actual par value of the stock must be received by the cor- poration ; ^ if issued for labor done, the value of the labor must equal the par value of the stock issued therefor ; ' if issued for property, the prop- erty must be equal to the par value of the stock.' There is no provision in the law that property must be received at its fair value, but the prohi- bition that no stock shall be issued for less than its par value, makes it essential that the value of the property shall be equal to the par value of the stocks issued for it.' The value of the property at the time of the ' Billings z;. Robinson, g4N. Y. 415; 625; Battershall v. Davis, 31 Barb. Veiller v. Brown, 18 Hun 271 ; Mann 323; Haviland v. Chace, 39 Barb. 283; V. Currie, 2 Barb. 294. See Cutting v. American Silk Works v. Salomon, 4 Damerel, 88 N. Y. 410 ; Wintringham Hun 135; Knowlton v. Congress & V. Rosenthal, 25 Hun 580. Empire S. Co., 57 N. Y. 518, 103 U. S. •'Wheeler v. Millar, 90 N. Y. 353 ; 49; Otter u. Brevoort Petroleum Co., Dean v. Briggs, 25 Hun 122 ; Bartlett 50 Barb. 247. In Gurney v. Union V. Drew, 57 N. Y. 587 ; Briggo v. Pen- Transfer, etc. Co., 29 St. Rep. 274, 57 niman, 8 Cow. 396. St.; Hatch v. Super. Ct. 444, it was held that where a Dana, loi U. S. 205. director votes to issue stock to himself ' Phoenix Warehouse Co. v. Badger, in payment of a debt, the corporation 67 N. Y. 294 ; Cutting v. Damerel, 88 cannot refuse to issue the stock without N. Y. 410 ; Van Wagenen v. Clark, 22 a restoration of the claim. Hun 497 ; Wait on Insolvent Corp's, = Van Cott v. Van Brunt, 82 N. Y. § 235. See Tucker v. Oilman, 45 Hun 535; Herbert v. Uhl, 49 St. Rep. 496 193. (1892). ■* See Veeder v. Mudgett, 95 N. Y. '' Seepost, n. i, p. 66. 295; Beach v. Smith, 30 N. Y. 316; ' See Gamble v. Queens County People V. Troy House Co., 44 Barb. Water Co., 123 N. Y. 91. 5 66 STOCK CORPORATION LAW. [§ 43 issue of stock is the test of the fairness of such issue, and all the elements of value, prospective as well as actual, may be taken into account.' The bonds of a business corporation need not be sold at par, but may be issued for their fair market value. But stock cannot be sold for less than par even if the concern needs funds to continue its business,' for this would be in direct conflict with the statute as well as with the best general rule on the subject.^ Stock may be issued to represent accumulated property of the corporation.'' § 43. Time of payment of subscriptions to stock. — Sub- scriptions to the capital stock of a corporation shall be paid at such times and in such installments as the board of directors may by resolution require. If default shall be made in the payment of any installment as re- quired by such resolution, the board may declare the stock and all previous payments thereon forfeited for the use of the corporation, after the expiration of sixty days from the service on the defaulting stockholder, personally or by mail directed to him at his last-known post-office address, of a written notice requiring him to make pay- ment within sixty days from the service of the notice at a place specified therein, and stating that, in case of ' Compare Brewster v. Hatch, 122 ° See Handley v. Stutz, 139 U. S. N. Y. 349; Huntington v. Attrill, 118 417. But see Camden v. Stuart, 144 N. Y. 365; I Am. R. R. & Corp. U. S. 104; 25 Am. Law Rev. 940, and Rep. 418 ; Hatch v. Attrill, 118 N. Y. 26 Am. Law Rev. 861; Libbey v. 383; Van Cott V. Van Brunt, 82 N. Y. Tobey, 82 Me. 397, 2 Am. R. R. & 535; Goodrich v., Dorman, 38 St. Rep. Corp. Rep. 288, note. 198; Boynton i. Andrews, 63 N. Y. * Ooregum Gold Mining Co. v. 93; Chase v. Lord, 77 N. Y. i; Roper (1892), A. C. 125; In re Wey Schenck v. Andrews, 46 N. Y. 589; mouth, etc. Packet Co. (i8gi), i Ch. 66 Elyton Land Co. v. Birmingham Ware- Almada, etc. Co. Lim. 38 Ch. D. 415 house, etc. Co., 92 Ala. 407, 25 Am. Hospes z*. Northwestern Mfg., etc. Co, St. 65 (1891); Joseph V. Davis, 10 So. (Minn ), 15 L. R. A. 470(1892), 43 Alb, 830; Lake Superior Iron Co. v. Drexel, L. J. 277; Christiensen v. Eno, ic6 N, 90 N. Y. 87; Johnson %•. Bush, 3 Barb. Y. 97. Ch. 240; Knowles v. Duffy, 40 Hun * Williams v. Western Union Tel, 485. See Edgerton v. Electric Imp. & Co., 93 N. Y. 162; Wood v. Lary, 47 Const. Co. (N. J.), 24 Atl. Rep. 540 Hun 550; Railroad Co. v. Nickals, 119 (1892); Lloyd -u. Preston, 146 U. S. U. S. 296. 630. § 43] STOCK CORPORATION LAW. 67 failure to do so, his stock and all previous payments thereon will be forfeited for the use of the corporation. Such stock, if forfeited, may be reissued or subscrip- tions therefor may be received as in the case of stock not issued or subscribed for. If not sold for its par value or subscribed for within six months after such forfeiture, it shall be cancelled and deducted from the amount of the capital stock. If by such cancellation, the amount of the capital stock is reduced below the minimum required by law, the capital stock shall be increased to the required amount within three months thereafter or an action may be brought or proceedings instituted to close up the busi- ness of the corporation as in the case of an insolvent corporation.' If a receiver of the assets of the corpora- tion has been appointed, all unpaid subscriptions to the stock shall be paid at such times and in such installments as the receiver or the court may direct. See L. 1811, c. 67, § 5; L. 1848, c. 37, § 6; L. 1848, c. 40, § 6; L. 1848, c. 25q, § 12; L. 1850, c. 140, § 7; L. 1852, c. 22S, § 4; L. 1833, c. 117, § 6; L. 1854, c. 232, § 6; L. 1857, c. 546, § 6; L. 1861, c. 149, § 6; L. 1867, c. 974, § 7; L. 1872, c. 820, § 4; L. 1874, c. 143, § 6; L. 1875, c. 606, § 11; L. 1875, c. 611, § 11; L. 1878, c. 203, § 8; L. 1890, c. 564, § 43. Forfeiture of stock. — The above section provides for the forfeiture of stock upon the non-payment of subscriptions, and in proceeding to forfeit the statute should be carefully followed.' The liability of a- stockholdar ceases upon a sale of his stock and a transfer on the books of the corporation." After forfeiture a subscriber cannot be proceeded against for unpaid calls.^ His stock becomes the property of the cor- poration.' > See Mitchell ■v. Vermont Copper ' Wheeler v. Millar, 90 N. Y. 353 ; Co., 67 N. Y. 280. Calls upon stock Mills v. Stewart, 41 N. Y. 384 ; Small shouldbe equal. Great Western Tel. Co. v. Herkimer Mfg. Co., 2 N. Y. 330; V. Burnham, 79 Wis. 47, 24 Am. St. 698 Mann v. Currie, 2 Barb. 294 ; Duchess (1891) ; as to when the statute of limi- Cotton Mfg. Co. v. Davis, 14 Johns, tations begins to run against calls : see 238 ; Williams v. Meyer, 41 Hun Williams v. Taylor, 120 N. Y. 244 ; 545. Glenn v. Marbury, 145 U. S. 499. "People v. A. & S. R. Co., 7 Abb. " Tucker v. Oilman, 121 N. Y. 189. Pr. N. S. 291 ; Weeks v. Silver Islet See Hayes v, Franklin County Lumber Co., 54 N. Y. Super, i. Co. (Neb.), 53 N. W. Rep. jdi. 68 STOCK CORPORATION LAW. [§§ 44, 45 § 44, Increase or reduction of capital stock. — Any do- mestic corporation may increase or reduce its capital stock in the manner herein provided, but not above the maximum or below the minimum, if an^, prescribed by law. If increased, the holders of the additional stock issued shall be subject to the same liabilities with respect thereto as are provided by law in relation to the original capital ; if reduced, the amount of its debts and liabilities shall not exceed the amount of its reduced capital, unless an insurance corporation, in which case the amount of its debts and liabilities shall not exceed the amount of its re- duced capital and other assets. The owner of any stock shall not be relieved from any liability existing prior to the reduction of the capital stock of any stock corpora- tion. If a banking corporation, whether the capital be increased or reduced, its assets shall at least be equal to its debts and liabilities and the capital stock, as increased or reduced. See L. 1848, c. 37, §20; L. 1848, c. 40, §20; L. 1848, c. 265, §8; L. 1852, c. 228, § II ; L. 1853, c. 117, § 20 : L. 1853, c. 135, § 15 ; L. 1854, c. 232, § 19 ; L. 1867, c. 974, §9 ; L. 1872, c. 248, § 7 ; L. 1872, c. 611, § i ; L. 1872, c. 820, § 13 ; L. 1873, c. 737, § 7 ; L. 1875, c. 606, § 14 ; L. 1875, c. 611, § 15 L. 1878, c. 203, § 10 ; L. 1878, c. 264, § I ; L. 1890, c. 564, § 44 ; L. 1894, c. 346. Changing capital. — No limit is placed upon the amount of stock that a corporation may have, but a tax of one-eighth of one per cent, must be paid to the state treasurer upon every increase of capital.' In reducing the stock the amount of debts and liabilities of the corporation must not exceed the amount of its reduced capital.' Aside from statute provisions a corporation has no power to increase or reduce its stock.' § 45. Notice of meeting to increase or reduce capital stock. — Every such increase or reduction must be author- ized by a vote of the stockholders owning at least a ma- jority of the stock of the corporation, taken at a meeting of the stockholders specially called for that purpose. Notice of the meeting, stating the time, place and object, and the amount of the increase or reduction proposed, ' Post, Taxation Laws. ' Sutherland v. Olcott, 95 N. Y. 93, ' See People v. Carr, 36 Hun 488. See Scoville v. Thayer, 105 U. S. 143. § 46] STOCK CORPORATION LAW. 69 signed by a majority of the directors, shall be published once a week, for at least two successive weeks, in a newspaper in the county where its principal business office is located, if any is published therein, and a copy of such notice shall be personally served upon or duly mailed to each stockholder or member at his last known post-office address at least three weeks before the meet- o' Am'd by L. 1893, c. 700. See L. 1848, c. 37, § 21 ; L. 1848, c 40, § 21 ; L. 1848, c. 265, § 8 ; L. 1852, c. 228, § 13 ; L. 1853, c. 117, § 21 ; L. 1854, c. 232, § 20 ; L. 1866, c. 73, § i ; L. 1872, c. 248, § 7 ; L- 1872, c. 820, § 14 ; L. 1873, c. 737, § 7 ; L. 1875, c. 611, § 15 ; L. 1878, c. 264, § 2 ; L. 1890, c. 564. §45 ; L. J892, c. 688. Method of procedure. — In order to increase or reduce its stock, a cor- poration must publish a notice of a meeting of the stockholders, stating the facts called for by the above section and signed by a majority of the directors, once a week for at least two successive weeks in a newspaper in the county where its principal office is located ; and a copy of this notice must be served personally upon each stockholder or mailed to him at his last known post-office address at least three weeks before the meet- ing. Inasmuch as this notice requires the signature of a majority of the directors, the procedure to increase or reduce the capital must be first authorized by the directors themselves. § 46. Conduct of such meeting ; certificate of increase or reduction. — If, at the time and place specified in the no- tice, the stockholders shall appear in person or by proxy, in numbers representing at least a majority of all the shares of stock, they shall organize by choosing from their number a chairman and secretary, and take a vote of those present in person or by proxy, and if a sufficient number of votes shall be given in favor of such increase or reduction, a certificate of the proceedings, showing a compliance with the provisions of this chapter, the amount of capital actually paid in, the whole amount of debts and liabilities of the corporation, and the amount of the increased or reduced capital stock, shall be made, signed, verified and acknowledged by the chairman and secretary of the meeting, and filed in the office of the 70 STOCK CORPORATION LAW, [§ 46 clerk of the county where its principal place of business shall be located, and a duplicate thereof in the oflfice of the secretary of state. In case of a reduction of the capi- tal stock, except of a railroad corporatian, or a monied corporation, such certificate shall have endorsed thereon the approval of the comptroller, to the effect that the reduced capital is sufficient for the proper purposes of the corporation, and is in excess of its debts and lia- bilities, and in case of the increase or reduction of the capital stock of a railroad corporation, or a monied cor- poration, the certificate shall have endorsed thereon the approval of the board of railroad commissioners, if a railroad corporation ; of the superintendent of banks, if a corporation formed under or subject to the banking law ; and of the superintendent of insurance, if an insur- ance corporation. When the certificate herein provided for has been filed, the capital stock of such corporation shall be increased or reduced, as the case may be, to the amount specified in such certificate. The proceedings of the meeting at which such increase or reduction is voted, shall be entered upon the minutes of the corporation. If the capital stock is reduced, the amount of capital over and above the amount of the reduced capital shall be returned to the stockholders pro rata at such times and in such manner as the directors shall determine. See L. 1848, u. 37, § 22 ; L. 1848, c 40, § 22 : L. 1848, c. 265, § 8 ; L. 1852, c. 22S, § 14 ; L 1853, c. 117, § 22 , [. 1854, c 232, § 21 ; L. 1866, c. 73. § 2 ; L. 1872, c. 248, § 7 ; L. 1*72, c. 820, § 15 ; L. 1873, <;. 737, § 7 ; L 1875, c. uii, § 15 ; L. 1878, c. 264, § 3 ; L. 1890. c. 564, §46; L. iSc,2. c. 68S; L. 1893,0.700. Meeting to increase or reduce stock. — Stockholders, representing at least a majority of the stock, either in person or by proxy, must attend the meeting to increase or reduce the capital. In case this number is present the stockholders organize by choosing from their number a chairman and secretary ; thereupon a vote is taken, and if a majority of the stock of the corporation is voted in favor of the proposition to in- § 47] STOCK CORPORATION LAW. 7 1 crease or reduce the stock as advertised, the proposition is carried, and a certificate of the proceedings of the meeting must be made, signed, verified, and acknowledged by the chairman' and secretary of the meeting, and filed in the office of the clerk of the county where the corporation has its principal place of business, and a duplicate thereof must be filed in the office of the secretary of state. This certificate must set forth the particulars called for by the above section, all of which are fully shown in a form subsequently given. When the certificate has been filed, the capital stock of the corporation is increased or reduced according to the vote of the stockholders. In either case it is proper to call in the old certifi- cates of stock and endorse upon them the change that has been made in the capital of the corporation.'' Owners of the original stock of the cor- poration are not affected by a failure to pay in the new increased stock,' New stock can only be issued in accordance with section 42 of the Stock Corporation Law.* Stockholders are entitled to preference in purchasing new stock.' (For form of certificate, see post. Forms, XV.) § 47. Preferred and common stock. — Every domestic stock corporation may have preferred and common stock, and different classes of preferred stock, if the certificate of incorporation so provides or by the unanimous consent of the stockholders, and may, upon the written request of the holder of any preferred stock, by a two-thirds vote of its directors, exchange the same for common stock, and issue certificates for common stock therefor, share for share, or upon such other valuation as may have been agreed upon in the scheme for the organization of such corporation, or the issue of such preferred stock, but the total amount of such capital stock shall not be increased thereby. See L. 1880, c. 225; L. i8go. c. 564, § 47. ' See Cuykendall v. Douglass, ig Petersburg Granite Quar. Co. (Sup. Hun 577. See Freeman Nat. Bk. v. Ct.), 43 St. Rep. 235. Smith. 13 Blatch C Ct 220; Strong v. ' Griffeth v Green, 129 N. Y. 517; Brooklyn C. T. R. Co., 93 N. Y. 426. Veeder v. Mudgett, 95 N. Y. 295. ' See Williams v W. U. Tel. Co , g '' Ante, p. 65. See Knowlton ii. Con- Abb. N. C. 41Q. A stockholder agree grass & Empire Spring Co., 57 N, Y. ing to receive his proportion of reduced 518. stock, is bound by his agreement if the ' Humboldt Driving Park Asso. v. corporation acts upon it, Abbott v. Stevens, 52 N. W. Rep. 568. 72 STOCK CORPORATION LAW. [§ 48 Preferred and common stock. — Corporations may provide, in their cer- tificates of incorporation, for preferred and common stock and for different classes of preferred stock. If they do not do this the statute requires the unanimous consent of the stockholders in order to issue preferred stock subsequently.' The directors may also exchange the preferred stock for common stock by complying with the above section. An officer partici- pating in the issue of unauthorized preferred stock, cannot recover money paid upon his subscription therefor.'' (For form of certificate of preferred stock, see post. Forms, XVI.) § 48. Prohibited transfers to officers or stockholders. — No corporation which shall have refused to pay any of its notes or other obligations when due, in lawful money of the United States, nor any of its officers or directors, shall transfer any of its property to any of its officers, directors or stockholders, directly or indirectly, for the payment of any debt, or upon any other considerationthan the full value of the property paid in cash. No convey- ance, assignment or transfer of any property of any such corporation by it or by any officer, director or stockholder thereof, nor any payment made, judgment suffered, lien created or security given by it or by any officer, director or stockholder when the corporation is insolvent or its insol- vency is imminent, with the intent of giving a preference to any particular creditor over other creditors of the corpo- ration shall be valid. Every person receiving by means of any such prohib- ited act or deed any property of the corporation shall be bound to account therefor to its creditors or stockholders or other trustees. No stockholder of any such corporation shall make any transfer or assignment of his stock therein to any person in contemplation of its insolvency. Every transfer ' See Campbell v. American Zylonite " Banigan v. Bard, 134 U. Co., 122 N. Y. 455; Kent v Quick- 291. silver Mining Co., 78 N. Y; 178. § 4^] STOCK CORPORATION LAW. 73 or assignment or other act done in violation of the fore- going provisions of this section shall be void. No conveyance, assignment or transfer of any property of a corporation formed under or subject to the banking law, exceeding in value one thousand dollars shall be made by such gorporation, or by any officer or director thereof, unless authorized by a previous resolution of its board of directors, except promissory notes or other evidences of debt issued or received by the officers of the corporation in the transaction of its ordinary business and except payments in specie or other current money or in bank bills made by such officers. No such convey- ance, assignment or transfer shall be void in the hands of a purchaser for a valuable consideration without notice. Every director or officer of a corporation who shall violate or be concerned in violating any provisions of this section, shall be personally liable to the creditors and stockholders of the corporation of which he shall be director or an officer to the full extent of any loss they may respectively sustain by such violation. See R. S., Part I., ch. 18, title 4, § 4, 8th Ed., p. 1729; Birdseye's Ed., p. 679; L. i8go, c. 564, § 48. Insolvent corporations cannot transfer property to officers or stock- holders. — The above section takes the place of the provisions of the revised statutes prohibiting transfers by insolvent corporations, and en- larges the scope of this legislation.' It, however, does not forbid non- preferential assignments.* The purpose of the section seems to be to prevent a failing corporation from repaying loans made to it by its officers or directors,' and from giving a preference to any particular creditor.^ 'R. S., Part I., ch. 18, title 4, § 4 ; 127 N. Y. 508 ; Bricknell u. Speir 8th Ed., p. 1729, Birdseye's Ed., p. 679. (N. Y. C. P.), 45 St. Rep. 651 ; King See Vanderpoel v. Gorman, 140 N. Y. v. Union Iron Co., 33 St. Rep. 545 ; 563. See L. 1858, c. 314, as am'd L. National Broadway Bank v. Wessell 1889, c. 487 ; L. 1894, c. 740. Metal Co., 59 Hun 47O ; Keiley v. * Throop 1). Hatch Lithographic Co., Mechanics' & Traders' Bank, 39 St. 125 N. Y. 530, 58 Hun 149. Rep. 438 ; Paulding v. Chrome Steel ^ See Braem v. Merchants' Nat. Bank, Co., 94 N. Y. 334. * See 73 Hun 528, 74 STOCK CORPORATION LAW. [§ 49 It makes every person who receives property of the corporation contrary to its provisions liable to account to its creditors, stockholders, or other trustees. Under the previous statute relating to this subject, it has been held that a corporation is not obliged to defend suits brought against it by creditors, and that allowing such actions as are based upon proper claims to go by default was not a violation of the prohibition therein contained.' The above section also prohibits any stockholder from making a transfer or assignment of his stock in contemplation of the insolvency of the corporation, and it declares that every such transfer or assignment shall be void. And every director or officer of a corporation who par- ticipates in a violation of any of the provisions of the section is person- ally liable to the creditors and stockholders of the corporation to the full extent of any loss they may suffer by reason of any such violation.'' § 49. Payment by stockholders of mortgage debt pending foreclosure. — Whenever default shall be made by any cor- poration in the payment of principal or interest of any of its bonds secured by mortgage or deed of trust of its property, any stockholder may at any time during the pendency of the foreclosure of such mortgage or deed of trust and before the sale thereunder, pay to the mort- gagees or grantees in such mortgage or deed, for the use and benefit of the holders of such bonds, a sum equal to such proportion of the amount due and secured to be paid by such mortgage or deed, as his stock in such cor- poration shall bear to its whole capital stock, and on making such payment he shall to the extent thereof be- come and be interested in such mortgage or deed and protected thereby. See L. 1853, c. 502, §§ i, 2 ; L. 1890, c. 564, § 49. 'Varnum v. Hart, iig N. Y. loi. 'As to whether these provisions See Dickson -v. Mayer, 26 Abb. N. C. affect foreign corporations, see Hill v. 257, 35 St. Rep. 482; King z;. Union Knickerbocker Elecric Light and Power Ins. Co., 33 St. Rep. 545 ; Gardner v. Co. (Sup. Ct.), 45 St. Rep. 761 ; Coats C. B. Keogh Mfg. Co., 63 Hun 519 ; v. Donnell, 94 N. Y. 168 ; Worthington Southworth & Jones on Mfg. and Bus. Co. v. Piister Binding Co., N. Y. L. J. Corp., p. 238, ii. 4. Brower I/. Brooklyn Dec. 9, 1892. Trust Co. (Sup. Ct.), 21 N. Y. Supp. 324. See 140 N. Y. 563. § 5°] STOCK CORPORATION LAW. 75 Right of stockholders to participate iu mortgage or deed of trust. — The above section is founded upon a previous law of this State, and gives to any stockholder the privilege during the pendency of foreclosure pro- ceedings upon a corporate mortgage or deed of trust, and before the sale, to pay to the mortgagees or grantees for the benefit of tlje holders of the bonds issued thereunder a sum equal to such proportion of the amount to be paid under the mortgage or deed as his stock in the cor- poration shall bear to its whole capital, and to the extent of his payment to become interested in and protected by the mortgage or deed. § 50. Application to court to order issue of new in place of lost certificate of stock. — The owner of a lost or destroyed certificate of stock, if tiie corporation shall refuse to issue a new certificate in place thereof, may apply to the supreme court, at any special term held in the district where he resides, or in which the principal business office of the corporation is located, for an order requiring the corporation to show cause why it should not be required to issue a new certificate in place of the one lost or de- stroyed. The application shall be by petition, duly veri- fied by the owner, stating the name of the corporation, the number and date of the certificate, if known, or if it can be ascertained by the petitioner ; the number of shares named therein, to whom issued, and as particular a statement of the circumstances attending such loss or destruction as the petitioner can give. Upon the pres- entation of the petition the court shall make an order requiring the corporation to show cause, at a time and place therein mentioned, why it should not issue a new certificate of stock in place of the one described in the petition. A copy of the petition and order shall be served on the president or other head of the corporation, or on the secretary or treasurer thereof, personally, at least ten days before the time for showing cause. See L. 1873, c. 151, § i ; L. 1890, c. 564, § 50. How new certificates of stock may be obtained. — When a certificate of stock is lost, the owner, by complying with the above provision, may 76 STOCK CORPORATION LAW. [§ 5 1 compel the corporation to issue to him a new certificate in the place of the one lost. The above section retains the previous law in this State upon this sub- ject, but it enlarges the remedy of a stockholder by allowing him to apply to t^ie supreme court of the district in which the principal business office of the corporation is located, as well as to the court of the district in which he resides, for his remedy under the section. Obedience to the order of the court under this provision may be enforced by attach- ment.' § 51. Order of court upon such application. — Upon the return of the order, with proof of due service thereof, the court shall, in a summary manner, and in such mode as it may deem advisable, inquire into the truth of the facts stated in the petition, and hear the proofs and allegations of the parties in regard thereto, and if satisfied that the petitioner is the lawful owner of the number of shares, or any part thereof, described in the petition, and that the certificate therefor has been lost or destroyed, and cannot ^ after due diligence be found, and that no sufficient cause has been shown why a new certificate should not be issued, it shall make an order requiring the corporation, within such time as shall be therein designated, to issue and de- liver to the petitioner a new certificate for the number of shares specified in the order, upon depositing such security, or filing a bond in such form and with such sureties as to the court shall appear sufficient to indemnify any person other than the petitioner who shall thereafter be found to be the lawful owner of the certificate lost or destroyed ; and the court may direct the publication of such notice, either before or afte^ making such order as it shall deem proper. Any person claiming any rights under the cer- tificates alleged to have been lost or destroyed shall have recourse to such indemnity, and the corporation shall be ' See Matter of Biglin v. Friendship W. R. Co., 94 N. Y. 204, 25 Hun 438 ; Assn., 46 Hun 223 ; Brisbane z/. D. L. & Pollock v. Nat. Bk., 7 N. Y. 274. § 52] STOCK CORPORATION LAW. "J"] discharged from all liability to such person upon com- pliance with such order ; and obedience to the order may- be enforced by attachment against the officer or officers of the corporation on proof of his or their refusal to com- ply with it. See L. 1873, X.. I5t. § 2 ; L. i8go, c. 564, § 51. § 52. Financial statement to stockholders. — Stockhold- ers owning five per centum of the capital stock of any corporation other than a monied corporation, not exceed- ing one hundred thousand dollars, or three per centum where it exceeds one hundred thousand dollars, may make a written request to the treasurer or chief fiscal officer thereof, for a statement of its affairs, under oath, em- bracing a particular account of all its assets and liabilities, and the treasurer shall make such statement and deliver it to the person presenting the request within thirty days thereafter, and keep on file for twelve months thereafter a copy of such statement, which shall at all times during business hours be exhibited to any stockholder demand- ing an examination thereof ; but the treasurer or such chief fiscal officer shall not be required to deliver more than one such statement in any one year. The supreme court, or any justice thereof, may upon application, for good cause shown, extend the time for making and de- livering such certificate. For every neglect or refusal of the treasurer or other chief fiscal officer thereof to comply with the provisions of this section he shall forfeit and pay to the person making such request the sum of fifty dollars, and the further sum of ten dollars for every twen- ty-four hours thereafter until such statement shall be fur- nished. See L. 1885, c. 489, § 3 ; L- 1890, c. 564, § 52. Hinonty stockholders entitled to statement of afikirs. — Stockholders holding five per cent, of the capital stock of any business corporation, the capital of which does not exceed one hundred thousand dollars, 78 STOCK CORPORATION LAW. [§53 and stockholders owning three per cent, where the capital exceeds this amount, may obtain a particular account of the assets and liabilities of the corporation once a year under the above section. This statement must be kept on file in the office of the corporation for twelve months after it is made, and is open to the inspection of stockholders during business hours.' The statement must be delivered to the person author- ized to present the request for it within thirty days after the request is made, unless the supreme court shall extend the time for making and delivermg it. The penalty for non-compliance with this section is that the treasurer or other fiscal officer of the corporation forfeits to the per- son making the request the sum of $50, and the further sum of $10 for every day until the statement is furnished.'' § 53. Exhibition of books by transfer agent of foreign corporation. — The transfer agent in this state of any for- eign corporation whether such agent shall be a corpora- tion or a natural person, shall, at all times during the usual hours of transacting business, exhibit to any stock- holder of such corporation, when required by him, the transfer book, and a list of the stockholders thereof, if in his power to do so, and for every violation of the pro- visions of this section, such agent, or any officer or clerk of such agent, shall forfeit the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars, to be recovered by the person to whom such refusal was made. See L. 1842, c. 165, §g i, 2 ; L. 1890, c. 564, § 56, substantially unchanged. Transfer agents of foreign corporations must exhibit transfer books. — The above section is based upon an early statute of the State.^ Compliance with the law is required under the penalty of a forfeiture of the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars, to be recovered by the person to whom a refusal to exhibit the transfer book and the list of stockhold- ers is made. The court will grant a peremptory or alternative manda- mus as the facts warrant,'* • 'See French z/.McMillan, 43 Huni88. 4, 1893; People v. St. Louis, etc. R. = See* Gould v. Walbridge (N. Y. Co., 19 Abb. N. C. 1 ; People ex Super. Ct.), 4/St. Rep. 835. rel. Harriman v. Paton, 20 Abb. N. ''■ L. 1842, c. 165. C. 172 ; Kennedy v. Chicago, etc. R. ^ See People ex rel. Daniels v. Craw- Co., 14 Abb. N. C. 326 ; People ex rel, ford (S. C. G. T.), N. Y. L. J , April Hatch v. Lake Shore, etc. R. Co., li 22, 1893, Chambers, N. Y. L. J., Feb. Hun i. § 54] STOCK CORPORATION LAW. 79 § 54. Liabilities of stockholders. — The stockholders of every stock corporation shall, jointly and severally, be personally liable to its creditors, to an amount equal to the amount of the stock held by them respectively, for every debt of the corporation; until the whole amount of its capital stock issued and outstanding at the time such debt was incurred shall have been fully paid. - The stock- holders of every stock corporation shall, jointly and sev- erajly, be personally liable for all debts due and owing to any of its laborers, servants or employes other than con- tractors, for services performed by them for such corpo- ration. Before such laborer, servant or employe shall charge such stockholder for such services, he shall give him notice in writing, within thirty days after the termi- nation of such services that he intends to hold him liable, and shall commence an action therefor within thirty days after the return of an execution unsatisfied against the corporation upon a judgment recovered against it for ser- vices. No person holding stock in any corporation as collateral security, or as executor, administrator, guardian or trustee, unless he shall have voluntarily invested the trust funds in such stock, shall be personally subject to liability as a stockholder ; but the person pledging such stock shall be considered the holder thereof, and shall be liable as stockholder ; and the estates and funds in the hands of such executor, administrator, guardian or trus- tee shall be liable in the like manner and to the same ex- tent as the testator or intestate, or the ward, or person in- terested in such trust fund would have been, if he had been living and competent to act and held the same stock in his own name, unless it appears that such exec- utor, administrator, guardian or trustee voluntarily invested the trust funds in such stocks, in which case he shall be personally liable as a stockholder. See L. 1848, c. 37, g§ 10, 11, 15 ; L. 1848, c. 40, ,§§ 10, 11, 16, 18, 24 ; L. 8o STOCK CORPORATION LAW. [§ 54 1848, c. 259, § 2 ; L. 1848, c. 265, § 10 ; L. 1850, c. 140, §§ 10, 11 ; L. 1852, c. 228, §§ 5, 6, 7, 8, g; L. 1853, c. 117, §§ 10, 11 ; L. 1853, c. 117, §§ 16, 18, 24; L. 1853, c. 135, § 14; L. 1854, c. 232, §10; L. 1854, c. 232, §§12, 16, 18; L. 1857, c. 546, §§ II, 16, 18; L. 1861, c. 149, ^52; L. 1867, c. 971, §8; L. 1867, c. 974, §§ 10, II ; L. 1872, c. 248, §3 ; L. 1872, c. 820, lig, 10 ; L. 1874, c. 143, §§10,13; L- '874.1;. 288, §4; L. 1875, i;. 606, §§12, 15; L. 1875, c. 611, §§23, 25 ; L. 1877, c. 228, § 3 ; L. 1878, c. 203, §§ II, 12 ; L. 1890, c. 564, §57. Liability of stockholders to servants and employees. — The present statute is essentially different from the laws of 1848 and 1875, in respect to the liability of stockholders to servants and employees. Under the law of 1848 this liability was confined to " laborers, servants and appren- tices,"' and under the law of 1875 all liability was dispensed with.'' But under the above statute, liability exists in behalf of " laborers, servants or employes, other than contractors." The words "or em- ployes," etc., taking the place of the words " and apprentices," found in the law of 1848. The decisions limiting liability to persons performing menial services were rendered under the former statute, and are not applicable to the new phraseology.^ The statute as now in force seems to comprehend all employees who perform services for the corporation, save those who belong to the class specifically excluded, namely, contractors.^ A servant may assign his claim,' and all or one only of the stockholders may be sued." The short statute of limitations prescribed by the above section, both with respect to the notice of claim against a stockholder and to the time within which an action must be brought against him, should be noted. Liability of stockholders to general creditors. — The liability of stock- holders in business corporations under the above section is unlike that existing under any preceding law of the State.' Stockholders of one of these corporations are now liable until the whole amount of its capital stock issued and outstanding at the time a debt is incurred shall have been fully paid. It is the issued and outstand- ing stock that must be paid in and not the whole capital as formerly .^ No certificate of the payment of capital is now necessary to relieve stock- holders from liability.' The exemption from liability accorded stock- ' L. 1848, c. 40, § 18. " Herries v. Piatt, 21 Hun 132; Dean "^ Southworth & Jones on Mfg. and v. Whiton, 16 Hun 203. Business Corporations, 2d Ed., § 203. 'See article on "A Grievance of * See Wakefield v. Fargo, 90 N. Y. Stockholders in New York Business 213, and cases cited; note 25 Abb. N. Corporations," 46 Alb. L. J. 265, Oct. C; Southworth & Jones, 2d Ed., § q6. i, 1892. ■• See Gurney v. A., etc. R. Co., 58 » L. 1848, c. 40, § 10; L. 1875, c. 611, N. Y. 358; People v. Remington, 45 § 37. Hun 329. ' Compare L. 1848, c. 40, § 11; L. ^^ Krauser v. Ruckel, 17 Hun 463; 187;, c. 611, § 37. See National Tube, Pitcher v. Drayton, 17 Hun 429; Kin- etc. Co. v. GilfiUan, 124 N. Y. 302. caid V. Dwinelle, 59 N. Y. 548. §54] STOCK CORPORATION LAW. 8l holders who held stock issued for property under the law of 1853,' no longer exists, and those who pay for their stock in money are on an equality with those who pay in property. This in some instances will probably work injury to persons who have taken stock in payment for property or for labor. It may be said, more- over, that the present law in this State is not in accord with the idea of a trading company as it exists in England,'^ or of a sociiti anonyme as it exists throughout Europe,^ or of a business corporation as it is known throughout this country.* For in all these instances the distinctive characteristic of a corporation of this character is that the persons who associate themselves together limit their liability to the amount of their individual subscriptions. The effect of the law of this State now is to make one stockholder re- sponsible for the default of another, and the statute should be altered so as to free from further liability to general creditors every stockholder whO' has discharged his debt to the corporation. "Who are liable as stockholders. — Creditors may hold the registered stockholders liable even though they are not the real owners of the stock, and they also have the privilege of proceeding against the real owners.' A stockholder who makes a sale of stock and has the transfer registered is, however, relieved from liability for future debts.' He con- tinues to be liable for debts already incurred until the statute of limita- tions provided by the above section has run in his favor.' Executors and trustees are not personally responsible.' A stockholder is not liable for debts contracted before he became a stockholder unless they are con- tinuing contracts.' Subscribers to stock are liable upon their subscrip- tions if there is user by the corporation.'" A stockholder who is a creditor ' L. 1853, c. 333, § 2, repealed by 'Matter of Santa, etc. M. Co., 21 General Corporation Law, post. St. Rep. 8g ; White v. Price, 39 Hun ' See Buckley on the Companies 394 ; Stover v. Flack, 30 N. Y. 64. Acts, 6th Ed., p. 142. ' Hardman v. Sage, 124 N. Y. 25 ; ' See La SocUt^ Anonyme En Droit Phillips v. Therasson, 11 Hun 141 ; Italien (1887), F61ix M. Bing, p. 43. Tracy v. Yates, 18 Barb. 152 ; McMas- '' See ante, note 7, p. 80. ter v. Davidson, 29 Hun 542 ; Mcln- ' Wakefield v. Fargo, 90 N. Y. 213 ; tyre v. Strong, 63 How. Pr. 43 ; Lewis Johnson v. Underbill, 52 N. Y. 203 ; v. Ryder, 13 Abb. Pr. i ; Cox v. Shellington v. Rowland, 53 N. Y. 371 ; Gould, 4 Blatchf. 341 ; Oviatt v. Stover V. Flack, 30 N. Y. 64 ; Matter Hughes, 41 Barb. 542. See Gaff v. of Reciprocity Bank, 22 N. Y. 17 ; Whitney, 2 N. Y. City Ct. 256. Washburn & Moen Mfg. Co. v. Clarke, '" See also National Tube, etc. Co. v. 43 St. Rep. 709. Gilfillan, 124 N. Y. 302 ; Wellington v. « Wakefield v. Fargo, 90 N. Y. 213 ; C. C. & I. Co., 52 Hun 408 ; Veeder v Veiler v. Brown, 18 Hun 571. Mudgett, 95 N Y. 295 ; Aspinwall w, ' HoUingshead v. Woodward, 107 Sacchi, 57 N. Y. 331; Buffalo, etc. Co, N. Y. 100 ; Eddy v. Coop. Dress. Asso., v. Carey, 26 N. Y. 75; Eaton v. Aspin- 3 Civ. Pro. Rep. 442. wall, 19 N. Y. 119 ; Perkins v. Hatch, 6 82 STOCK CORPORATION LAW. [§55 may offset his claim,' but a director cannot offset claims bought by him at a discount against his liability as a stockholder.'' The limit of a stockholder's liability is the amount of his stock.* To whom stockholders are liable. — Creditors to recover must be within the provisions of § $^.^ Under the present lafr their debts must be incurred while the issued and outstanding capital stock is unpaid.^ Neither the corporation nor its receiver can enforce this liability ; it exists for creditors alone.* These creditors must also be contract cred- itors.' One stockholder may sue alone, or an equitable action may be brought.' A stockholder may sue a co-stockholder,' but a creditor- director cannot sue other stockholders.'" § 55. Limitation of stockholder's liability. — No action shall be brought against a stockholder for any debt of the corporation until judgment therefor has been recov- ered against the corporation, and an execution thereon has been returned unsatisfied in whole or in part, and the amount due on such execution shall be the amount re- coverable, with costs against the stockholder. No stock- .4 Hun 137, 64 N. Y. 634 ; Hyatt v. Esmond, 37 Barb. 606 ; Seymour v. Sturgess, 26 N. Y. 134. See Perry v. Jioadley, 19 Abb. N. C. 76. ' Mathez v. Neidig, 72 N. Y. 100 ; Agate V. Sands, 73 N. Y. 620 ; Chris- tiansen V. Colby, 43 Hun 362 ; Matter of Empire City Bank, 18 N. Y. igg ; Weeks v. Love, 33 N. Y. Super. Ct. 397 ; Richards v. Crocker, 19 Abb. N. C. 73 ; Richards v. Brice, 15 Daly 144 ; Garrison v. Howe, 17 N. Y. 458 ; Briggs V. Penniman, 8 Cow. 392 ; Tallmadge v. Fishkill Iron Co., 4 Barb. 382. ''Bulkley . Simpson, 74 N. Y. 137 ; Baily v. Bancker, 3 Hill 188; Bruce v. Driggs, 25 How. Pr. 71. ^ Supra. ^Ante, §54. ' Farnsworth v. Wood, 91 N. Y. 308 ; Knox V. Baldwin, 80 N. Y. 610 ; Tucker v. Oilman, 45 Hun 193 ; Bill- ings V. Trask, 30 Hun 314; Harris v. Norvell, i Abb. N. C. 127 ; Strong v. Wheaton, 3S Barb. 616. 'Cuykendall v. Corning, 88 N. Y. 129 ; Moss V. Oakley, 2 Hill 268. * Farnsworth a. Wood, 91 N. Y. 308; Veeder v. Judson, 91 N. Y. 374 ; Pfohl V. Simpson, 74 N. Y. 137 ; Mathez v. Neidig, 72 N. Y. roo ; South worth & Jones, 2d Ed., p. 164 et seq. ' Aspinwall v. Sacchi, 517 N. Y. 331 ; Wiles V. Suydam, 64 N. Y. 173 ; Dem- ing V. Puleston, 33 N. Y. Super. Ct. 231 ; Dodge v. Havemeyer, 4 St. Rep. 561 ; Waite v. Ferguson, 14 Abb. Pr. 379 ; Woodruff & Beach Iron Works v. Chittenden, 4 Bosw. 406 ; Clark v. Myers, 11 Hun 608. See next follow- ing note. '° McDowall V. Sheehan, 129 N. Y. 200, 41 St. Rep. 415. § 55] STOCK CORPORATION LAW. 83 holder shall be personally liable for any debt of the cor- poration not payable within two years from the time it is contracted, nor unless an action for its collection shall be brought against the corporation within two yoars after the debt becomes due ; and no action shall be brought against a stockholder after he shall have ceased to be a stockholder, for any debt of the corporation, unless brought within two years from the time he shall have ceased to be a stockholder. See L. 1848, c. 37, § 17; L. 1848, c. 40, §§ 10, 24; L. 1848, c. 265, § 10; L. 1852, t. 228, § 8; L. 1853, c. 117, § 24; L. 1857, c. 546, § 20; L. 1875, c. 611, §§ 23, 25; L. 1877, t. 228, § 3; L. i8go, c. 564, § 58, unchanged. Bequiremeuts respecting action against stockholder. — A creditor suing a stockholder must allege in his complaint and prove at the trial that the debt sued on was to be paid within two years,' that judgment was obtained against the corporation in due season,'' and that execution has been issued and returned unsatisfied in whole or in part, and that the defendant was a stockholder.' His action must have been brought against the corporation within two years under the statute.* A judgment obtained against the corporation is not evidence of the claim against the stockholder.' Obtaining a judgment against the corporation is excused if the corporation has been dissolved, or if compliance by a creditor is impossible for any reason.' ' Compare Johnson v. Underbill, 52 ' Kincaid v. Dwinelle, 59 N. Y. 548; N. Y. 203; Hill z;. Conklin, 7 Daly 397; Sawyer v. Rosebrook, 48 Hun 453; Handy v. Draper, 89 N. Y. 334; Rocky Wheeler v. Miller, 24 Hun 541; Handy Mountain Nat. Bank v. Bliss, 89 N. Y. v. Draper, 23 Hun 256 ; Southworth & 338. Jones, p. 172, note i. '' See Jagger Iron Co. v. Walker, 76 ' New England Iron Co. v. Gilbert N. Y. 521; Parrot w. Colby, 6 Hun 55, El. R. Co., gi N. Y. 153; Hollings- affi'd 71 N. Y. 597; Parrot v. Sawyer, head v. Woodward, 107 N. Y. 96; Cuy- 87 N. Y. 622; Hardman v. Sage, 47 kendall v. Coming, 88 N. Y. 129; Hun 230. Sturges v. Vanderbilt, 73 N. Y. 384; ' See Tucker v. Oilman, i2t N. Y. McCuUoch v Norwood, 58 N. Y. 562; 189; Dean v. Mace, rg Hun 391; Kincaid v. Dwinelle, 59 N. Y. 548; Dempsey w. Willett, 16 Hun 264; Viele Flash v. Conn, log U. S. 371; Bir- V. Wells, 9 Abb. N. C. 277; Strong v. mingham Nat. Bank tj. Mosser, 14 Wheaton, 38 Barb. 616; Hovey v. Hun 605; Shellington v. Howland, 53 Ten Broeck, 3 Robt. 316; Lindsley v. N. Y. 371; Birmingham Nat. Bank v. Simmons, 2 Abb. Pr. (N. S.) 69; Shel- Keck, 55 How. Pr. 222; Allen v. lington V. Howland, 67 Barb. 14. Ward, 36 N. Y. Super. 290. * See Hardman v. Sage, 124 N. Y. 25; Short V. Medbury, 2g Hun 3g. 84 STOCK CORPORATION LAW. [§ 5^ Action may be brought as soon as execution against the corporation is returned unsatisfied, and it may be brought at any time thereafter for six years.' Under the law of 1875 a judgment against the corporation was not a prerequisite to the bringing of the action,'* and the present law follows the statute of 1848 in this particular. The aotion may be brought in other States.^ It is not penal and therefore survives.* An action to enforce this liability cannot be united with an action to recover for failure to file an annual report.' § 56. Increase or reduction of number of shares. — A stock corporation may provide that the number of shares into which its capital stock is divided shall be increased or reduced by a two-thirds vote of all stock duly represented at a meeting held and conducted in like manner, and upon filing a like certificate, as required for the increase or reduction of its capital stock. If such increase or reduction of the number of shares be so au- thorized, the corporation shall issue to each stockholder certificates for as many shares of the new stock as equal in par value the shares of the old stock held by him, upon surrender and cancellation of such old stock. This section does not authorize the increase or reduction of the capital stock of such corporation. Added to the Stock Corporation Law by Laws 1893, chapter 196. See L. 1866, c. 73 ; L. 1884, c. 397. Hethod of changing par value of shares. — By the above section the ■ Handy v. Draper, 89 N. Y. 334; See Douglass v. Ireland, 73 N. Y. 100. Wiles v. Suydam, 64 N. Y. 173; Map- See, in reference to actions by stock- pier V. Mortimer, 11 Abb. Pr. N. S. holders against the corporation: 455; King V. Duncan, 38 Hun 461; Thompson v. Stanley, 20 N. Y. Supp. Cochran v. Am. Opera Co., Lim., 20 317; Averill v. Barber, 25 St. Rep 194; Abb. N. C. no. • Anderton z'. Wolf, 41 Hun 571; - Walton V. Coe, no N. Y. 109; Spencer v. Clark, 22 Week. Dig. 490; Christensen v, Eno, 106 N. Y. 97; Sheridan v. Sheridan Electric Light Savings Asso. v. O'Brien, 51 Hun 45. Co., 38 Hun 396; Kelsey v. Sargent, ' Griffith w. Mangan, 42 N. Y. Super. 40 Hun 150; Gamble c. Queens Co. 369 ; Pugh V. Hurtt, 52 How. Pr. Water Co., 123 N. Y. 91 ; 23 St. Rep. 22. 409; Ziegler v. Hoagland, 52 Hun 385; ■* Cochran 71, Wiechers, 119 N. Y. Gildersleeve v. Lester (Patterson, J.), 3991 Richmond v. Iron, I2X U. S. 27. N. Y. L. J., Feb. 7, 1893. And see ' Wiles V. Suydam, 64 N. Y. 173. post, Appendix. § 5^] STOCK CORPORATION LAW. 85 pravisions of the Stock Corporation Law governing the meeting of stockholders to increase or reduce capital stock are made applicable to a meeting to increase or reduce the number of shares, and the certificate to be filed to accomplish each change is to be in similar form. The method of increasing or reducing capital has already been described, and the same course of procedure should be followed under the above sec- tion.' {For form see post. Forms, XVIL) ' See ante, §§ 44-46. The General Corporation Law. BEING LAWS OF 1 892, CHAPTER 687, ENTITLED: "AN ACT TO AMEND THE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW," AMENDING LAWS 1 890, CHAP- TER 563, ENTITLED : " AN ACT IN RELATION TO CORPORATIONS, CONSTITUTING CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE OF THE GENERAL LAWS," AS AMENDED BY LAWS OF 1893-189S. Section i. Short title. 2. Classification of corporations. 3. Definitions. 4. Qualifications of incorporators. 5. Filing and recording certificates of incorporation. 6. Corporations of the same name prohibited. 7. Amended and supplemental certificates. 8. Lost or destroyed certificates. 9. Certificate and other papers as evidence. 10. Limitation of powers. 11. Grant of general powers. 12. Enlargement of limitation of amount of property of non-stock corporations. 13. Acquisition of additional real property. 14. Acquisition of property in other states. 15. Certificate of authority of a foreign corporation. 16. Proof to be filed before granting certificate. 17. Acquisition of real property in this state by certain foreign corpora- tions. 18. Acquisition by foreign corporations of real property in this state upon judicial sales, ig. Prohibition of banking powers. 20. Qualification of members as voters. 21. Proxies. 22. Challenges. 23. Effect of failure to elect directors. 24. Mode of calling special election of directors. 25. Mode of conducting special election of directors. 26. Qualification of voters and canvass of votes at special elections. 27. Powers of supreme court respecting elections. 28. Stay of proceedings in actions coUusively brought. 2g. Quorum of directors and power of majority. 30. Directors as trustees in case of dissolution. (86) §§ I, 2] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. 87 31. Forfeiture for non-user. 32. Extension of corporate existence. 33. Conflicting corporate laws. 34. Laws repealed. 35. Saving clause. 36. Construction. 37. Law revived. 38. When notice or lapse of time unnecessary. 39. As to acts of directors. 40. Alteration and repeal of charter. Section i. Short title.— This chapter shall be known as the general corporation law. L. 1890, c. 563, § I, unchanged. § 2. Classification of corporations.— A corporation shall be either, 1. A municipal corporation, 2. A stock corporation, 3. A non-stock corporation, or 4. A mixed corporation. A stock corporation shall be either, 1. A moneyed corporation, 2. A transportation corporation, or 3. A business corporation. A. non-stock corporation shall be either, 1. A religious corporation, or 2. A membership corporation. A mixed corporation shall be either, 1. A cemetery corporation, 2. A library corporation, 3. A co-operative corporation, 4. A board of trade corporation, or 5. An agricultural and horticultural corporation. A transportation corporation shall be either, 1. A railroad corporation, or 2. A transportation corporation other than a railroad corporation. A membership corporation shall include benevolent orders and fire and soldiers' monument corporations. 88 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [ §3 A reference in a general law to a class of corporations described in accordance with this classification shall include all corporations theretofore formed belonging to such class. § 3. Definitions.— I. A municipal corporation includes a county, town, school district, village and city and any other territorial division of the state established by law with powers of local government. 2. A stock corporation is a corporation having a capi- tal stock divided into shares, and which is authorized by law to distribute to the holders thereof dividends or shares of the surplus profits of the corporation. A corporation is not a stock corporation because of having issued certificates called certificates of stock, but which are in fact merely certificates of membership and which is not authorized by law to distribute to its members any divi- dends or share of profits arising from the operations of the corporation. 3. The term non-stock corporation includes every corporation other than a stock corporation. 4. A moneyed corporation is a corporation formed under or subject to the banking or the insurance law. 5. A domestic corporation is a corporation incorpo- rated by or under the laws of the state or colony of New York. Every corporation which is not a domestic cor- poration is a foreign corporation, except as provided by the code of civil procedure for the purpose of construing such code. 6. The term directors, when used in relation to corpo- rations, shall include trustees or other persons, by whatever name known, duly appointed or designated to manage the affairs of the corporation. 7. The term, certificate of incorporation, shall include articles of association or any other written instruments required by law to be filed, to effect the incorporation of § 4] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. 89 a corporation, including a certified copy of an original certificate of incorporation filed for such purpose in pursuance of law. 8. The term^ member of a corporation, shall include every person having a right to vote at a meeting of the corporation for the election of directors, other than a person having a right to vote only upon a proxy. 9. The term, office of a corporation, means its princi- pal office within the state or principal place of business within the state, if it has no principal office therein. 10. The term, business of a corporation, when used with reference to a non-stock corporation, includes the operations for the conduct of which it is incorporated. 1 1. The term, corporate law or laws, when used in any law forming a part of the revision of the general laws of the state of which this chapter is a part, means the general laws of this state relating to corporations included in such revision. L. i8go, c. 563, § 2 ; L. 1895, c. 672. § 4. Qualifications of incorporators. — A certificate of in- corporation must be executed by natural persons, who must be of full age, and at least two-thirds of them must be citizens of the United States and one of them a resi- dent of this state. This section shall not apply to a corporation formed by the re-incorporation or consolidation of existing cor- porations, or to the reorganization of a corporation upon the sale of the property and franchises of a previously existing corporation or otherwise. See L. 1875, ^- 6ti. § 3 ; L- 1890, c. 567, § 2. "Who may be incorporators. — A corporation cannot be one of the incor- porators of a new company, as the certificate must be executed by natural persons. Such persons must be of full age, and two-thirds must be citizens of the United States, and one a resident of this state. The above section, however, does not apply to corporations which desire to re-incorporate under 90 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§5 this law or to consolidate with one another, or to the corporation formed by the reorganization of a corporation upon a sale of its property and franchises. In these cases it would seem that the persons authorized to make the certifi- cates by pre-existing laws may still continue to do so. Promoters of a cor- poration may agree as to its management when formed.' Land conveyed to a corporation formed to carry out a plan adopted by its promoters is held by the corporation subject to the terms of the plan.'' Incorporators are bound upon subscriptions to the stock of a de facto company ; ' other subscribers are not, unless they have estopped themselves.'' They are held to strict honesty in their dealings with the public and with the subscribers ; ° until the corporation is formed they are liable upon contracts made.' Upon its for- mation the corporation becomes liable for contracts of which it has had the benefit,' and it may insist upon its right to acquire property conveyed to a trustee to act for it." Where a de facto corporation is formed the incorpo- rators are not ordinarily liable as partners.' The prospectus of promoters is not binding upon the corporation until it is accepted by it.'" § 5. Filing and recording certificates of incorporation. — Every certificate of incorporation and amended or sup- plemental certificate hereafter executed shall be 'in the English language, and, except of a religious, cemetery ' King V. Barnes, log N. Y. 267 ; see Lorillard -v. Clyde, 86 N. Y. 384. ^ Rogers v. New York & Texas Land Co., 134 N. Y. 197. ' Dorris v. French, 4 Hun 292 ; Lake Ontario R. Co. v. Munson, 16 N. Y. 451 ; Eaton v. Aspinwall, 19 N. Y. 119 ; Dewitt V. Hastings, 6g N. Y. 518 ; Cayuga Lake R. Co. v. Kyle, 64 N. Y. 185; Buffalo R. Co. V. Cary, 26 N.Y. 75. * Dorris v. Sweeny, 64 Barb. 636, 60 N. Y. 463 ; Buffalo, etc. R. Co. v. Gif- ford, 87 N. Y. 294. ' Brewster v. Hatch, 122 N. Y. 349, 10 Abb. N. C. 400 ; Getty v. Devlin, 54 N. Y. 403, 70 N.Y. 504 ;%[organ v. Skiddy, 62 N. Y. 319 ; and see article on " Liability of Promoters of Corpo- rations for Secret Profits," 16 N. J. L. J. 68, March, 1893. * Hub Publishing Co. v. Richardson, 37 St. Rep. 541 ; Wilcox Silver Plate Co. V. Green, 72 N. Y. 17. ' Grier v. Hazard, 38 St. Rep. 462, 39 St. Rep. 74 ; McDerraott v. Harri- son, 30 St. Rep. 324 ; Bommer v. Am. Spiral Spring Co., 81 N. Y. 468 ; Har- rison V. Vermont Manganese Co., 20 N. Y. Supp. 894 ; but see Bradley Fer- tilizer Co. V. South Pub. Co. (N. Y. C. P.), 44 St. Rep. 119 ; Wyckoff v. Union. L. & T. Co., 33 St. Rep. 422 ; Munson V. Syracuse, etc. R. Co., 103 N. Y. 58. ' Hecla Consol. Gold Mining Co. v. O'Neill (Sup. Ct.), 47 St. Rep. 211. "Fov V. McComb (Sup. Ct.), 44 St. Rep. 178 ; Seacord v. Pendleton, 55 Hun 579 ; Meriden Tool Co. v. Mor. gan, I Abb. N. C. 125. See N. Y. L. J. Feb. 17, 1893, vol. 8, p. 1204; Abb. Dig. i8go, p. 96, note ; Childs v. Smith, 46 N. Y. 34 ; Raisbeck v. Oes- terricher, 4 Abb. N. C. 444 ; Welch v. Old Dominion, etc. R. Co., 31 St. Rep. 916. See Coxe v. State, 144 N. Y. 396 ; Demarest v. Flack, 128 N. Y. 205 ; and article on "Liability of Members of a De Facto Corporation," Am. Law Review, March-April, 1893. '" See United States Vinegar Co. v. Schlegel, 143 N. Y. 537; Munson v. S. G.,etc. R. Co., 103 N.Y. 58. 72 Hun 334. § 5] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. 9 1 moneyed, municipal or fire department corporation, shall be filed in the office of the secretary of state, and shall be by him duly recorded and indexed in books specially provided therefor ; and a certified copy of such certificate or amended or supplemental certificate with a certificate of the secretary of state of such filing and record, or a duplicate original of such certificate or amended or sup- plemental certificate shall be filed and similarly recorded and indexed in the office of the clerk of the county in which the office of the corporation is to be located, or, if it be a non-stock corporation, and such county be not determined upon at the time of executing the certificate of incorporation, in such county clerk's office as the judge approving the certificate shall direct. All taxes required by law to be paid before or upon incorporation and the fees for filing and recording such certificate must be paid before filing. No corporation shall exercise any corporate powers or privileges until such taxes and fees have been paid. See L. 1848, c. 40, §§ i, 2 ; L. 1875, c. 611, § 4 ; L. 1881, c. 22, § i ; L. i8go, c. 563. § 3 ; L. 1895, c. 672. Where certificates of incorporation must be filed. — By the present law the office of the secretary of state is made the principal depository for the certificates of incorporation. Every certificate of a business corporation must be first filed and recorded in that office,' and thereafter a duplicate cer- tificate or a certified copy of the original, with a certificate of the secretary of state of the filing and recording in his office, must be filed and recorded in the office of the clerk of the county in which the principal office of the corpo- ration is to be located.* The secretary of state will not accept the certificate of a corporation organized as a social corporation when it is in reality a business corporation.^ An application to compel the secretary of state to file a certificate must be made in the district which includes the city of Albany.* ' As to the necessity of filling both * See ante, p. 5, as to the method of certificates under the act of 1848, see filing certificates and paying the organ- Childs V. Smith, 38 How. Pr. 328 ; ization tax and fees. Raisbeck v. Oesterricher, 4 Abb. N. C. ^ People ex rel. Davecport v. Rice, 444 ; Jessup V. Carnegie, 80 N. Y. 441 ; 68 Hun 24 ; People ex rel. Blossom v. Eaton V. Aspinwall, 3 Abb. Pr. 417, Nelson, 46 N. Y. 477. aff'd 19 N. Y. 121. ■> See 138 N. Y. 614 ; 128 N. Y. 591 ; I2g N. Y. 461. 92 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§ 6 § 6. Corporate names.— No certificate of incorporation of a proposed corporation having the same name as an exist- ing domestic corporation, or a name so nearly resembling it as to be calculated to deceive, shall be filed or recorded in any office for the purpose of effecting its incorporation. A corporation formed by the re-incorporation, re- organization or consolidation of other corporations or upon the sale of the property or franchises of a corpora- tion, may have the same name as the corporation or one of the corporations to whose franchises it has succeeded. No corporation shall be hereafter organized under the laws of this state with the word bank, insurance, indem- nity, guarantee or benefit as part of its name, except a corporation formed under the banking law or the insur- ance law. See L. 1875, c. 611, § 4 ; L. 1890, c. 563, § 4 ; L. iSgs, c. 672. When names of corporations conflict. — The statute forbids the incor- poration of a new corporation witti tlie same name as an existing domestic corporation, or witii a name so nearly resembling it as to be calculated to deceive.' It is, therefore, in each case a question of fact whether the new name is the same or is near enough to the old name to be likely to deceive.' A new corporation which is a continuation of one or more preceding corpo- rations to whose rights it has succeeded may use the name or one of the names of such corporation or corporations. The name of an existing corporation may be changed by complying with the following amendment of the Code of Civil Procedure adopted in 1893 : L. 1893, C. 366, § I. — Title ten of chapter seventeen of the code of civil procedure is hereby amended to read as follows : PROCEEDINGS TO CHANGE THE NAME OF AN INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATION. Section 2410. Petition by inftvidual. 241 1. Petition by corporation. 2412. Contents of petition. ' See 144 N. Y. 462 ; 25 Hun 398 ; Liability Assurance Corporation v. 21 Abb. N. C. 115 ; 59 Hun 615 ; 27 Employers' Liability Co. of the U. S., St. Rep. 808 ; 40 St. Rep. 792 ; 5 S. W. 24 Abb. N. C. 368, 10 N. Y. Supp. Rep. 29. 845. See Hazelton Boiler Co. v Ha- '' Hygeia Water Ice Co. v Hygeia zelton Tripod Boiler Co., 30 N, E. Ice Co., 140 N. Y. 94 ; Employers' Rep. 339. § 6] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. 93 Section 2413. Notice of presentation of petition. 2414. Order. 2415. When change to take effect. 2416. Substitution of new name in pending action or proceeding. 2417. Reports by clerks to state oflScers. § 2410. Petition by individual. — A petition for leave to assume another name may be made by a resident of the state to the county court of the county in which he resides, or, if he resides in the city of New York either to the court of common pleas for the city and county of New York, or to the city court of New York, or, if he resides in the city of Brooklyn, either to the county court of Kings county or to the "city court of Brooklyn, or, if he resides in the city of Buffalo, either to the county court of Erie county or to the superior court of the city of Buffalo. The petition of an infant shall be made by his general guardian, or by the guardian of his person, or by his next friend. § 2411. Petition by corporation. — A petition to assume another corporate name may be made by a domestic corpora- tion, whether incorporated by a general or special law, to the supreme court at a special term thereof, held in the judicial district in which its principal business office shall be situated, or, if it be other than a stock corporation, at a special term held in the judicial district in which its certificate of incorpora- tion is filed or recorded, or in which its principal property is situated, or in which its principal operations are or theretofore have been conducted. If it be a banking, insurance or railroad corporation, the petition must be authorized by a resolution of the directors of the corporation, and .approved, if a banking corporation, by the superintendent of banks ; if an insurance cor- poration, by the superintendent of insurance, and if a railroad corporation, by the board of railroad commissioners. The petition to change the name of any other corporation must have annexed thereto a certificate of the secretary of state, that the name which such corporation proposes to assume is not the name of any other domestic corporation or a name which he deems so nearly resembling it, as to be calculated to deceive. 94 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§ 6 § 2412. Contents of petition. — The petition must be in writing, signed by the petitioner and verified in like manner as a pleading in a court of record, and must specify the grounds of the application, the name, age and residence of the indi- vidual whose name is proposed to be changed, *and the name which he proposes to assume, and if the petitioner be a cor- poration, its present name, and the name it proposes to assume, which must not be the name of any other corporation, or a name so nearly resembling it as to be calculated to deceive ; and if it be a railroad corporation, a corporation having banking powers or the power to make loans upon pledges or deposits, or to make insurances, that the petition has been duly authorized by a resolution of the directors of the corporation and approved by the proper officer. § 2413. Notice of presentation of petition. — If the petition be to change the name of an infant, and is made by the infant's next friend, notice of the time and place at which the petition will be presented must be served upon the father, or if he is dead or cannot be found, upon the mother, or if both are dead or cannot be found, upon the general guardian or guardian of the person of the infant, in like manner as a notice of a motion upon an attorney in an action, unless it appears to the satis- faction of the court that the infant has no father or mother, or that both reside without the state or cannot be found, and that he has no guardian residing within this state, in which case *he court may dispense with notice or require notice to be gwen to such persons and in such manner as the court thinks proper. If the petition be made by a corporation located else- where than in the city and county of New York, notice of the presentation thereof shallJae published once in each week for six successive weeks in the state paper (at Albany in which notices by state ofiScers are autRorized by law to be published), and in a newspaper of every county in which such corporation shall have a business office, or if it has no business office, of the county in which its principal corporate property is situated or in which its operations are or theretofore have been principally conducted, vhich newspaper, if it be a banking corporation, shall be desig- § 6] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. 95 nated by the superintendent of banks, if an insurance corpora- tion, by the superintendent of insurance, or if a railroad corpo. ration, by the railroad commissioners. In the city and county of New York such notice shall be published once in each week for six successive weeks in two daily newspapers published in such county. (Am'd by L. 1894, c. 264.) § 2414. * Order. — If the court to which the petition is pre- sented is satisfied thereby, or by the affidavit and certificate presented therewith, that the petition is true, and that there is no reasonable objection to the change of name proposed,' and if the petition be to change the name of an infant, that the interests of the infant will be substantially promoted by the change, and, if the petitioner be a corporation, that the petition has been duly authorized and that notice of the presentation of the peti- tion, if required by law, has been made, the court shall make an order authorizing the petitioner to assume the name proposed on a day specified therein, not less than thirty days after the entry of the order. The order shall be directed to be entered and the papers on which it was granted to be filed within ten days thereafter in the clerk's office of the county in which the petitioner resides if he be an individual, or in the office of the clerk of the court of common pleas of the city and county of New York if the order be made by that court, or in the office of the clerk of the city court of New York if the order be made by that court, or, if the petitioner be a corporation, in the office of the clerk of the county in which its certificate of incorporation, if any, shall be filed, or if there be none filed, in which its principal office shall be located, or if it has no business ofifice, in the county in which its principal property is situated, or in which its operations are or there- tofore have been principally conducted, or in the office of the clerk of the county in which the special term granting the order is held ; and, if the petitioner be a corporation, that a certified copy of such order shall, within ten days after the " See In re U. S. Mercantile, etc., 871 ; Matter U. S. Mercantile Rep. Agency, 115 N. Y. 176 ; Matter of Co., 24 St. Rep. 548 ; Commercial As- Bank of Attica, 35 St. Rep. 708 ; Matter sociation v. Smith, 18 St. Rep. 151. of Manhattan Dispensary, 7 St. Rep. * See L. 1895. c. 946, to take effect Jan. i, 1896. 96 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§ 6 entry thereof, be filed in the office of the secretary of state ; and also, if it be a banking corporation, in the office of the superintendent of banks, or if it be an insurance corporation, in the office of the superintendent of insurance, or if it be a rail- road corporation, in the office of the board of railroad commis- sioners. Such order shall also direct the publication, within ten days after the entry thereof, of a copy thereof in a desig- nated newspaper, in the county in which the order is directed to be entered, at least once if the petitioner be an individual, or if the petitioner be a corporation, once in each week for four suc- cessive weeks. The county clerk, in whose office an order changing the name of a corporation is entered, shall record the same at length in the book kept in his office for recording cer- tificates of incorporation. § 2415. When change to take effect. — If the order shall be fully complied with, and within forty days after the making of the order, an affidavit of the publication thereof shall be filed and recorded in the office in which the order is entered, and in each office in which certified copies thereof are required to be filed, if any, the petitioner shall, on and after the day specified for that purpose in the order, be known by the name which is thereby authorized to be assumed, and by no other name. No proceed- ings heretofore had under sections two thousand four hundred and four- teen and two thousand four hundred and fifteen of the code of civil pro- cedure for the change of the name of a corporation, shall be invalid by reason of the non-filing of an affidavit of the publication of the order changing such name within twenty days from the date thereof. (Am'd by L. 1894, c. 264.) § 2416. Substitution of new name in pending action or proceeding. — An action or special proceeding, civil or criminal, commenced by or against a person whose name is so changed shall not abate, nor shall any relief, recovery, or other proceeding therein be prevented, impeded, or impaired in consequence of such change of name. The plaintiff in the action or the party instituting the special proceeding, or the people, as the case requires, may, at any time, obtain an order amending any of the papers or proceedings therein, by the substitution of the new name, with- out costs and without prejudice to the action or proceeding. §2417. Reports by clerks to state officers. — The clerk of each county and of each court, shall annually, in the month of December, report to the secretary of state all changes of names § 7] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. 97 of individuals or of corporations, which have been made in pursuance of orders filed in their respective offices during the past year and since the last previous report, and also report in like manner to the superintendent of banks all changes of the names of banking corporations, and to the superintendent of insurance all changes of names of corporations authorized to make insurances. The secretary of state must cause to be pub- lished, in the next volume of the session laws, a tabular state- ment showing the original name of each person and corpora- tion, and the name which he or it has been authorized to assume.' § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. (For forms to change name, see post. Forms, XVIIL) § 7. Amended and supplemental certificates. — If in the original or amended certificate of incorporation of any corporation, or if in a supplemental certificate of any cor- poration any informality exist, or if any such certificate contain any matter not authorized by lawr to be stated therein, or if the proof or acknowledgment thereof shall be defective, the corporators or directors of the corpora- tion may make and file an amended certificate correcting such informality or defect or striking out such unauthor- ized matter; and the certificate amended shall be deemed to be amended accordingly as of the date such amended certificate was filed, and upon the filing of such an amended certificate of incorporation, the corporation shall then for all purposes be deemed to be a corporation from the time of filing the original certificate. The supreme court may, upon due cause shown, and proof made, and upon notice to the attorney-general, and to such other persons as the court may direct, and upon See L. 1870, c. 322 ; L. 1874, c. 76 ; L. 1876, c. 280 ; L. 1891, c. 38. 7 98 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§ 8 such terms and conditions as it may impose, amend any certificate of incorporation which fails to express the true object and purpose of the corporation, so as to truly set forth such object and purpose. When an amended or supplemental certificate is filed, an entry shall be made upon the margin of the index and record of the original certificate of the date and place of record of every such amended certificate. The amendment of a certificate under this section shall be without prejudice to any pending action or proceed- ing, or to any rights previously accrued. See L. 1870, c. 135, §§ i, 2; L. i88t, c. 468, § 11; L. 1890, c. 563, § 5. Amended certificate to correct defects. — If a certificate of incorpora- tion, or an amended or supplemental certificate, contains any informality or any matter not authorized to be stated in it, or if the proof or acknowl- edgment is defective, the corporation or the directors may file a cor- rected certificate under the above section.' And power is given the supreme court to amend any certificate of incorporation which fails to express the true object and purpose of the corporation. Notice of any application to the court to exercise this power must be given to the attorney-general and to such other persons as the court may direct. The amendment of the certificate, however, is without prejudice to previous rights. (For form, see post, Forms, XIX.) § 8. Lost or destroyed certificates. — If either of the certificates of incorporation shall be lost or destroyed after filing, a certified copy of the other certificate may be filed in the place of the one so lost or destroyed and as of the date of its original filing, and such certified copy shall have the same force and effect as the original certificate had when filed. See L. 1 888, c. 306, §§ i, 2; L. 1890, c. 563, § 6. Filing new certificate if original is lost. — The above section gives the 'See In re N. Y., Lake Erie, etc. R. Co., 25 Hun 556. §§ 9, lo] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. 99 right to file a new certificate where either of the original certificates is lost or destroyed after filing. In such a case a certified copy of the remaining certificate should be obtained and proper proof of the filing of the lost certi- ficate and of the fact that it is lost should be presented to the court. In a recent case an order was granted requiring the county clerk of New York County to file a certificate under this section.' § 9. Certificate and other papers as evidence. — The certificate of incorporation of any corporation duly filed shall be presumptive evidence of its incorporation, and any amended certificate or other paper duly filed or recorded relating to the incorporation of any corporation, or its existence or management, and containing facts required or authorized by law to be stated therein, shall be pre- sumptive evidence of the existence of such facts. See L. 1811, c. 67, § 8; L. 1847, c. 210, § 3; L. 184S, c. 37, § 91 L. 1848, c. 40, § 9; L. 1848, c. 259, § 4; L. 1848, c. 265, last three lines of § 3; L. 1850, c 140, § 3; L. 1853, c. 117, § g; L. 1853, c. 135, § 11; L. 1854, c. 112, last clause of § 3; L. 1S54, c. 232, § 9; L. 1857, c. 54&, § 9; L. 1861, c. 149, §4; L. 1867, c. 974, § 3; L. 1869, c. 917, last five lines § 2; L. 1872, c. 820, § 16; L. 1873, c. 469, § 5; L. 1874, c. 143, § q; L. 1875, c. 611, last clause § 7; L- 1878, c. 203, § 3; L. 1885, c. 505, §4; L. 1888, c. 462, § 2; L. 1890, c. 563, § 7; Code Civ. Pro., § 933; L. 1895, c. 672. Proof of incorporation. — It is noticeable that the above section makes the certificate of incorporation duly filed, evidence of the fact of the incorpo- ration, and that this provision takes the place of the former statute, which made a certified copy of a certificate to be such evidence.^ But under the Code of Civil Procedure a certified copy would be proper proof of the fact of incorporation.' In the same way certified copies of other certificates or papers duly filed and referred to in the above section are competent proof of facts stated therein. The production of a copy of a certificate of incorpora- tion is sufficient proof of corporate existence, except in a direct proceeding by the State against the corporation.* § 10, Limitation of powers.— No corporation shall pos- sess or exercise any corporate powers not given by law 1 /« r^ Balance Valve & Steam Piston 'Code of Civ. Pro., § 933; Kings- Packing Co., N. Y. L. J. Feb. 4, 1893. ley v. Brooklyn, 4 Abb. N. C. 444 ; '^ See L. 1848, t. 40, § 9 ; Raisbeck Jones v. Dana, 24 Barb. 398. V. Oesterricher, 4 Abb. N. C. 444 ; N. " See Demarest v. Flack, 128 N. Y. Y. Car Oil Co. v. Richmond, 6 Bosw. 205 ; 74 Hun 435. 219. See 35 Hun 220; 9§ N.Y. 12. lOO GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§ ID or not necessary to the exercise of the powers so given. The certificate of incorporation of any corporation may contain any provision for the regulation of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the corporation, and any limitation upon its powers, or upon the powers of its directors and stockholders which does not exempt them from the performance of any obligation or the performance of any duty imposed by law. See R. S., Part I., ch. i8, title 3, § 3, 8th Ed., p. 1723; Birdseye's Ed., p. 673; L. i8go, c. 563, § 9; L. 1892, c. 687; L. 1895, c. 672. Powers of business corporations. — Although the preceding brief section is prohibitive, it is the only section which recognizes the broad powers of a corporation which are raised by implication of law. It in effect declares the general rule, that a corporation shall possess those powers conferred upon it by statute, and those which are necessary for a reasonable exercise of the powers so conferred. The express powers given by the General Corporation Law of this State are found in the next following section, and the constitu- tion of the State expressly confers the right to sue and to be sued." The Business Corporations Law and the Stock Corporation Law also incidentally confer other express powers, and the corporation itself acquires further powers of this character by its certificate of incorporation." These last- mentioned powers relate to the character of the business which the particu- lar corporation proposes to carry on, and to such other matters as may be controlled by the certificate.' But the powers which are implied as necessary to the carrying out of the expressed powers,'* are those which give rise to the greatest amount of discussion and in regard to which there is the greatest doubt. It may be said, however, that business corporations are allowed much latitude in carrying out the powers conferred upon them by their charters.' They may borrow money and mortgage by complying with the statutes governing this subject, develop unused land and utilize any property which they possess. If, however, a corporation engages in work wholly outside of its charter or not incidental to its main work, its acts are __• ^See Art. VIII., § 3,^OTir, p. 282. Co., 21 N. Y. 126; Green's Brice's ' See People v. Broadway R. Co., Ultra Vires (2d Ed.), p. 65 et seg. 126 N. Y. 29 ; Astor o. N. Y. Arcade ' See Holmes, etc. v. Willard, 125 N. R. Co., 113 N. Y. 93 ; CoUes v. Trow Y. 75 ; Gamble v. Queen's Co. Water City Directory, 11 Hun 397. Co., 123 N. Y. 91 ; Leslie v. Lorillard, 'See ante, p. 5. no N. Y. 519; Curtis v. Leavitt, 15 * See De Graff v. Am. Linen Thread N. Y. 267 ; Spelling on Corporations, §63. §Il] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. lOI ultra vire^ and void,' although if it receives benefit from them it may be estopped from claiming the illegality and held accountable in equity." The certificate of incorporation may limit the power to mortgage or the power to incur debts, or the power which confers upon each shareholder the right to have one vote upon each share of stock, or the right to freely transfer stock, or to increase or decrease stock on shares or any other privilege conferred upon the corporation by the State. § II. Grant of general powers.— Every corporation as such has power, though not specified in the law under which it is incorporated : 1. To have succession for the period specified in its certificate of incorporation or by law, and perpetually when no period is specified. 2. To have a common seal, and alter the same at pleasure. 3. To acquire by grant, gift, purchase, devise or be- quest, to hold and to dispose of such property as the purposes of the corporation shall require, subject to such limitations as may be prescribed by law. 4. To appoint such officers and agents as its business shall require, and to fix their compensation, and 5. To make by-laws, not inconsistent with any exist- 'See General Auction Estate, etc. N. W. 641 (1S92). See as to ultra Co. V. Smith (i8gi), 3 Ch. 432. Con- vires contracts, note 22 Am. St. Rep. suit Central Transportation Co. v. Pull- 764. and note 12 L. R. A. i68. See man's Pal. Car Co., 139 U. S. 24, 4 Am. further. Long v. Georgia Pac. R. Co., R. R. & Corp. Rep. 172, note p. igS ; 91 Ala. 519, 24 Am. St. 931 ; Sherman Jamison v. Citizens' Sa. Bank, 122 N.Y. Center Town Co. v. Morris, 2 Am. R. 135 ; Atty.-Genl. v. Great Eastern Ry. R. & Corp. Rep. 399— note ; Diamond Co., 5 App.Cas. 473; Buckeye Marble & Match Co. v. Roeber, 106 N.Y. 473; Freestone Co. v. Harvey (Tenn. 1892), Live Stock Asso. Lim. v. Levy, 3 St. 46 Alb. L. J. 50J. See as to the pow- Rep. 514 : Leslie v. Lorillard, 110 N. ers of directors and officers, ante, pp. Y. 519; Woodruff v. Erie Ry. Co., 93 34-36. N. Y. 609 ; Peck v. Doran & Wright "See Schurr v. N. Y. & B. S. L Co. Co., 57 Hun 343 ; and article in Am. (C. P.), 18 N. Y. Supp. 454, 45 St. Law Reg. & Rev. for Jan., 1893, on Rep. 645; Palmer v. Cypress Hill "Ultra Vires Contracts of Corpora- Cemetery, 122 N. Y. 429 ; Carson City tions." See Linkauf v. Lombard, 137 Sav. Bank v. Carson City El. Co., 51 N.Y. 417. I02 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§ ^ ^ ing law, for the management of its property, the regula- tion of its affairs, and the transfer of its stock, if it has any, and the calling of meetings of its members. Such by-laws may also fix the amount of stock, which must be represented at meetings of the stockholders in order to constitute a quorum, unless otherwise provided by law. By-laws duly adopted at a meeting of the mem- bers of the corporation shall control the action of its directors. No by-law adopted by the board of directors regulating the election of directors or officers shall be valid unless published for at least once a week for two successive weeks in a newspaper in the county where the election is to be held, and at least thirty days before such election. Subdivisions four and five of this section shall not apply to municipal corporations. See R. S., Part L, c. i8, title 3, §§ i, 2, 8th Ed., p. 1723; Birdseye's Ed., p. 672 ; R. S., Part I., c. 18, title 4, §6, 8th Ed., p. 1730; Birdseye's Ed., p. 679; L. 1811, c. 67, §-6; L. 184S, c. 37, §§ 7, 23; L. 1848, c. 40, §§ 7, 26; L. 1848, c. 265, 554; L. 1848, c. 319, §9; L. 1853, c. 117, §8 7, 26; L. 1854, c. 232, 88 7, 26 ; L. 1854, c. 269, §§ 4, 6 ; L. 1857, c. 546, §§ 2, 7 ; L. 1857, c. 776, §§ 6, 8 ; L. 1859, c. 168, § 13 ; L. 1862, c. 438, § 3 I L. 1867, c. 960, § 4 ; L. 1867, c. 971, § 9 ; L. J872, c. 248, § n ; L. 1872, c. 820, § 18; L. 1873, c. 397, § 8 : L. 1873, c. 616, § 4; L. 1874, c. 143. §§ 7, 15 ; L. 1874, c. 288, §§ 2, 3; L. 1875, c. 267, §§ 5, 10 ; L. 1875, c. 343, § 8 ; L. 1875, c. 611, § 2 ; L. 1877, c. 228, § 6 ; L. 1881, c. 468, last paragraph of § 4 ; L. 1882, c. 273, § 3 ; L. 1884, c. 36-, § 4 ; L. 1S86, c. 236, § 8 ; L. 1888, c. 293, § 7 ; L. 1888, c. 391, § 5 ; L. 1890, c. 563, § 8 ; L. 1895, c. 672. General powers. — (i). The ordinary period for which business corporations have been formed is 50 years, but such corporations may now adopt a longer period if they so desire. The present statute confers ample power to extend existence so that a corporation is practically perpetual, if it does not violate the law, or if its stockholders do not desire to dissolve it. Under the " English Companies Acts" the cc^porations are all perpetual, but there is also ample provision for voluntary dissolution and for visitation by the authorities. (2). A corporate seal should be adopted upon the formation of the corpo- ration, for it is of great value, both as respects members of the corporation and the public, that this distinctive feature of corporate action should be preserved,' and it is essential that the stock certificates shall bear the seal ' See opinion of Willes, J., in Mayor, etc. d. Governor, etc. of Bank of England, 21 Q. -B. D. i6q (1887). §11] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. IO3 of the corporation.' The corporation, however, will be bound by ordinary contract without seal ' as well as by parol contracts. By statute it is now provided that, where a corporation has not adopted a corporate seal an instrument otherwise duly executed may be sealed with the private seals of the officers.^ (3). Business corporations are not limited in respect to the amount of property that they may hold or dispose of, except that all of their property must be held and used subject to their charter powers.* (4). The power to appoint officers and agents and to fix their compen- sation is here conferred upon the corporation, but under the Stock Cor- poration Law the directors have authority to select the officers of such corporation. (5). The stockholders are authorized to adopt by-laws for the management of all corporations if they so desire, and when adopted these by-laws control the action of the directors, and have much of the force of statute law.' The statute has been amended so that the publication of by-laws regulating the election of directors or officers at least thirty days before each elec- tion is now unnecessary, unless the by-law is one adopted by the board of directors. This provision now accords with the preceding law of the State relating to the publication of by-laws adopted by directors and managers of a corpora- tion.* A publication once a week for two weeks is a compliance with the statute.' All by-laws must conform to the law of the State » and to the charter of the corporation to which they relate.'-' They must also be reason- able, equal, and fair in their operation.'" {For form of by-laws, see post. Forms, XX.) ^ Ante, p. 59. Ed., p. 769 ; Southworth & Jones, 2d 2 See Lienkauf v. Colman, no N. Y. Ed., pp. 51, 52 ; Matter of David Jones 50; Whitford v. Laidler, 94 N. Y. Brewing Co., N. Y. L. J., May 11, 1893. 145. ' See Wood v. Knapp, 100 N. Y. log. *L. 1892, c. 677, § 13. 'People v. Medical Soc'y, 24 Barb. * See Greenpoint Sugar Co. v. Whitin, 5 70. 69 N. Y. 328. " Curtain v. Father Mathew Soc'y, * See Mathews v. Asso. Press of N. 3 Daly 20. Y., 136 N. Y. 333 ; Compton v. The '" Driscoll v. West Bradley & Cary Chelsea, 128 N. Y. 537 ; Thomas v. Mfg. Co., 59 N. Y. 96, affi'g 8 J. & S. Musical Mutual Pro. Union, 121 N. Y. 488 ; Thomas v. Musical Pro. Union, 45; Kent V. Quicksilver Mining Co., 78 121 N. Y. 45 ; People v. Sailors' Snug N. Y. 159 ; McDermott v. Board of Harbor, 54 Barb. 532 ; Dunham v. Vil- Police, 5 Abb. Pr. 442 ; Brick Church lage, etc., 5 Cow. 462 ; People v. Fire V. Mayor, 5 Cow. 538 ; Douglas v. M. Underwriters, 7 Hun 248. See 143 Ins. Co., 118 N. Y. 484. N. Y. 559; 136 N. Y. 133: 123 N. Y. « See I R. S. 603, § 6 ; Birdseye's 349. I04 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§§ 12-14 § 12. Enlargement of limitations upon the amount of the property of non-stock corporations. — If any general or special law heretofore passed, or any certificate of incor- poration, shall limit the amount of property a corporation other than a stock corporation may take or hold, such cor- poration may take and hold property of the value of three million dollars or less, or the yearly income derived from which shall be five hundred thousand dollars or less, not- withstanding any such limitations. In computing the value of such property, no increase in value arising other- wise than from improvements made thereon shall be taken into account. See L. 1890, c. 497 ; L. 1894, c. 400. Stock corporations not limited in amonnt of property that may be held. — The foregoing section does not apply to business corporations. They are not restricted as to the amount of property they may acquire or cse. The next following section also relates to corporations that are re- stricted in their ownership of real property and has no bearing upon business corporations. § 13. Acquisition of additional real property. — When any corporation shall have sold or conveyed any part of its real property, the supreme court may, notwithstanding any restriction of a general or special law, authorize it to purchase and hold from time to time other real property, upon satisfactory proof that the value of the property so purchased does not exceed the value of the property so sold and conveyed within the three years next preceding the application. « See L. 1882, c. 290, § i ; L. 1890, c. 563, § 10. (For form of acknowledgment by torporation, see post. Forms, XXL) § 14. Acquisition of property in other states. — Any do- Tnestic corporation transacting business in other states or foreign countries may acquire and dispose of such prop- § 15] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW, I05 erty as shall be requisite for such corporation in the con- venient transaction of its business. See L. 1872, c. 146, § i ; L. 1875, c. 119 ; L. 1883, c. 361, § i ; L. 1890, c. 563, § II. Property may be acc[uired and disposed of anywhere. — The above sec- tion gives to domestic corporations the right to acquire and dispose of such property as its business may require, in any State or foreign coun- try. This, however, is a charter power which is conferred by this State and which cannot be exercised in other States, where local laws inter- fere.' In a locality where real estate cannot be held by a foreign corpo- ration, a New York corporation would acquire no title to land pur- chased as against the State." It is therefore essential to conform to the laws of the States in which property is to be acquired.' § 15. Certificate of authority of a foreign corporation. — No foreign stock corporation other than a monied cor- poration, shall do business in this state without having first procured from the secretary of state a certificate that it has complied with all the requirements of law to authorize it to do business in this state, and that the busi- ness of the corporation to be carried on in this state is such as may be lawfully carried on by a corporation in- corporated under the laws of this state for such or simi- lar business, or, if more than one kind of business, by two or more corporations so incorporated for such kinds of business respectively. The secretary of state shall de- liver such certificate to every such corporation so com- plying with the requirements of law. No such corpora- tion now doing business in this state shall do business herein after December 31, 1892, without having procured •Smith V. Alvord, 63 Barb. 415; 122; Hickory Farm Oil Co. w. Buffalo, Plimpton V. Bigelow, 93 N. Y. 592; etc. R. Co., 2 Ry. & Corp. L. J. 470. Merchants' Mfg. Co. u. Grand Trunk ' See Demarest v. Flack, 128 N. Y. R'y Co., 63 How. 459. 205; Bank of Augusta v. Earle, 13 Pet. 2 Commonwealth ex rel. etc. v.'&e.-7> 519; Merrick v. Brainard, 34 N. Y. York, etc. R. Co., 132 Pa. 591. 19 Atl. 208; Cowell v. Springs Co., 100 U. S. 291, 2 Am. R. & Corp. Rep. 27— note; 55; Christian Union v. Yount, lOi U.S. Runyan v. Lessee of Coster. 14 Pet. 352. I06 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§ 1 5 such certificate from the secretary of state, but any law- ful contract previously made by the corporation may be performed and enforced within the state subsequent to such date. No foreign stock corporation doing business in this state without such certificate shall maintain any action in this state upon any contract made by it in this state until it shall have procured such certificate,* Foreign corporation must procure certificate from secretary of state. — It is now necessary for every foreign stock corporation to procure the certificate described in the above section from the secretary of state if it desires to do business in this State. The penalty for a failure to ob- tain this certificate is that the corporation so failing cannot maintain an action in this State upon a contract thereafter made by it here.' Power of the State to exclude foreign corporations. — The subject of the power of this State over foreign corporations has derived special in- terest from the enactment of the above statute, which, however, is but in line with the legislation of many other localities.'^ The decisions of the United States Supreme Court have fully settled the general rule that a State may for most purposes wholly exclude foreign corporations from its borders.' It was for a time contended that these corporations were entitled to the protection of the provisions of the Constitution guaran- teeing to citizens of each State the privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States. But the court has decided that foreign corpora- tions do not come within the meaning of this provision.^ If, therefore, the laws of a particular locality forbid a foreign corporation from enjoying the privilegesof thecitizens living there except upon prescribed conditions, these laws are constitutional and will be upheld.' It may be concluded, therefore, that foreign corporations under the above statute cannot locate ' For further consideration of the to Demarest v. Flack, 5 Am. Railroad terms of the penalty, s&ej>ost, pp. no, and Corporation Rep. 264 (1891). See III. as to the standing of a foreign corpora- ^ See Stimson's AmericaJl Statute tion in England, Haggin v. Comploir Law, vol. 2, § 8400 et seq. D'Escompte de Paris, 23 Q. B. Div. ^ Norfolk, etc. Railroad v. Pennsyl- 519. vania, 136 U. S. 114 (i8go), following: ''See note 3, supra; Morawetz on Pembina Mining Co. v, Pennsylvania, Corporations, §972. 125 U. S. 181; Philadelphia Fire Asso- 'Horn Silver Mining Co. v. New elation v. New York, ng U. S. no. York, 143 U. S. 305. See post, n. 2, See note to Talbot z/. Fidelity and Casu- p. 108. See 153 U. S. 436. alty Co., 13 L.R. A. 584(1891), and note *See6Misc. 391. § i5j GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. I07 in this State and manufacture and sell goods here, or mine and sell ores or engage in any business of a local character without complying with the terms of the statute, and that if they do any of these things, they bring themselves within the penalty imposed by the statute. The ques- tion arises, however, to what extent does the commerce clause of the Constitution of the United States prevent the universal application of the rule, that a State may exclude a foreign corporation from its borders ? Effect of the commerce clause upon this power. — The commerce clause of the Constitution of the United States is in these words : " The Con- gress shall have power .... to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the several States and with the Indian tribes." The extent and value of this general grant of power are becoming more and more apparent, and, with the far-reaching results that follow decisions in re- gard to it, and the exceedingly broad terms in which the power is granted, it is not surprising that great interest as well as great uncertainty exist as to its meaning.' One very important question which arises in refer- ence to this power, and one which concerns the particular point under discussion, is. How far does its existence prevent State legislation upon a subject in regard to which Congress has taken no action .' The rule now in force upon this question is, that, " where the subject is national in its character, and admits and requires uniformity of regulation affect- ing all the States," Congress can alone provide the regulations.^ And if local laws are enacted which do regulate such matters, they will be un- constitutional. Under this rule foreign corporations have made the claim that no State can adopt regulations which affect acts of interstate commerce by foreign corporations, and that statutes similar to the recent law of this State above given are unconstitutional and void. And it is contended that every sale of goods made by a foreign corporation in one State, where the goods are shipped therefrom and are delivered to a pur- chaser residing in another State is commerce between the States. United States Supreme Court decisions. — The decisions of the United States Supreme Court are of final importance upon this question, and the recent expressions of opinion in that court may be looked to for guid- ance, although the question, whether a State may prohibit a foreign trad- ing corporation from performing acts of interstate commerce within its borders, has not been squarely presented to the court. In one case,' how- ever, two of the justices of the court expressed the opinion that a foreign corporation of this character, while performing acts of commerce wilhm a State was engaged in interstate commerce and could not be controlled ' See Hartshorneon "The Railroads 'See opinions of Judges Blatchford and the Commerce Clause" (1S93). and Matthews in Cooper Manufactur. ^ See Leisy v, Hardin, 135 U. S. ing Co. ». Ferguson, 113 U. S. 727. 100. io8 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§i5 by local laws. The prevailing opinion in this case, however, was based upon other grounds.' And recent decisions of the court have empha- sized the distinction between the power of a State to regulate the business of a foreign trading corporation, and its power to regulate the business of an individual or of a corporation engaged in a natioqal business. In a late case on this subject, the power of a State to tax a foreign corporation upon its entire capital for the privilege of maintaining an office and doing business in the State has been upheld,'^ while at the same time the right of an individual to do business in other States was not inter- fered with,' and it is unconstitutional to lay a tax upon the entire capital stock of an interstate railroad corporation for the privilege of doing business in a State,'' although by a recent decision, a franchise tax may be imposed for the privilege of doing corporate business in a State, pro- vided that it is based upon the business done therein.' The rule of the court as given in these cases is that foreign corporations may be wholly excluded from a State unless they fall within the two excep- tions thus far recognized. These are, (i) where the corporation is engaged in an interstate commerce business, and (2) where it is in the employ of the general government.' Both of these exceptions. ' See 113 U. S. 727. " In Horn Silver Mining Company v. New York State, 143 U. S. 305, Mr. Justice Field said: "Having the abso- lute power of excluding the foreign cor- poration the State may, of course, impose such conditions upon permitting the corporation to do business within its limits as it may judge expedient ; and it may make the grant or privilege dependent upon the payment of a spe- cific hcense tax, or a sum proportioned to the amount of its capital. No indi- vidual member of the corporation, or the corporation itself, can call in ques tion the validity of any exaction which the State may require for the grant of its privileges. It does not lie in any foreign corporation to complain that it is subjected to the same law with the domestic corporation The extent of the tax is a matter purely of State regulation, and any interference with it is beyond the jurisdiction of this court. The objection that it oper- ates as a direct interference with inter- state commerce we do not think ten- able. The tax is not levied upon ar- * See 14 Sup. Ct. Rep. 1094 and 154 U. S. 224 ; 26 Atl. Rep. 711 ; tides imported, nor is there any im- pediment to their importation. The products of the mine can be brought into the State and sold there without taxation, and they can be exhibited there for sale in any office or building obtained for that purpose ; the tax is levied only upon the franchise or busi- ness of the company." *McCall V. California, 136 U. S. 104; Stoutenburgh v, Hennick, 129 U. S. 141 ; Leisy v. Hardin, 135 U. S. 100 ; Asher v. Texas, 128 U. S. 129; Leloup V. Port of Mobile, 127 U. S. 640 ; Robins v. Shelby Taxing District, 120 U. S. 489. ■* Norfolk, etc. Railroads'. Pennsyl- vania, 136 U. S. 114. See Gloucester Ferry Co. u. Pennsylvania, 114 U. S. 196 ; Pensacola Tel. Co. v. Western Union Tel. Co., 96 U. S. i ; Paul v. Virginia, 8 Wall. 168. = Maine v. The Grand Trunk R'y Co., 142 U. S. 217 (1891). ' See Horn Silver Mining Co. v. New York, 143 U. S. 305 ; Sherlock V. Ailing, 93 U. S. 99. In Pembina Mining Co. v. Pennsylvania, 125 U. y^i. Kep. 1094 ana 11 22 26 Atl. Rep. 711 ; 55 N. ; 141 U. S. 18, 40, 141 ; 142 U. S. 339 ; W. 931. §15] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. 109 it will be seen, relate to corporations that are carrying on business of a national character. And it would seem that the exceptions to the rule are recognized, because it is essential that they should be for the preser- vation of national rights, belonging to all citizens, and not because for- eign corporations as such are engaged in work of this character. That the exceptions are clearly established and that there is no tendency to extend them so as to include trading corporations, seem to be well recognized by a recent case.' It may also be said, that so far as the power of foreign trading corporations to carry on business in the several States is con- cerned, there is little ground for claiming that the subject " admits and requires uniformity of legislation," and that if it does not, the regulations adopted by the States should be upheld at all events until Congress adopts a law covering the subject. It certainly seems a forced view to hold that the power to regulate commerce is sufficient to confer upon all trading corporations of the country the right to engage in commerce in States from which they are excluded by statute. Decisions in State courts. — In this State the exact question under dis- cussion has not been decided, but the Court of Appeals has restated the law as laid down by the United States Supreme Court, and is not likely to extend the exceptions to the general rule allowing the State to regu- S. 181, it is said: "The only limita- tion upon this power of the State to exclude a foreign corporation from do- ing business within its limits, or hiring offices for that purpose, or to exact conditions for allowing the corporation to do business or hire offices there, arises where the corporation is in the employ of the Federal government, or where its business is strictly commerce, inter- state or foreign. The control of such commerce being in the Federal gov- ernment, is not to be restricted by State authority." ' Crutcher v. Kentucky, 141 U. S. 47 (1891), where it was Jield that a law of the State of Kentucky requiring every agent of a foreign express com- pany to obtain a license from the State after satisfying the State auditor that the company represented by him was pos- sessed of a specified capital, and making him subject to a fine if he engaged in the business without such license, was a regulation of interstate commerce and was repugnant to the Constitution of the United States. But the court by Mr. Justice Bradley said : " The case is entirely different from that of foreign corporations seeking to do a business which does not belong to the regulating power of Congress. The insurance business, for example, cannot be car- ried on in a State by a foreign cor- poration without complying with all the conditions imposed by the legislation of that State. So with regard to manu- facturing corporations and all other corporations whose business is of a local and domestic nature, which would include express companies whose busi- ness is confined to points and places wholly within the State. The cases to this effect are numerous: Bank of Augusta V. Earle, 13 Pet. 519 ; Paul V. Virginia, 8 Wall. i68; Liverpool In- surance Company v. Massachusetts, lo Wall. 566; Cooper Manufacturing Com- pany V. Ferguson, 113 U. S. 727; Phila. Fire Association v. New York, iig U. S. no." no GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§ 1 5 late the business done within its borders by foreign corporations.' In Alabama the Supreme Court has recently held that statutes of the State in reference to the sale of fertilizers must be complied with by non-resi- dents, even though shipments are made from other States.'' In Arkansas the Supreme Court has decided recently, but with its qhief-justice and one of the associate justice, dissenting, that a trading corporation of another State performing an act of commerce in that State is exempt from the statutory provisions against foreign corporations.^ There has not yet been any authoritative decision of the question, however, and the courts of the States are free to adopt the rule which is most in accord with the suggestions of the United States courts and with general con- siderations of right which assuredly uphold the power of every State to protect itself from encroachments by artificial bodies created by other States. And even if the charter of a corporation declares that it is to en- gage in interstate commerce, if it is an ordinary business corporation and not a railroad or a transportation corporation, there would seem to be no reason why it should not be subject to State laws. It is not the doing of some particular act of commerce that gives an interstate char- acter to the business of a corporation, but it is the general nature of that business. In the case of Horn Silver Mining Co. v. New York,* the fact that acts of interstate commerce were performed was substantially conceded by the court in its opinion, but that fact did not alter the decision, be- cause the corporation itself was not within the exceptions to the rule that foreign corporations may be excluded from a State. The penalty of the New York statute. — It is to be noticed that the statute of this State does not impair the obligation of existing contracts. It relates only to the future and its effect is to prescribe a method by which foreign corporations may acquire statute rights in this State and not be dependent upon the law of comity. It specifies how such corpo- ration may make enforceable contracts here, and how they may bring themselves under the protection of the laws of the State. Aside, there- fore, from the considerations already presented and which bear upon the ' People ex rel. Southern Cotton rior v. New England Mortgage Co., Oil Co. V. Wemple, 131 N. Y.«64, see 88 Ala. 275 (i88g). pp. 70, 71. See also People v. For- ' Gunn v. White Sewing Machine mosa, 131 N. Y. 478 ; Vanderpoel v. Co., 20 S. W. Rep. 591 (Dec, 1892). Gorman (N. Y. Com. Pleas Gen. See also to the same effect Bateman Term), N. Y. L. J., Mch. 24, 1893, v. Western Star Milling Co., 20 S. W. opinion of Pry or, J. 931 (Texas Court of Civ. App., Oct., ' Merriman v. Knox (Ala.), 11 So. 1890) ; N. Y. L. J. Feb. 10, 1893 ; see Rep. 741. See Harg v. Hamilton Empire Mills v. Alston Grocery Brown Shoe Co., 9 So. Rep. 136 ; Far- (Texas), 12 L. R. A. 366. * Ante, p. 108. §15] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. Ill general question of he right of a State to exclude foreign corporations, it may be urged in reference to the statute of this State, that it is not an interference with interstate commerce,' but that it provides a method for the proper carrying on of such commerce by foreign corporations. And it is only when an action is brought upon a contract made in this State in defiance of the laws of the State which existed at the time the contract was made, and when the foreign corporation still continues to defy these laws, that the penalty of the statute is incurred and that the courts will refuse their assistance in the enforcement of the contract. For it seems probable that an action upon a contract may be maintained as soon as the certificate called for by the statute is filed, and whether it is filed before or after the making of the contract.' The object of the statute is to secure the filing of the certificates, and when this is accomplished there does not seem to be any penalty at- tached to prior neglect. The language of the statute favors this view, and as the intent of the legislature as expressed in the statute is con- trolling, the fact that a particular penalty has been expressed, will be taken as evidence that no other punishment was to be inflicted, at least so far as the contracts of the foreign corporation are concerned.* To what corporations the statute applies. — The intent of the statute seems to be that all foreign corporations wishing to do any business in this State shall comply with its terms. To construe this statute, which is enacted in part for the purpose of obliging foreign corporations to establish an office in this State, as applicable only to corporations that have already established ancillary places of business here, appears to me to be unnatural. ■• And in arriving at the meaning of the phrase "doing business," ' not only the intent of the statute must be given effect, ' See Smith v. Alabama, 124 U. S. pie v. Buffalo S. & C. Co., 131 N. Y. 465. In Paul V. Virginia, 8 Wall, 168, 140 ; Toledo Tie & Lumber Co. v. it was said that a State " may exclude Thomas (W. Va), 2 Am. R. R. & £t foreign corporation entirely ; they Corp. R. 251 ; Dearborn Foundry Co. may restrict its business to particular v Augustine, 31 Pac. Rep. 327 ; see localities; or they may exact such se- also C. B. Rogers & Co. v. Simmons, curity for thg performance of its con- 2g N. E. Rep. 580. tracts with their citizens as in their * See editorial on " Recent Legisla- judgraent will best promote the public tion concerning Foreign Corpora- interests. The whole matter rests in tions," N. Y. L. J. Jan. 23, 1893, and their discretion." correspondence on " Foreign Corpora- ° See American Ins. Co. v. Wellman, tion ' Doing Business ' within the 6g Ind. 413 ; Cin. Mutual, etc. Co. v. State," N. Y. L. J. Jan. 25, 1893. Rosenthal, 55 111. 85; 131 N. Y. 478; People v. American Bell Tel. Co., 117 47 Ohio St. 167; 145 Pa. 30. But see N. Y. 241. Neuchatel Asphalt Co. v. The Mayor, * Cooper Mfg. Co. v. Ferguson, 113 N.Y. L.J. July 23, 1894; 10 Misc. 553. U. S. 727; Colorado Iron Works v. * Pratt V. Short, 79 N. Y. 437; Peo- Sierra Grande Min. Co., 15 Col. 499, 112 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§ ^^ but the sweeping character of its penalty must also be considered. This pen- alty extends to every contract. It applies to one transaction with as much force as it does to a hundred. And it reaches the case of a corporation that has no particular locality for transacting its corporate business here, as well as the case of one that has such a place of business but js unwilling to com- ply with the terms of the statute. No foreign corporation, therefore, can rely upon enforcing any contract made by it in the courts of this State unless it obeys the statute.' And it is advisable for all corporations formed under the laws of other sovereignties to protect themselves here by compliance with the laws of this State. The secretary of state will grant a certificate enabling a foreign corporation to carry on a branch of its business in this State.' § i6. Proof to be filed before granting certificate — Before granting such certificate the secretary of state shall require every such foreign corporation to file in his office a sworn copy in the English language of its charter or certificate of incorporation, and a statement under its corporate seal, particularly setting forth the business or objects of the corporation which it is engaged in carrying on, or which it proposes to carry on, within the state, and a place within the state which is to be its principal place of business, and designating, in the manner prescribed in the 22 Am. St. 433 ; Commonwealth v. McAdam, J. (N. Y. Super. Ct. Eq.), American Bell Tel. Co., i8 Atl. Rep. N. Y. L. J. Oct. 6, 1892. As to at- 122 ; Kilgore v. Smith, 122 Pa. 48 ; tachments against a foreign corpora- Gilchrist v. Helena, etc. R. Co., 47 tion for conversion of its own stock, Fed. Rep. 593 ; Fritts v. Palmer, 132 see Condouris v. Imperial Turkish, U. S. 282 ; St. Louis, etc. R. Co. v. etc. Co. (C. P. G. T.), N. Y. L. J. Phila. Fire Asso., 55 Ark. 163 ; Beard Mch. 29, 1893. Attachment is matter V. Union & Am. Pub. Co., 71 Ala. 60. of right, see Sanders v. Wilmington ' See Hoffman House z/. Read, N.Y.L. Cotton Mills (Sup. Ct., Andrews, J.), J., Dec. 12, 1893; Bouker Contracting N. Y. L. J. Feb. 15, 1893 ; Code of Co. V. Del Genovese, N. Y. L. J., June Civ. Pro. g 636. As to the legality of 12, 1893; Colts Patent Fire Arms Mfg. a general assignment of property in Co. V. Plumb, N.Y. L. J., Feb. 19, 1895; this State by a foreign corporation, see Thomas-Houston Carbon (Jo. v. Kelly, Vanderpoel v. Gorman, 140 N.Y. 563, N. N. Y. L. J., May 21, 1895; C. & C. Elec- Y. L. J. Mch. 24, 1893. (See ante, p. 74, trie Co. J). West, N.Y. L. J., Dec 5,1894. n. 2). For other proceedings against " In re Application of the Wells Fargo foreign corporations, see People v. Express Co., approved by the Attor- American Loan & T. Co., 43 St. Rep. ney-General Dec. 27, 1892. As to how 332 ; Haar v. Consolidated Carson far the courts of one State will inter- River Dredging Co., 43 St. Rep. i ; fere in the affairs of corporations Burgoyne v. Eastern, etc. R. Co., 13 formed under the laws of other States, N. Y. Supp. 537; National Tube Works see Kimball v. St. Louis, etc. R. Co. Co. -u. Ballou, 146 U. S. 517; and see (Mass ), 31 N. E. Rep. 697 ; Memo, of post. Appendix. §i6] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. 113 Code of Civil Procedure/ a person upon whom process against the corporation may be served within the state. The person so designated must have an office or place of business at the place where such corporation is to have its principal place of business within the state. Such designation shall continue in force until revoked by an instrument in writing designating in Hke manner some other person upon whom process against the corporation may be served in this state. If the person so designated dies, or removes from the place where the corporation has its principal place of business within the state, and the corporation does not within thirty days after such death or removal, designate in like manner another person upon whom process ' The Code of Civil Procedure pro- vides as follows (§ 432) : Personal service of the summons, upon a defendant, being a foreign cor- poration, must be made by delivering a copy thereof, within the State, as follows : 1. To the president, treasurer, or secretary; or, if the corporation lacks either of those officers, to the officer performing corresponding functions under another name. 2. To a. person designated for the purpose by a writing under the seal of the corporation, and the signature of its president, vice-president, or other acting head, accompanied with the written consent of the person desig- nated, and filed in the oflSce of the secretary of state. The designation must specify a place, within the State, as the office or residence of the person designated ; and, if it is within a city, the street and street number, if any, or other suitable designation of the par- ticular locality. It remains in force until the filing in the same office of a written revocation thereof, or of the ^ 8 consent, executed in like manner ; but the person designated may, from time to time, change the place specified as his bflSce or residence to some other place within the State by a writing ex- ecuted by him, and filed in like manner. The secretary of state may require the execution of any instrument specified in this section to be authenticated as he deems proper, and he may refuse to file it without such an authentication. An exemplified copy of a designation so filed, accompanied with a certificate that it has not been revoked, is pre- sumptive evidence of the execution thereof, and conclusive evidence of the authority of the officer executing it. 3. If such a designation is not in force, or if neither the person desig- nated nor an officer specified in sub- division first of this section can be found with due diligence, and the cor- poration has property within the State, or the cause of action arose therein, to the cashier, a director, or a managing agent of the corporation within the State. 114 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§ ^ 7 against it may be served within the state, the secretary of state may revoke the authority of the corporation to do business within the state, and process against the cor- poration in an action upon any liabilit/ incurred within this state before such revocation may, after such death or removal and before another designation is made, be served upon the secretary of state. At the time of such service the plaintiff shall pay to the secretary of state two dollars, to be included in his taxable costs and disburse- ments, and the secretary of state shall forthwith mail a copy of such not'ce to such corporation, if its address or the address of any officer thereof is known to him. {For form of certificate, see post. Forms, XXU.) § 17. Acquisition of real property in this state by certain foreign corporations. — Any foreign corporation created under the laws of the United States, or of any state or territory thereof, and doing business in this state, may acquire such real property in this state as may be neces- sary for its corporate purposes in the transaction of its business in this state, and convey the same by deed or -otherwise in the same manner as a domestic corporation. See L. 1887, c. 450, § i ; L. 1890, c. 563, § 12. Corporations of other States may acquire real property here. — The above section confers upon corporations created by the laws of any State or Territory of the United States, the right to hold real estate in New York to the extent that this may be necessary for its corporate purposes in the transaction of its business in this State.' It also gives them the right to cofivey real estate in the same manner as domestic corporations. Whether a corporation holds more real property than it is allowed to hold by law, is a question that can be raised only in a direct proceeding by the State against the corporation.^ So long as the ' See Chautauqua County Bank v. parte Perue Iron Co., 7 Cow. 540 ; see Risley, ig N. Y. 369 ; Moss v. Averill, also Fritts v. Palmer, 132 U. S. 282. 10 N. Y. 449; Farmers' Loan and * See American Mortgage Co. k. Ten- Trust Co. V. Curtis, 7 N. Y. 369 ; Ex nille (Ga.), I2 L. R. A. 529 (1891) ; §§ l8, 19] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. II5 question is not raised, the corporation may dispose of its real property as any other owner might do. Corporations formed under the laws of foreign countries are not authorized to acquire real estate here, except in the manner provided by the next following section.' § 18. Acquisition by foreign corporation of real property in this state. — Any foreign corporation may purchase at a sale upon the foreclosure of any mortgage held by it, or, upon any judgment or decree for debts due it, or, upon any settlement to secure such debts, any real property within this state covered by or subject to such mortgage, judgment, decree or settlement, and may take by devise any real property situated within this state and hold the same for not exceeding five years from the date of such purchase, or from the time when the right to the posses- sion thereof vests in such devisee, and convey it by deed or otherwise in the same manner as a domestic corporation. See L. 1877, c. 158, § i ; L. i8go, c. 563, § 13 ; L. 1894, c. 136. All foreign corporatious may purchase on foreclosure sale of mort- gages owned by them. — The purpose of this section is to enable foreign corporations to obtain the benefit of land which is pledged to them as security for debt. The privileges of the section extend to alien cor- porations as well as to corporations of other States and territories.^ § 19. Prohibition of banking powers. — No corporation except a corporation formed under or subject to the banking laws, shall by any implication or construction be deemed to possess the power of carrying on the busi- ness of discounting bills, notes or other evidences of debt, of receiving deposits, of buying gold or silver bullion or foreign coins, or buying and selling bills of exchange, or Barnes v. Suddard, 117 III. 237 ; note Power of Foreign Corporations to to Commonwealth v. New York, Lake hold real estate, 35 Cent. L. J. 166 Erie, etc. R. Co. (132 Pa. 591) in 2 (1892). See 140 N. Y. 576. Am. R. R. and Corp. Rep. at p. 27, " As to the effect of holding property and 4 Am. R. R. & Corp. R. 683. longer than the time specified in this ' See ante, n. i, p. 114, and article on section, see ante, n. 2, p. 114. Il6 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§ 20 shall issue bills, notes or other evidences of debt for cir- culation as money/ See R. S., Part L, ch. i8, title 3, § 4, 8th Ed., p. 1723 5 Birdseye's Ed., p. 673 ; L. 1890, c. 563, § 14. § 20. Qualification of members as voters. — At every election of directors and meeting of the members of any corporation, every member who is not in default in the payment of his subscriptions upon his stock or disquali- fied by the by-laws, shall be entitled to one vote, if a non- stock corporation, and, if a stock corporation, to one vote for every share of stock held by him for ten days imme- diately preceding the election or meeting. Every pledgor of stock standing in his name on the books of the corporation shall be deemed the owner thereof for the purposes of this section. The certificate of incorporation of any stock corpora- tion may provide that at all elections of directors of such corporation, each stockholder shall be entitled to as many votes as shall equal the number of his shares of stock multiplied by the number of directors to be elected, and that he may cast all of such votes for a single director or may distribute them among the number to be voted for, or any two or more of them as he may see fit, which right, when exercised, shall be termed ^cumulative v oting. The stockholders of a corporation heretofore formed, who, by the provisions of laws existing on April 30, 1 891, were entitled to the exercise of such right, may hereafter ex- ercise such right (Recording to the provisions of this sec- tion. No person shall vote or issue a proxy to vote at any meeting of the stockholders or bondholders, or both, of ' See Rome Savings Bank v. King, v. Eaton, 79 N. Y. 449 ; Pratt v. Short, 102 N. Y. 331 ; New York State L. & 79 N. Y. 437. T. Co. V. Helmer, 77 N. Y. 64 ; Pratt § 20] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. II7 a Stock corporation, upon any stock or bonds which have not been owned by him for at least ten days next preced- ing such meeting, notwithstanding such stock or bonds may stand in his name on the books of the corporation. No member of a corporation shall sell his vote or issue a proxy to vote to any person for any sum of money or anything of value. The books and papers containing the record of mem- bership of the corporation shall be produced at any meet- ing of its members upon the request of any member. If the right to vote at any such meeting shall be challenged, the inspectors of election, or other persons presiding thereat, shall require such books, if they can be had, to be produced as evidence of the right of the person chal- lenged to vote at such meeting, and all persons who may appear from such books to be members of the corpora- tion may vote at such meeting in person or by proxy, subject to the provisions of this chapter. See L. 1853, c. 135, §8; L. 18S0, c. 510, %2; L. 1890, c. 564, §54. Method of voting at election of directors. — The ordinary rule of voting under the present law is that each stockholder has one vote for every share of stock held by him for ten days ' immediately before the election. The certificate of incorporation may provide that each stockholder may exercise the right of cumulative voting; that is, may cast as many votes as he has shares of stock multiplied by the number of directors to be elected, for one director, or may distribute his total number of votes among the directors to be voted for as he desires. This, however, is a right which corporations do not possess unless they reserve it in their certificates of incorporation, or acquire it by filing a supplemental certifi- cate. The above section confers the right to vote in this way upon all corporations formed under the Limited Liability Act of 1875 and existing on April 30, 1891.'' The section also makes noticeable provisions in re- ' It may be questioned whether it either large or small corporations, would not be better to allow corpora- The law of 1848 did not fix a time tions to specify in their by-laws how limit, see L. 1848, c. 40, §3; nor did long stock must be held before the the law of 1875, see L. 1875, c. 6ii, meeting. The adoption of an arbitrary § 26. rule cannot but work inconvenience to ^ See L. 1875, c. 611, §26. Il8 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§ 21 gard to pledgors of stock,' the issuing of proxies, and the authority of the books and papers containing the records of the members of the cor- poration. § 21. Proxies. — Every member of a corjjoration, except a religious corporation, entitled to vote at any meeting thereof may so vote by proxy. No officer, clerk, teller or bookkeeper of a corporation formed under or subject to the banking law shall act as proxy for any stockholder at any meeting of any such corporation. Every proxy must be executed in writing by the mem- ber himself, or by his duly authorized attorney. No proxy hereafter made shall be valid after the expiration of eleven months from the date of its execution unless the member executing it shall have specified therein the length of time it is to continue in force, which shall be for some limited period. Every proxy shall be revokable at the pleasure of the person executing it ; but a corpora- tion having no capital stock may prescribe in its by-laws the persons who may act as proxies for members, and the length of time for which proxies may be executed. See L. 1890, c. 563, § 54. Power to give proxies. — Stockholders in business corporations are au- thorized to execute proxies entitling the holders to vote at the meetings of the corporation. Every proxy must be in writing and must be exe- cuted by the stockholder or by his duly authorized attorney. Every proxy is revocable at the pleasure of the person executing it, and it must be used within eleven months from its date, unless it contains a provision that it shall remain in force for a longer period than this. There is no provision of law requiting a proxy to be sealed or witnessed, but it is customary to attach a seal and to execute it before a witness, and the by- laws of the corporation may require such execution.'-' A proxy coupled ' Vail V. Hamilton, 85 N. Y. 453, 20 reference to executors, see White v. Hun 355 ; Ex parte Barker, 6 Wend. Price, 39 Hun 394. 509 ; Ex parte Desdoity, i Wend. 99. " See as to proxies: Matter of Light- As to "pooling contracts," see Wil- hall Mfg. Co., 47 Hun 258; Marie z;. liams v. Montgomery (G. T. S. C), Garrison, 13 Abb. N. C. 235. N. Y. L. J. May 4, 1893. And in § 22] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. II9 with an interest cannot be given under this law.' The refusal to accept proxies with the date of the meeting not filled in is a ground for setting aside the election in case this refusal has affected the result." (For form, see post. Forms, XXIII.) § 22. Challenges. — Every member of a corporation offering to vote at any election or meeting of the corpo- ration shall, if required by an inspector of election or other officer presiding at such election or meeting, or by any other member present, take and subscribe the follow- ing oath : " I do solemnly swear that in voting at this election I have not, either directly, indirectly or impli- edly, received any promise or any sum of money, or any- thing of value to influence the giving of my vote or votes at this meeting or as a consideration therefor." If it is a stock corporation, the oath so taken and sub- scribed shall contain the following additional provision : " That I have not sold or otherwise disposed of my in- terest in or title to any shares of stock or bonds in re- spect to which I offer to vote at this election, but that all such shares or bonds are still ovirned by me," but if such stock or bonds be pledged, the oath may so state. Any person offering to vote as proxy for any other person shall present his proxy and, if so required, take and subscribe the following oath : " I do solemnly swear that I have not, either directly, indirectly or impliedly, given any promise or any sum of money or anything of value to induce the givmg of a proxy to me to vote at this election, -or received any promise or any sum of money or anything of value to influence the giving of my vote at this meeting, or as a consideration therefor." If a stock corporation, the oath so taken and sub- scribed shall contain the following additional provision : 905, 46 St. Rep. 135; Matter of White, 45 Hun 580. See Langan v. Franck- lyn, 20 N. Y. Supp. 404. ^ Re Germicide Co., 48 St. Rep. 294- ^ Re Townshend, 18 N. Y. Supp. I20 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§ 23 " And that the title to the stocks and bonds upon which I now offer to vote is, to the best of my knowl- edge and belief, truly and in good faith vested in the persons in whose names they now stand," but if such stocks or bonds be held as security, the oath may so state. The inspectors or persons presiding at the election may administer such oath, and all such oaths and proxies shall be filed in the office of the corporation. See L. i8go, c. 564, § 54 ; L. 1895, c. 672. Oaths required from persons voting. — Every stockholder is required to take the above oath, provided the inspectors of election or other officers, or members of the corporation so desire, to the effect that he has received no consideration for his vote, and that he is the owner of the stock or bonds upon which he desires to vote. And every person voting by proxy, if required so to do, must swear that he has received no consideration to influence his vote, and that the title to the stocks or bonds upon which he votes is vested in the persons who have given the proxy. The oaths may be administered by the inspectors or persons presiding at the election. And all oaths and proxies must be filed m the office of the corporation. § 23. Effect of failure to elect directors. — If the direct- ors shall not be elected on the day designated in the by- laws, or by-law, the corporation shall not for that reason be dissolved ; but every director shall continue to hold his office and discharge his duties until his successor has been elected. See L. 1796, c. 43, § 10; L. 1811, c. 67, § 4 ; L. 1848, c. 37, § 4 ; L. iS^S, c. 40, § 4 ; L. 1848, c. 3ig, § 4 ; L. 1853, c. 117, § 4 ; L. 1853, c. 135, § 5 ; L. 1854, c. 232, §§ 4. 5 ; L. 1857, c. 546, § 4; L. 1872, c. 820, § 12; L. 1873, c. 397, S 4 ; L. 1874, c. 143, §4 ; L. 1875, c. 267, § 5; L. 1875, u. 611, § 27; L. 1886, c. 236, § 6; I.. 1887, c. 317, § 6; L. 1887, c. 501, § 3; L. 1888, c. 293, § 4; L. 1890, c. 563, § 18. Corporation not dissobved by failure to elect directors. — The failure to elect directors at the regular date does not dissolve the corporation, but the election may be had at a subsequent day. The directors hold over until their successors are elected. The next following section pro- vides for the calling of special meetings to elect directors. The lawful acts of the directors holding over are binding on the corporation.' ' See People v. Twaddell, 18 Hun 427; Matter of Vandenburgh v. B'way R. Co., 29 Hun 348. See 121 N. Y. 224. §§ 24, 25] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. 121 § 24. Mode of calling special election of directors. — If the election has not been held on the day so designated, the directors shall forthwith call a meeting of the mem- bers of the corporation for the purpose of electing direct- ors, of which meeting notice shall be given in the same manner as of the annual meeting for the election of directors. / If such meeting shall not be so called within one month, or, if held, shall result in a failure to elect direct- ors, any member of the corporation may call a meeting for the purpose of electing directors by publishing a notice of the time and place of holding such meeting at least once in each week for two successive weeks imme- diately preceding the election, in a newspaper published in the county where the election is to be held and in such other manner as may be prescribed in the by-laws for the publication of notice of the annual meeting, and by serving upon each member, either personally or by mail, directed to him at his last known post-office address, a copy of such notice at least two weeks before the meet- ing. See R. S., Part T., ch. 18, title 4, §8, 8th Ed., p. 1730 ; Birdseye's Ed., p. 680 ; L. 18S5, c. 489, §§ 3> 4; L. 1890, c. 564, §§ 53, 54. Special meeting to elect directors. — This section takes the place of the former law of the State providing for an election of directors after sixty days ' from the time at which the election should have been held. (For form of notice, see post. Forms, XXIV.) § 25. Mode of conducting special elections of directors. — Such meeting shall be held at the office of the corpora- tion, or if it has none, at the place in this state where its principal business has been transacted, or if access to such office or place is denied or cannot be had, at some other place in the city, village or town where such office or place is or was located. ' See People ex rel. Miller v. Cummings, 72 N. Y. 433. 122 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§ 26 At such meeting the members attending shall consti- tute a quorum. They may elect inspectors of election and directors and adopt by-laws providing for future an- nual meetings and election of directors, if the corporation has no such by-laws, and transact any other business which may be transacted at an annual meeting of the members of the corporation. See L. i8go, c. 564, § 53. § 26. Qualification of voters and canvass of votes at special elections. — In the absence at such meeting of the books of the corporation showing who are members thereof, each person, before voting, shall present his sworn statement setting forth that he is a member of the corporation ; and if a stock corporation, the number of shares of stock owned by him and standing in his name on the books of the corporation, and, if known to him, the whole number of shares of stock of the corporation outstanding. On filing such statement, he may vote as a member of the corporation ; and if a stock corporation, he may vote on the shares of stock appearing in such statement to be owned by him and standing in his name on the books of the corporation. The inspectors shall return and file such statements, with a certificate of the result of the election, verified by them, in the office of the clerk of the county in which such election is held, and the persons so elected shall be the directors of the corporation. •feee L. 1890, c 564, § 53. Proceedings at special meeting to elect directors. — When a meeting is called pursuant to the provisions of the pteceding sections, the place of meeting may be designated to be the office of the corporation, or, if it has no office, the place where its principal business has been transacted ; or, if access to such office or place is denied, some other place in the locality where the office of the corporation is located, or where it trans- acts its business. Such stockholders as attend the meeting may elect § 27] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. 1 23 inspectors of election and directors, and adopt by-laws providing for future elections ; and they may transact such business as the corporation could transact at its annual meeting. Who may vote at this meeting in the absence of the corporate books is determined by the sworn state- ments of the stockholders claiming the right to vote. This statement must be filed with the inspectors, and the inspectors must in turn file them, together with a certificate of the result of the election, in the office of the county clerk in the county where the election is held. The im- portance of strict compliance with this requirement of the law is evident, as the election held in this way is dependent for its validity upon this • statute.' § 27. Powers of supreme court respecting elections. — The supreme court shall, upon the application of any person or corporation aggrieved by or complaining of any elec- tion of any corporation, or any proceeding, act or matter touching the same, upon notice thereof to the adverse party, or to those to be affected thereby, forthwith and in a summary way, hear the affidavits, proofs and allega- tions of the parties, or otherwise inquire into the matters or causes of complaint, and establish the election or order a new election, or make such order and give such relief as right and justice may require. See I R. S. 603, § 5, 8th Ed., p. 1723; Birdseye's Ed., p. 679 ; L. 1890, c. 563, §15. Summary application by persons aggrieved. — This section is derived from former statutes of the State, conferring upon the supreme court the power to hear and determine, in a summary manner, upon affidavit and proofs, questions arising in reference to elections of corporations.' The court has power to confirm the election, to order a new election, or to make such disposition of the matter as justice requires. And the court is not bound by the transfer book' in determining who are stockholders,' The application, however, must be made by a party aggrieved.^ 'See Matter of Van Vechten, 9 Schoharie Valley R. Co., 12 Abb. N. Week. Dig. 158. S. 394 ; People v. Albany Hospital, ■' See Matter of Newcomb (Sup. Ct.), 11 Abb. Pr. N, S. 4. 42 St. Rep. 442; People ex rel. Putzel v. ^ Strong v. Smith, 15 Hun 222, Simonson, 61 Hun 338; Matter of Svra ^ Matter of Application of Syracuse, cuse, etc. R. Co., 91 N. Y. i; Matter of etc. R. Co., 91 N. Y. i. Pioneer Paper Co., 36 How. iii ; A court of equity has no Inherent 124 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW, [§§ 28, 2g § 28. Stay of proceedings in actions collusively brought. — If an action is brougiit against a corporation by the procurement or default of its directors, or any of them, to enforce any claim or obligation declared void by law, or to which the corporation has a valid defense, and such action is in the interest or for the benefit of any director, and the corporation has by his connivance made default in such action, or consented to the validity of such claim or obligation, any member of the corporation may apply to the supreme court, upon affidavit, setting forth the facts, for a stay of proceedings in such action and on proof of the facts in such further manner and upon such notice as the court may direct, it may stay such proceed- ings or set aside and vacate the same, or grant such other relief as may seem proper, and which will not injuriously affect an innocent party, who, without notice of such wrongdoing and for a valuable consideration, has acquired rights under such proceedings. See L. T885, c. 489; L. 1890, c. 563, § 16. Stockholders may prevent defaults by directors. — The above section gives to stockholders the right to obtain a stay of proceedings in an action brought against the corporation by the procurement or default of its directors, provided the claim or obligation is declared void by law or the corporation has a valid defence to it. But such action must be in the interest of or for the benefit of some director, and the corporation must have made default by his connivance. In such a case the court has power to stay proceedmgs or to vacate them, or to grant other just relief which will not injure an innocent party.' § 29. Quorum of directors and powers of majority. — The affairs of every corporation shall be managed by its board of directors, at least two of whom shall be residents of this state. Unless otherwise provided by law a majority of power to try questions of disputed title Co., 125 N. Y. 263; Thomas v. Mus. to office, Ciancimino v. Man, 48 St. Pro. Union, 121 N. Y. 45; Berford v. Rep. 697. N. Y. Iron Mine, 56 N. Y. Super. 236 ; ' See Barr v. N. Y., L. E., etc. R. Pierce v. Maye, 36 St. Rep. 829. § so] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. I25 the board of directors of a corporation at a meeting duly assembled shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the board of directors. Sub- ject to the by-laws, if any, adopted by the members of a corporation, the directors may make necessary by-laws of the corporation. See R. S., Part I., ch. 18, title 3, § 6, 8th Ed., p. 1724; Birdseye's Ed., p. 673; L. 1890, c. 563, § 1 7. Qualifications and powers of directors. — At least two directors of every corporation must be residents of this State. Every director must be a stockholder.' The directors have the full management and control of the affairs of the corporation, subject to its charter and the general statutes of the State.'' A majority of the board of directors at a meeting duly assembled is necessary to constitute a quorum.^ The directors may adopt by-laws, but these are subject to the by-laws made by the stock- holders. § 30. Directors as trustees in case of dissolution. — Upon the dissolution of any corporation, its directors, unless other persons shall be appointed by the legislature, or by some court of competent jurisdiction, shall be the trus- tees of its creditors, stockholders or members, and shall have full power to settle its affairs, collect and pay out- standing debts, and divide among the persons entitled thereto the money and other property remaining after payment of debts and necessary expenses. Such trustees shall have authority to sue for and re- ' See ante, p. 5. And as to the di- 341 ; East N. Y. R. Co. v. Lighthall, rectors for the first year, see Davidson 6 Robt. 407 ; People w. Metropolitan V. Westchester Gas Light Co., 99 N. R. Co., 26 Hun 82 ; Phillips v. Wick- Y. 558 ; Welch «/. Importers', etc. Nat. ham, i P^ige 590 ; Conroz/. Port Henry Bank, 122 N. Y. 177. Iron Co., 12 Barb. 27 ; McCuUough v. ' See, ante, p. 34. and Barr zi. New Moss, 5 Den. 567. York, etc. R. Co., 125 N. Y. 263 ; Bev- ^ See Hoyt v. Thompson, 19 N. Y. eridge v. N. Y. El. R. Co., 112 N. Y. 207; Livingston v. Lynch, 4 Johns. I ; Dabney v. Stevens, 40 How. Pr. Ch. 596. 126 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§ 3 ^ cover the debts and property of the corporation, by their name as such trustees, and shall jointly and severally be personally liable to its creditors, stockholders or members, to the extent of its property and effects that shall come into their hands. See R. S., Part L, c. i8, title 3, § g, 8th Ed., p. 1724 ; Birdseye's Ed., p. 673 ; L. 1890, t. 563, §§ ig, 20. Dissolution by expiration of charter. — The above section provides that in case no other persons are appointed by competent authority to act as trustees of the corporation in case of dissolution, the directors themselves shall be such trustees. This is an important provision when the charter of a corporation expires and it is desired to close up the affairs of the corporation." Directors acting as such trustees are given authority to sue for and recover the debts and property of the corpora- tion, and they are made personally liable to its creditors and stockhold- ers for the honest management of all its property that shall come into their hands. Where the charter of a corporation expires no dissolution by the court is necessary.^ § 31. Forfeiture for non-user. — If any corporation, except a railroad, turnpike, plank-road or bridge corporation, shall not organize and commence the transaction of its business or undertake the discharge of its corporate duties within two years from the date of its incorpora- tion, its corporate powers shall cease. See R. S., Part L, c. 18, title 3, § 7, 8th Ed., p. 1724 ; Birdseye's Ed., p. 673 ; L. i8go, c. 563, § 21. Dissolution because of failure to discharge corporate duties. — Al- though a corporation may be duly incorporated, if it does not organize and commence the transaction of its business,, or to undertake the dis- charge of its corporate duties within two years from the date of its in- corporation, under the akove section its corporate powers cease. An ' See Central City Savings Bank v. 62 Hun 257 ; see Grafton v. Union Walker, 66 N. Y. 424 ; Fuller v. Rowe, Ferry Co. (City Ct. Bklyn), 46 St. Rep. 57 N. Y. 23 ; Heath v. Barmore, 60 54g, as to the effect of the expiration N. Y. 302 ; Tinkhara v. Borst, 31 of a charter upon an action for injuries Barb. 407 ; Owen v. Smith, 31 Barb, from negligence. 641 ; Lond. I. F. Co. v. Terbell, 48 N. ^ See Sturges v. Vanderbilt, 73 N. Y. Y. 427 ; Hepwortht/. Union Ferry Co., 384 ; People v. Walker, 17 N. Y. 503. §3^] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. 1 27 action by the attorney-general is necessary, however, to dissolve the corporation.! Voluntaxy dissolution. — The subject of voluntary dissolution by cor- porations is one of much importance, and some more convenient method of procedure should be adopted. It may be said generally, that when a majority of the directors of a corporation find that the property and assets of a corporation are not sufficient to meet its obligations, or to afford reasonable security to those who deal with it, or if for any reason they deem it beneficial to the interest of the stockholders that the cor- poration shall be dissolved, they may obtain dissolution by petitioning the court for a final order discontinuing the corporation.^ The subject is now covered by the following provisions of the Code of Civil Pro- cedure : * Petition by majority of directors,' etc. — If a majority of the directors, trustees, or other officers, having the management of the concerns of a corporation created by or under the laws of the State, discover that the stock, effects, and other property thereof are not sufficient to pay all just demands, for which it is liable, or to afford a reasonable security to those who may deal with it ; or if, for any reason, they deem it beneficial to the interest of the stockholders, that the corporation should be dissolved ; they may present a petition, to the supreme court, or to a superior city court of the city where the principal office of the corporation is located, praying for a final order dissolving the corporation, as prescribed in this title. Code Civ. Pro. § 2419- Proceedings if equally divided ; exception. — If a corpora- tion, created under a general statute of the State for the for- mation of corporations, has an even number of trustees or 1 See People v. Ulster & D. R. Co., Simonds Soap Co. (Sup. Ct), 41 St. 128 N. Y. 240 ; Matter of Brooklyn Rep. 355 ; Skinner v. Smith, 56 Hun Elevated R. Co., 125 N. Y. 434 ; Peo- 437 ; /» re David Jones Co., N. Y, pie V. Broadway R. Co. of B'klyn, 126 L. J., Oct. 14, 1892 ; Matter of Santa N. Y. 29; People z^. O'Brien, in N. E., etc. Co., 2i St. Rep. 89; Cham- Y. I ; Denike v. New York, etc. Co., berlain v. Rochester, etc. Co., 7 Hun 80 N. Y. 599 ; Moran v. Lydecker, 11 557 ; Matter of Westchester Iron Co., Abb. N. C. 298. 15 How. Pr. 7; Matter of The Mart, 22 ^ In re Home Provident, etc. Asso., Abb. N. C. 227 ; In re Dramatic Fund 129 N. Y. 288 ; In re Christian Jensen Asso., 5 Ry. & Corp. L. J. 295 ; Mat- Co., 128 N. Y. 550; Matter of Im- ter of Schuyler etc. Co., 136 N. Y. 169. porters' & Grocers' Exchange (Ct. ' See Birdseye's Revised Statutes, App.), 43 St. Rep. 625 ; Matter of vol. i, p. 692. *See L. 1895, c. 946, to take effect Jan. t, 1896. 128 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§ 3 1 directors, who are equally divided respecting the management of its affairs, and the entire stock of the corporation is, at that time, owned by the trustees, or directors, or is so divided, that one-half thereof is owned or controlled by persons favoring the course of one-half of the trustees or directors,' and one-half by persons favoring the course of the other half of them, the trus- tees or directors, or one or more of them, may present a petition as prescribed in the last section. And it shall be the duty of a majority of the directors or trustees of every corporation created by or under the laws of this state to present a petition as pre- scribed in the last section whenever directed so to do by a majority in interest of its stockholders. But this section does not apply to a savings bank, a trust company, a safe deposit company, or a corporation formed to rent safes in burglar and fire proof vaults, or for the construction or operation of a railroad, or for aiding in the construction thereof, or for carrying on the business of banking or insurance, or intended to derive a profit from the loan or use of money. §2420. (Am'd L. 1894, c. 304.) Contents of petition and schedule. — The petition must show that the case is one of those specified in the last two sec- tions, and must state the reasons which induce the petitioner or petitioners to desire the dissolution of the corporation. A schedule must be annexed to the petition, containing the fol- lowing matters, as far as the petitioner or petitioners know, or have the means of knowing the same. 1. A full and true account of all the creditors of the corpora- tion, and of all unsatisfied engagements entered into by, and subsisting against, the corporation. 2. A statement of the name and place of residence of each creditor, and of each person with whom such an engagement was made, and to whom it is to be performed, if known ; or, if either is not known, a statement of that fact. 3. A statement of the sum owing to each creditor, or other person specified in tHe last subdivision, and the nature of each debt, demand, or other engagement. 4. A statement of the true cause and consideration of the indebtedness to each creditor. 5. A full, just, and true inventory of all the property of the corporation, and of all the books, vouchers, and securities, relat- ing thereto. 6. A statement of each incumbrance upon the property of the corporation, by judgment, mortgage, pledge, or otherwise. § 3l] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. 1 29 7. A full, just, and true account of the capital stock of the corporation, specifying the name of each stockholder ; his resi- dence, if it is known, or if it is not known, stating that fact ; the number of shares belonging to him ; the amount paid in upon his share ; and the amount still due thereupon. §2421. Verification of same.— An aiifidavit, made by each of the pe- titioners, to the effect that the matters of fact, stated in the pe- tition and the schedule, are just and true, so far as the affiant knows or has the means of knowing the same, must be annexed to the petition and schedule. § 2422. * Where presented ; order to show cause ; temporary re- ceiver and injunction. — Where the petition is addressed to the supreme court, the papers must be presented at a term of that court, held within the judicial district, embracing the county wherein the principal office of the corporation is located. In a case specified in section two thousand four hundred and twenty of this act, the court may, in its discretion, entertain or dismiss the application. Where it entertains the application, or where the case is one of those specified in section two thousand four hundred and nineteen of this act, the court must make an or- der, requiring all persons interested in the corporation to show cause before it, or before a referee designated in the order, at a time and place therein specified, not less than three months after the granting of the order, why the corporation should not be dissolved. The order must be entered, and the papers must be filed, within ten days after the order is made, with the clerk of the court, or, in the supreme court, with the clerk of the county where the principal office of the corporation is located. If it shall be made to appear to the satisfaction of the court that the corporation is insolvent, the court may at any stage of the proceeding before final order, on motion of the petitioners on notice to the Attorney-General, or on motion of the Attor- ney-General on notice to the corporation, appoint a temporary receiver of the property of the corporation, which receiver shall have all the powers and be subject to all the duties that are de- fined as belonging to temporary receivers appointed in an ac- tion, in section one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight * See L. 1895, c. 946, to take effect Jan. i, 1896. 9 130 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§ 3 I of this act. The court may also in its discretion, at any stage in the proceeding after such appointment upon like motion and notice confer upon such temporary receiver the powers and au- thority, and subject him to the duties and liabilities of a per- manent receiver, or as much thereof as it thinfts proper, except that he shall not make any final distribution among the credit- ors and stockholders, before final order in the proceedings, un- less he is specially directed so to do by the court. If such re- ceiver be appointed, the court may in its discretion, on like mo- tion and notice, with or without security, at any stage of the proceeding before final order, grant an injunction, restraining the creditors of the corporation from bringing any action against the said corporation for the recovery of a sum of money, or from taking any further proceedings in such an action theretofore commenced. Such injunction shall have the same effect and be subject to the same provisions of law as if each creditor upon whom it be served was named therein. §2423, as am'd L. 1889, c. 314. Publication of order. — A copy of the order must be pub- lished, as prescribed therein, at least once in each of the three w^eeks immediately preceding the time fixed therein for show- ing cause, in the newspaper printed at Albany, in which legal notices are required to be published ; and also in one or more newspapers, specified in the order, published in the city or county wherein the order is entered. §2424. Service of same. — A copy of the order must also be served upon each of the persons, specified in the schedule as a creditor or stockholder of the corporation, or as a person to whom an engagement of the corporation is to be performed, other than a person whose residence is stated to be unknown, or to be without the United States. The service must be made, either personally, at least twenty days before the time appointed for the hearing ; or by depositing a copy of the order, at least forty days before the time so appointed, in the post-ofifice, inclosed in a post-paid wrapper, addressed to the person to be served, at his residence, as stated in the schedule. §2425. Hearing and decision. — At the time and place specified in the order, or at the time and place to which the hearing is ad- § 3'] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. 13 1 journed, the court, or the referee must hear the allegations and proofs of the parties, and determine the facts. If a referee was not designated in the order to show cause, the court may, in its discretion, appoint a referee when or after the order is re- turnable. The decision of the court, or the report of the ref- eree, must be in writing, and must be made and filed with all convenient speed. It must contain a statement of the effects, credits, and other property, and of the debts and other engage- ments, of the corporation, and of all other matters, pertaining to its affairs. § 2426. Hearing ; original papers may be used. — The court or the referee is entitled to use, upon the hearing, the original petition, and the schedules annexed thereto ; and the clerk must transmit them accordingly, upon the written order of the judge, or of the referee. In that case, they must be returned with the decision or report. The court may, at any stage of the proceedings before final order, on the application of the petitioners, or a majority of them, or on the application of the temporary receiver, grant an order amending the schedules annexed to the original petition, by the insertion of additional items, or by making the statements or in- ventory fuller and in greater detail than as originally filed, with the like effect as though said petition and schedules had been originally presented and filed as amended. § 2427. (As am'd L. 1894, c. 258.) Notice of motion for final order. — Where the hearing is before a referee a motion for a final order must be made to the court, upon notice to each person who has made himself a party to the proceedings, by filing with the clerk, before the close of the hearing, a notice of his appearance, in person or by attorney, specifying a post-office within the State, where such a notice may be served. The notice may be served as prescribed in this act, for the service of a paper upon an attorney in an action. Where the hearing was before the court, a motion for a final order may be made immediately, or at such a time and upon such a notice, as the court pre- scribes. § 2428. Final order. — Upon an application for a final order, if it appear to the court, in a case specified in section twenty-four hundred and nineteen of this act, that the corporation is insol- vent, or, in a case specified either in that section, or in section twenty-four hundred and twenty of this act, that, for any reason a dissolution of the corporation will be beneficial to the inter- ests of the stockholders, not injurious to the public interests, the court must make a final order, dissolving the corporation, and appointing one or more receivers of its property. Upon the entry of the order the corporation is dissolved. The court may, in its discretion, appoint a director, trustee, or other officer, or a stockholder of the corporation, a receiver of its property. 132 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§ 3 ^ In a proceeding for the voluntary dissolution of a corporation the court may, in the furtherance of justice, upon notice to the attorney-general, and the attorney-general not objecting, and upon such further notice to creditors or others interested as the court shall direct, which notice may be made by mail upon all persons and corporations not residing or existing within the State, relieve a receiver from any omission, defect or default, in any proceeding or act required by law to be taken or done, or in the giving of any notice required by law to be given, and the court may upon like notice, confirm any act of a receiver, and any decision, report, order or judgment made in such proceed- ing. — §2429, as am'd L. 1895, c. 175. Judgments, sales, etc., after filing petition, when void. — A sale, assignment, mortgage, conveyance, or other transfer, of any property of a corporation, made after the filing of a peti- tion as prescribed in this title, in payment of, or as security for, an existing or prior debt, or for any other consideration ; or a judgment thereafter rendered against the corporation by con- fession, or upon the acceptance of an offer, is absolutely void, as against the receiver appointed in the special proceeding, and as against the creditors of the corporation. § 2430. Certain corporations excepted.— This title does not apply to an incorporated library society, to a religious corporation, or to a select school or academy incorporated by the regents of the university, or by the legislature, or to a municipal or other political corporation. In the case of corporations affected by the provisions of this title and not having stockholders, it shall be sufficient for the purpose of this title to notify, name and refer to the " members " of such corporations instead of " stock- holders" as herein provided. § 2431, as am'd L. 1884, c. 406. (For form, see post, Forms, XXV.) Involuntary dissolution. — The causes which justify the involuntary dis- solution' of a corporation are specified in the following provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure : Action to dissolve a corporation.'— In either of the fol- lowing cases, an action to procure a judgment dissolving a corporation, creattd by or under the laws of the State, and ' Consult People v. Ballard, 134 N. Feb. 14, 1893 ; Pittsburg Carbon Co. v. Y. 269; Decker v. Gardner, 124 N, Y. McMillin, iig N. Y. 46 ; People v. Hy- 334; Thomas v. Musical Mu. Pro. drostatic Paper Co., 88 N. Y. 623; Union, 121 N. Y. 45 ; People v. Veeder v. Judson, gi N. Y. 374 ; Mat- O'Brien, III N. Y. i; Matter of Stone- ter of Woven Tape Skirt Co., 85 N. Y. bridge, 37 St. Rep. 617 ; People v. 506; Woodward v. Holland Medicine Equity Gas Light Co., 32 St. Rep. 1128; Co., 39 St. Rep. 411. People V. Reniington & Sons, 54 Hun ^ See Birdseye's Revised Statutes, 480 ; Glines v. Binghamton Trust Co. vol. i, p. 686 et seq. (Sup. Ct., Patterson, J.), N. Y. L. J., § 30 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. 1 33 forfeiting its corporate rights, privileges, and franchises, may be maintained, as prescribed in the next section : 1. Where the corporation has remained insolvent for at least one year. 2. Where it has neglected or refused, for at least one year, to pay and discharge its notes or other evidences of debt. 3. Where it has suspended its ordinary and lawful business for at least one year. 4. If it has banking powers, or power to make loans on pledges or deposits, or to make insurances, where it becomes insolvent or unable to pay its debts, or has violated any pro- vision of the act, by or under which it was incorporated, or of any other act binding upon it. Code of Civ. Pro. § 1785. By whom to be brought. — An action specified in the last section may be maintained by the attorney-general in the name and in behalf of the people. And whenever a creditor or stock- holder of any corporation submits to the attorney-general a written statement of facts, verified by oath, showing grounds for an action under the provisions of the last section, and the attorney-general omits, for sixty days after this submission, to commence an action specified in the last section, then and not otherwise, such creditor or stockholder may apply to the proper court for leave to commence such an action, and on obtaining leave may maintain the same accordingly. § 1786, am'd L. 1880, c. 301. Temporary injunction. — In an action, brought as prescribed in this article, the court may, upon proof of the facts author- izing the action to be maintained, grant an injunction order, restraining the corporation, and its trustees, directors, man- agers, and other officers from collecting or receiving any debt or demand, and from paying out, or in any way transferring or delivering, to any person, any money, property, or effects of the corporation, during the pendency of the action ; except by ex- press permission of the court. Where the action is brought to procure the dissolution of the corporation, the injunction may also restrain the corporation, and its trustees, directors, man- agers, and other officers, from exercising any of its corporate rights, privileges, or franchises, during the pendency of the 134 GENERAL CORPORATION LA.VV. [§ 3^ action ; except by express permission of the court. The pro- visions of title second of chapter seventh of this act, relating to the granting, vacating or modifying of an injunction order, apply to an injunction order, granted as prescribed in this section ; except that it can be granted only by the court. § 1787. Receiver ; powers, etc. — In such an action, the court may also, at any stage thereof, appoint one or more receivers of the property of the corporation. A receiver, so appointed, before final judgment, is a temporary receiver until final judgment is entered. A temporary receiver has power to collect and receive the debts, demands, and other property of the corporation ; to preserve the property, and the proceeds of the debts and demands collected ; to sell or otherwise dis- pose of the property as directed by the court ; to collect, receive and preserve the proceeds thereof ; and to main- tain any action or special proceeding, for either of those pur- poses. He must qualify as prescribed by law for the qualifica- tion of a permanent receiver. Unless additional powers are specially conferred upon him, as prescribed in the next section, a temporary receiver has only the powers specified in this sec- tion, and those which are incidental to the exercise thereof. A receiver appointed by or pursuant to a final judgment in the action, or a temporary receiver who is continued by the final judgment, is a permanent receiver, and has all the powers and authority conferred, and is subject to all the duties and lia- bilities imposed upon a receiver appointed upon the voluntary dissolution of a corporation. § 1788, am'd L. 1882, c. 399. Additional powers, etc., may be given to temporary receiver. — A temporary receiver, appointed as prescribed in the last section, is,^ in all respects, subject to the control of the court. In addition to the powers conferred upon him, by the provisions of the last section, the court may, by the order or interlocutory judgment appointing him, or by an order subsequently made in the action, or by the final judg- ment, confer upon him the powers and authority, and subject him to the duties and liabilities, of a permanent receiver, or so much thereof as it thinks proper; except that he shall not § 3l] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. 1 35 make any distribution among the creditors or stockholders, be- fore final judgment, unless he is specially directed so to do by the court. § 1789. Making stockholders, etc., parties. — Where the action is brought by a creditor of a corporation, and the stockholders, directors, trustees, or other officers, or any of them, are made liable by law, in any event or contingency, for the payment of his debt, the persons, so made liable, may be made parties de- fendant, by the original or by a supplemental complaint ; and their liability may be declared and enforced by the judgment in the action. § 1790. Separate action against same. — Where the stockholders, directors, trustees, or other officers of a corporation, who are made liable, in any event or contingency, for the payment of a debt, are not made parties defendant, as prescribed in the last section, the plaintiff in the action may maintain a separate action against them, to procure a judgment, declaring, appor- tioning and enforcing their liability. § 1791. Determining liability of same. — In an action, brought as pre- scribed in either of the last two sections, the court must, when it is necessary, cause an account to be taken of the property and of the debts of the corporation, and thereupon the defend- ant's liability must be apportioned accordingly ; but, if it af- firmatively appears, that the corporation is insolvent, and has no property to satisfy its creditors, the court may, without taking such an account, ascertain and determine the amount of each defendant's liability, and enforce the same accordingly. § 1792. Final judgment; distribution of corporate property. — A final judgment in an action, brought against a corporation, as prescribed in this article, either separately or in conjunction with its stockholders, directors, trustees, or other officers, must provide for a just and fair distribution of the property of the corporation, and of the proceeds thereof, among its fair and honest creditors, in the order and in the proportions prescribed by law, in case of the voluntary dissolution of a corporation. § 1793- 136 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§ 3 1 Unpaid stock subscriptions to be paid into court. — Where the stockholders- of the corporation are parties to the action, if the property of the corporation is not sufificient to discharge its debts, the interlocutory or final judgment, as the case requires, must adjudge that each stockholder pay into court the amount due and remaining unpaid, on the shares of stock held by him, or so much thereof as is necessary to satisfy the debts of the corporation. § 1794. Enforcing liability of directors and stockholders. — If it ap- pears, that the property of the corporation, and the sums col- lected or collectible from the stockholders, upon their stock sub- scriptions, are or will be insufficient to pay the debts of the cor- poration, the court must ascertain the several sums, for which the directors, trustees, or other officers, or the stockholders of the corporation, being parties to the action, are liable ; and must adjudge that the same be paid into court, to be applied, in such proportions and in such order as justice requires, to the pay- ment of the debts of the corporation. § 1795. Special provisions not affected.— This article does not repeal or affect any special provision of law, prescribing that a par- ticular kind of corporation shall cease to exist, or shall be dis- solved, in a case or in a manner, not prescribed in this article ; or any special provision of law, prescribing the mode of en- forcing the liability of the stockholders of a particular kind of corporation. § 1796. Action by direction of legislature.— The attorney-general, whenever he is so directed by the legislature, must bring an action against a corporation created by or under the laws of the State, to procure a judgment, vacating or annulling the act of incorporation, or any act renewing the corporation, or continu- ing its corporate existence, upon the ground that the act was procured upon a fraudulent suggestion, or the concealment of a material fact, made by or with the knowledge and consent of any of the persons incorporated. § 1797. Action by leave of court.— Upon leave being granted, as pre- scribed in the next section, the attorney-general may bring an action against a corporation created by or under the laws of the § 3^] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. I37 State, to procure a judgment, vacating thecharter or annulling the existence of the corporation, upon the ground that it has, either 1. Offended against any provision of an act, by or under which it was created, altered or renewed, or an act amending the same, and applicable to the corporation ; or, 2. Violated any provision of law, whereby it has forfeited its charter, or become liable to be dissolved by the abuse of its powers ; or, 3. Forfeited its privileges or franchises, by a failure to exer- cise its powers ; or, 4. Done or omitted any act, which amounts to a surrender of its corporate rights, privileges, and franchises ; or, 5. Exercised a privilege or franchise, not conferred upon it by law. § 1798. Notice to corporation. — Before granting leave, the court may, in its discretion, require such previous notice of the application as it thinks proper, to be given to the corporation, or any officer thereof, and may hear the corporation in oppo- sition thereto. § 1799. To be tried by jury. — An action, brought as prescribed in this article, is triable, of course and of right, by a jury, as if it was an action specified in section 968 of this act, and without procuring an order, as prescribed in section 970 of this act. § 1800. Final judgment. — Where any of the matters specified in sec- tion 1797 or section 1798 of this act, are established in an action, brought as prescribed in either of those sections, the court may render final judgment that the corporation, and each officer thereof, be perpetually enjoined from exercising any of its cor- porate rights, privileges, and franchises ; and that it be dis. solved. The judgment must also provide for the appointment of a receiver, the taking of an account, and the distribution of the property of the corporation, among its creditors and stock- holders, as where a corporation is dissolved upon its voluntary aipplication, as prescribed in chapter seventeenth of this act. § 1801. Temporary injunction. — In an action, brought as prescribed in this article, an injunction order may be granted, at any stage 138 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§ 3^ of the action, restraining the corporation, and any or all of its directors, trustees, and other officers, from exercising any of its corporate rights, privileges, or franchises ; or from exercising certain of its corporate rights, privileges, or franchises, speci- fied in the injunction order ; or from exercising any franchise, liberty, or privilege, or transacting any business not allowed by law. Such an injunction is deemed one of those specified in section 603 of this act, and all the provisions of title second of chapter seventh of this act, applicable to an injunction specified in that section, apply to an injunction granted as prescribed in this section, except that it can be granted only by the court. § 1802. Filing judgment-roll ; publication. —Where final judgment is rendered against a corporation, in an action, brought as pre- scribed in this article, the attorney-general must cause a copy of the judgment-roll to be forthwith filed in the Office of the secretary of state ; who must cause a notice of the substance and effect of the judgment, to be published, for four weeks, in the newspaper printed at Albany, in which legal notices are required to be published, and also in a newspaper printed in the county, wherein the principal place of business of the corpora- tion was located. § 1803. Certain corporations excepted. — Articles second, third and fourth of this title do not apply to an incorporated library society ; to a religious corporation ; to a select school or academy incorporated by the regents of the university, or by an act of the legislature ; or to a municipal or other political corporation, created by the constitution, or by or under the laws of the State. § 1804. Stockholders, etc., not excused from testifying — In an action, brought as prestribed in articles second, third, or fourth of this title, a stockholder, officer, alienee, or agent of a corpora- tion, is not excused from answering a question, relating to the management of the corporation, or the transfer or disposition of its property; on the ground that his answer may expose the corporation to a forfeiture of any of its corporate rights, or will tend to convict him of a criminal offence, or to subject him to a penalty or forfeiture. But his testimony shall not be used as § 3^ GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. 139 evidence against him, in a criminal action or special proceeding. § 1805. Injunctions staying actions by creditors. — In such an action, the court may, in its discretion, on the application of either party, at any stage of the action, before or after final judgment, and with or without security, grant an injunction order, restrain- ing the creditors of the corporation from bringing actions against the defendants, or any of them, for the recovery of a sum of money, or from taking any further proceedings in such actions, theretofore commenced. Such an injunction has the same effect, and except as otherwise expressly prescribed in this section, is subject to the same provisions of law, as if each creditor, upon whom it is served, was named therein, and was a party to the action in which it is granted. § 1806. Making creditors parties. — In such an action the court may, at any stage of the action, before or after final judgment, make an order requiring all the creditors of the corporation to exhibit and prove their claims, and thereby make themselves parties to the action, in such a manner and in such a reasonable time, not less than six months from the first publication of notice of the order as the court directs ; and that the creditors who make default in so doing shall be precluded from all benefit of the judgment and from any distribution which may be made thereunder, except as hereinafter provided. Notice of the order must be given, by publication, in such newspapers and for such a length of time as the court directs. Notwithstanding such order any such creditor who shall exhibit and prove his claim in the manner directed thereby, with proof, by affidavit or otherwise, that he has had no notice or knowledge thereof in time to comply therewith, any time before an order is made directing a final distribution of the assets of such corporation, shall be entitled to have his claim received, and shall have the same rights and benefits thereon, so far as the assets of such corporation then remaining undistributed may render possible, as if his ckim had been exhibited and proved within the time limited by such order. § 1807, am'd L. 1886, c. 372. When attorney-general must bring action or apply for leave. — Where the attorney-general has good reason to believe, that 140 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§ 3 1 an action can be maintained in behalf of the people of the State, as prescribed in article second, third, or fourth of this title, ex- cept section 1797 of this act, he must bring an action accord- ingly, or apply to a competent court for leave to bring an action< as the case requires ; if, in his opinion, the public interests re- quire that an action should be brought. In a case where the action can be brought only by the attorney-general in behalf of the people, if a creditor, stockholder, director, or trustee of the corporation, applies to the attorney-general for that purpose, and furnishes the security required by law, the attorney-general must bring the action, or apply for leave to bring it, if he has good reason .to believe that it can be maintained. Where such an application is made, section 1986 of this act apphes thereto, and to the action brought in pursuance thereof. § 1808. Injunctions, how granted. — An injunction order, suspend- ing the general and ordinary business of a corporation, or of a joint-stock association, consisting of seven or more persons, or suspending from office, or restraining from the performance of his duties, a trustee, director, or other officer thereof, can be granted only by the court, upon notice of the application therefor, to the proper officer of the cor- poration or association, or to the trustee, director, or other officer enjoined. If such an injunction order is made, other- wise than as prescribed in this section, it is void. § 1809. Receiver, when and how appointed. — A receiver of the property of a corporation can be appointed only by the court, and in one of the following cases : 1. An action, brought as prescribed in article second, third, or fourth of this title. 2. An action brought for the foreclosure of a mortgage upon the property, of which the receiver is appointed, where the mortgage debt, or the interest thereupon, has remained unpaid at least thirty days after it was payable, and after payment thereof was duly demanded of the proper officer of the cor- poration ; and where either the income of the property is spe- cifically mortgaged, or the property itself is probably insuffi- cient to pay the mortgage debt. § 3^ GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. I4I 3. An action brought by the attorney-general, or by a stock- holder, to preserve the assets of a corporation, having no officer empowered to hold the same. 4. A special proceeding for the voluntary dissolution of a corporation. Where the receiver is appointed in an action, otherwise than by or pursuant to a final judgment, notice of the application for his appointment, must be given to the proper officer of the corporation. § 1810. Suspension or removal of officers. — A trustee, director, or other officer of a corporation shall not be suspended or re- moved from office, by a court or judge,. otherwise than by the final judgment of a competent court, in an action brought by the attorney-general, as prescribed in section 178 1 of this act. §1811. Application of last three sections. — The last three sections apply to an action or special proceeding, against a corpora- tion, or joint-stock association, created by or under the laws of the State, or a trustee, director, or other officer thereof; or against a corporation, or joint-stock association, created by or under the laws of another state, government, or country, or a trustee, director, or other officer thereof, where the corpora- tion or association does business within the State, or has, within the State, a business agency or a fiscal agency, or an agency for the transfer of its stock. § 1812. Misnomer, etc., of co-defendant. — Where an action, au- thorized by a law of the State, is brought against one ©r more persons, as stockholders of a corporation or joint-stock association, an objection to any of the proceedings cannot be taken, by a person properly made a defendant in the action, on the ground that the plaintiff has joined with him, as a defendant in the action, a person, whose name appears on the stock-books of the corporation or association, as a stockholder thereof, by the name so appearing; but who is misnamed, or dead, or is not liable for any cause. In such a case, the court may, at any time before final judgment, upon motion of either party, amend the pleadings and other papers without prejudice to the previous proceedings, by sub- 142 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§31 stituting the true name of the person intended, or by striking out the name of the person who is dead, or not Hable, and, in a proper case, inserting the name of his representative or suc- cessor. §1813. , For the Statutes applicable to Receivers of Corporations, see. post, Appendix. Dissolutiou by legislative enactment. — A corporation may also be dissolved by a vote of the legislature.' When it is so dissolved, the affairs of the corporation are to be managed and wound up in accordance with the laws of 1886, chap. 310.^ ' See Sturges v. Vanderbilt, 73 N. Y. 384 ; People v. Walker, 17 N. Y. 503. '^ Dissolution of corporation by leg- islature ; attorney-general to bring suit. — Whenever any corporation or- ganized under the laws of this State shall be annulled and dissolved by an act of the Legislature, it shall be the duty of the attorney-general immedi- ately thereafter to bring a suit to wind up and finally settle and adjust the affairs of such annulled and dissolved corporation. L. 1886, c. 310, § i. See Birdseye's Revised Statutes, vol. i, p. 702. How suit to be brought ; defend- ants ; service of papers. — Such suit shall be brought in the supreme court in the name of the people of the State, in any county which the attorney- general may select. The president, or vice-president, or secretary, or treas- urer of such dissolved corporation, who may have been in office at the time of the dissolution thereof, shall be named, as such officer, as defend- ant in such suit, and the sunjmons and complaint therein shall be served upon him. If, at the time of such annulment and dissolution, there shall not be one of the above designated officers of such corporation, then such suit shall be brought against and the summons and complaint therein served upon any one of the persons who were last acting as directors of such corporation. Id. § 2. Appointment of receiver ; bond ; disqualification. — It shall be the duty of the special term of the supreme court in the county designated in such sum- mons and complaint, or of any judge of said court who resides in the judicial department in which such county is situated, upon the presentation of a certified copy of the act of the Legis- lature annulling and dissolving a cor- poration, and of the summons and com- plaint founded thereon, immediately to appoint a receiver of the assets and property of such dissolved corporation; and the person so appointed shall be both the temporary and permanent receiver thereof, and shall give a bond with sureties to be approved by said court or such judge thereof, to the people of the State in the penalty of not less than ten thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful discharge of his duties as such receiver, and for his due accounting for, and paying over all moneys and property which may come to his hands as such receiver. No one of the officers, directors or stockholders of such corporation shall be appointed such receiver thereof. Id. § 3. Inventory. — Such receiver shall; im- mediately after his appointment and the approval of his bond, cause an in- ventory of all the property of such dis- solved corporation to be taken and filed in the office of the clerk of the § 32] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. H3 § 32. Extension of corporate existence. — Any domestic corporation at any time within three years before the ex- piration thereof, may extend the term of its existence be- yond the time specified in its original certificate of in- county in which such action is pend- ing, and for the purpose of ascertain- ing the nature, extent and location of such property, the said receiver shall have power to compel the attendance of witnesses, as hereinafter provided, and all evidence taken by or before said receiver in relation to such property shall be filed by him in the office of such county clerk. Id. § 4. Notice to creditors ; examining claims ; list of claims ; examination of same by court. — The said receiver shall immediately after his appoint- ment publish in two newspapers to be designated by said court, or such judge thereof, daily for one week, and for such longer time, not exceeding one month, as the said court or such judge thereof may by order designate, a notice to all creditors of such dissolved corporation to present their claims and demands against, and all evidences of indebtedness of, such dissolved cor- poration, to such receiver at a time and place to be designated in such notice. Such receiver is hereby authorized to examine on oath any of such creditors, or claimants, or other witnesses, as to any and all matters pertaining to any claim or demand or evidence of in- debtedness so presented. At the ex- piration of ten days from the date specified in such notice, or within such further time as may be allowed by said court or such judge thereof, the said receiver shall make a list of all the claims presented to or proved before him, in which list he shall specify the amount, origin and true consideration of each claim so presented to or proved before him, and the name of the person in whose behalf the same is presented or proved, and the date when such claimant became the true owner there- of. Such list when so completed shall be verified by such receiver, and shall thereupon be filed, together with such evidence as may have been taken by him, in the office of the said county clerk. The said receiver shall, im- mediately after such filing, publish a notice daily for fourteen days in two newspapers to be designated by said court, or such judge thereof, stating that such list will be presented to such court, or to a judge thereof, residing in such county, on a day and at a place to be designated in such notice, and the said court or such judge thereof will then and there be asked for an order directing the sale at public auction of all the property specified in such in- ventory. Any creditor or stockholder may appear and be heard at such time and place. It shall be the duty of said court, or of such judge thereof to whom such list shall be presented, to examine the same together with such evidence as the receiver shall have taken, and to reject all claims, demands and evi- dences of indebtedness which were not legally incurred or created by said cor- poration, or which were in excess of its powers, or which are for any reason shown to be illegal; and no claim or demand shall be allowed for any greater amount than the money value of the consideration therefor, unless the said court or judge shall find and decide from the evidence taken by and before the receiver, that the person professing to own such claim does in truth own the same by reason of having taken a negotiable instrument or paper before the act dissolving and annulling the 144 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§32 corporation, or by law, or in any certificate of extension of corporate existence, by the consent of the stockhold- ers owning two-thirds in amount of its capital stock, if not a stock corporation, by the consent of two-thirds corporation alleged to be bound by such instrument or paper, and also before such instrument or paper was by its terms due, and that the same was taken for value paid and parted with in good faith before said act of dissolution and without knowledge or notice of any defect, want or deficiency of previous consideration, or other equity, offset, or defense originally attaching to such in- strument or paper, or to the claim or de- mand upon which the same are founded. Such examination and rejection shall be made by such court or such judge thereof, and not by any referee. Id. § 5 . Claims, when barred ; rejected claims ; appeals ; order for sale and proceedings thereupon ; commis- sions, etc. ; distribution. — All credit- ors whose claims shall not have been presented as above provided shall be debarred from participating in the avails of the sale of the property de- scribed in said inventory. Any credit- or whose claim may have been rejected, and who shall have appealed, may ap- ply to said court or such judge thereof for an order that a pro rata amount of the avails of such sale which would have appertained to the claim of such creditor, had not the same been re- jected, may be retained in court to abide the result of his appeal, and said court, or such judge therectf, shall have discretion to grant the same. Any claimant feeling aggrieved by such rejection may appeal therefrom to the general term and to the Court of Ap- peals, in the manner now provided by law for such appeals from orders in civil actions, but neither of such ap- peals shall stay the proceedings of such receiver, or court, or judge thereof, or a sale of such property as herein pro- vided for. The amount of all claims and demands so rejected by said court or such judge shall be deducted from the total amount of claims and de- mands so filed by the said receiver, and an entry of such rejections shall be made upon said list by said court or such judge, and thereupon the said court or such judge shall by order, re- citing the proceedings direct the im- mediate sale by said receiver, at pub- lic auction, at a time and place and in the manner, and after such notice as may be provided in said order, of all the property in said inventory specified, to such person, firm or corporation as shall bid the highest sum or amount therefor. The receiver shall report to said court or such judge thereof, the name of the highest bidder, the amount bid, and thereupon said court or such judge thereof shall by order forthwith direct the said receiver by proper writ- ten instrument to convey and transfer all the property described in said in- ventory, and offered for sale at said auction, to said highest bidder, who on receiving the same shall pay to the re- ceiver the sum bid. The said court, or such judge thereof, shall allow to the receiver two per cent, upon the whole amount received by him from the sale of the property described in said in- ventory for his compensation as such receiver, and also his disbursements, including witness' fees, and the service of subpoenas, and to the attorney-gen- eral, and to such other counsel as the receiver may find it necessary to em- ploy, a reasonable counsel fee. The residue of the amount in the hands of the receiver shall be by him distributed § 32] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. H5 of its members, in and by a certificate signed and ac- knowledged by them and filed in the offices in which the original certificates of its incorporation were filed, if at among the owners of the claims in said list, which have been allowed, subject to the deductions above provided for in case of an appeal, pro rata, or in full if such residue shall be sufficient therefor, and the receipts of such owners therefor shall be taken upon such list of claims. The balance of such residue, if any, shall be distributed among the lawful stockholders of such corporation in proportion to their interest therein. Id. § 6. Stay of proceedings. — No issue raised by answer, or demurrer, or otherwise to the complaint hereinbe- fore provided for shall stay the pro- ceedings of the receiver, or court or a judge thereof. . Id. § 7. Discharge of receiver ; powers until discharged. — The said receiver after such payment may apply to said court, or a judge thereof, for his final discharge, and if it shall appear that the said receiver has in all things ful- filled his duty in the premises, the said court or judge shall grant such final discharge, and said receiver, until so discharged, may as such receiver sue for and collect all debts due, and de- mands owing to such corporation. Id. §8. Summoning witnesses before re- ceiver ; oaths, etc. ; disobedience to subpoena ; perjury. — It shall be the duty of the clerk of the county in which such suit is brought, to issue, upon the request of the receiver, subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses to enable him to ascertain the nature, ex- tent, and location of the property of said corporation, and to give evidence concerning any claim which may be presented by any creditor against the estate of such corporation, which sub- 10 poenas shall be served in like manner as in civil actions, and the fees of the witness shall be the same as are now established by law in such actions. The receiver shall have full power and authority to administer oaths to all such witnesses and 10 any creditor of such dissolved corporation, and to ex- amine them concerning the property of such dissolved corporation, and as to the claims presented against it. Disobedience to such subpoenas shall be a contempt of court, and shall be punished in like manner as other con- tempts of court are now punishable. Wilful false swearing by any witness or creditor in any such examination shall be deemed perjury, and shall be punishable as such in like manner as if committed by a witness on a trial of a civil action. Id. § 9. Applications for leave to sue re- ceiver, etc. ; appeals. — All applica- tions for leave to sue such receiver, and all applications for injunctions to restrain his proceedings shall be made only to the supreme court in the county in which such action was brought, and shall not be made to any c ther court, or to the supreme court in any other county, and shall not be granted except upon eight days' notice to the attorney- general of the time and place of making such application. In any action here- after brought or now pending by the attorney-general, to close up, deter- mine or settle the affairs of any corpo- ration dissolved by legislative enact- ment, the judgment or determination of the supreme court at general term may be reviewed upon appeal to the Court of Appeals, as now provided by law, whether the judgment rendered in the case be interlocutory or final. Id. § 10, as am'd L. 1887, c. 601. 146 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§ 3^ all, and, if not, then in the offices where certificates of incorporation are now required by law to be filed, and the officers with whom the same may be filed shall thereupon record them in the books kept in their respective offices for the record of such certificates, and make a memoran- dum of such record in the margin of the original cer- tificate in such book, if any, and thereupon the time of existence of such corporation shall be extended, as desig- nated in such certificate, for a term not exceeding the term for which it was incorporated in the first instance. If the term of existence of any domestic corporation shall have expired and it shall be made satisfactorily to appear to the supreme court that such corporation was legally organized pursuant to any law of this state, and that through mistake it shall have issued its bonds pay- able at a date beyond the date fixed in its charter or cer- tificate of incorporation for the expiration of its corpo- rate existence, and such bonds shall be unmatured and unpaid, the supreme court may, upon the application of any person interested and upon such notice to such other parties as the court may require, by order, authorize the filing and recording of a certificate reviving the existence of such corporation, upon such conditions and with such limitations as such order shall specify, and extend- ing such corporate existence for a term not exceeding the term for which it was originally incorporated. Upon filing and recording such certificate in the same manner as a certificate of oxtension of corporate existence duly issued before the expiration of the existence of a domestic corporation is authorized by law to be filed and recorded, such corporate existence shall be revived and extended in pursuance of the terms of such order, but such revival and extension shall not affect any litigation commenced after such expiration and pending at the time of such revival. §■32] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. I47 If a corporation formed under or subject to the bank- ing law, such certificate shall not be filed or recorded unless it shall have indorsed thereon the written approval of the superintendent of banks ; or, if an insurance cor- poration, unless it shall have indorsed thereon the written approval of the superintendent of insurance ; and, if a turnpike or bridge corporation, it shall not be filed un- less it shall have indorsed thereon or annexed thereto a certified copy of a resolution of the board of supervisors of each county in which such turnpike or bridge is located, approving of and authorizing such extension. Every corporation extending its corporate existence under this chapter or under any general law of the state shall thereafter be subject to the provisions of this chap- ter and of such general law, notwithstanding any special provisions in its charter, and shall thereafter be deemed to be incorporated under the general laws of the state relating to the incorporation of a corporation for the purpose of carrying on the business in which it is en- gaged, and shall be subject to the provisions of such laws. See L. 1857, c. 2g, § 2 ; L. 1866, c. 697, § 5 ; L. 1S67, c. n ; L. 1867, c. 937; L. 1874, c. 240; L. 1875, c. 58, § I ; L. 1875, c.,6ii, § 29; L. 1890, k.. 503, § 22. Extending existence. — Any business corporation of this State at any time within three years before the expiration of its existence as specified in its certificate of incorporation, or in any previous certificate of exten- sion of existence or as otherwise limited by law, with the consent of stockholders owning two-thirds of its capital stock, may extend its exist- ence for a term not exceeding fifty years.' Stockholders so consenting must sign and acknowledge a certificate of extension which must be filed in the offices where certificates of incorporation are now required to be filed, and when so filed the existence is extended. The section also au- thorizes the revival of a corporation by the Supreme Court under certain circumstances specified therein. It also contains the important provision ' See Dyeing and Printing Estab. v. De Westenberg, N. Y. Daily Regis- ter, Feb. 19, 188,6. . . 148 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§§ 33-35 that a corporation hereafter extending its existence is subject to the provisions of the general corporation laws of the State. {For form, see post. Forms, XXVI.) § 33. Conflicting corporate laws.— If in any corporate law there is or shall be any provision in conflict with any provisions of this chapter or of the stock corporation law, the provisions so conflicting shall prevail, and the provi- sion of this chapter or of the stock corporation law with which it conflicts shall not apply in such a case. If in any such law there is or shall be a provision relating to a matter embraced in this chapter or in the stock corpo- ration law, but not in conflict with it, such provision in such other law shall be deemed to be in addition to the provision in this chapter or in the stock corporation law relating to the same subject-matter, and both provisions shall in such case be applicable. Relative importance of the corporation laws. — The provisions of the Business Corporations Law are of primary importance to business corpo- rations, and all provisions of that law will be construed to apply directly to such corporations and to override any conflicting provisions in the General Corporation Law or the Stock Corporation Law. But in cases where the Stock Corporation Law confers additional privileges to those given by the Business Corporations Law a business corporation will have the benefit of both laws. § 34. Laws repealed. — Of the laws enumerated in the schedule hereto annexed, that portion specified in the last column is repealed. Such repeal shall not revive a law repealed by any law hereby repealed, but shall include all laws amendatory of the laws hereby repealed. See L. 1890, c. 563, 1 23. § 35. Saving clause. — The repeal of a law or any part of it specified in the annexed schedule shall not affect or im- pair any act done, or right accruing, accrued or acquired, or liability, penalty, forfeiture or punishment incurred § 3^] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. 1 49 prior to May i, 1891, under or by virtue of any law so repealed, but the same may be asserted, enforced, prosecuted or inflicted, as fully and to the same extent as if such law had not been repealed. All actions and pro- ceedings, civil or criminal, commenced under or by vir- tue of the laws so repealed, and pending on April 30, 1 89 1, may be prosecuted and defended to final effect in the same manner as they might under the laws then ex- isting, unless it shall be otherwise specially provided by law. See L, 1890, c. 563, § 24. Meaning of the above section. — The purpose of the above section, in respect to the rights saved by it, appears to be to preserve to corporations that have acted upon pre-existing laws all rights conferred by those laws. In one sense every privilege conferred upon a corporation by the law of 1848, for example, was a " right,'' but to construe the new laws as saving all rights of such a character would be to deprive them of effect with re- spect to existing corporations and to leave upon the statute-books two sets of laws governing corporate procedures, and also would be contrary to the apparent intent of the new laws taken as a whole. Moreover, the phraseology of the above section indicates that it is the "act done or the right accruing," or the right which — after passing the accruing stages- has "accrued" to the corporation or been "acquired" by it, that is to be saved. In a recent case the Court of Appeals has decided that where a meeting in proceedings to consolidate corporations was held prior to May I, 1891, the agreement made at this meeting could be carried to completion under the pre-existing laws.' In that case there was the "act done" which saved the privileges of the former laws. So in a re- cent case decided by the General Term of the first department, it was held that the special privileges conferred by the legislature upon a gas company in consideration of its furnishing gas at a specified price were not taken away by the repeal of the law granting them and the enact- ment of the Transportation Corporations Law which contained a clause similar to the above.'' § 36. Construction. — The provisions of this chapter, and of the stock corporation law, the railroad law, the trans- ' Cameron v. New York, etc. Water Co. v. Gilroy, N. Y. L. J., April 10, Co., 133 N. Y. 336. 1693. ' People ex rel. Standard Gas Light 150 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§ ^6 portation corporations law, and the business corporations law, so far as they are substantially the same as those of laws existing on April 30, 1891, shall be construed as a continuation of such laws modified or amended according to the language employed in this chapter, or in the stock corporation law, the railroad law, the transportation cor- porations law, or the business corporations law, and not as new enactments. References in laws not repealed to provisions of laws incorporated into the general laws hereinbefore enumer- ated and repealed, shall be construed as applying to the provisions so incorporated. Nothing in this chapter or in the other general laws hereinbefore specified shall be construed to amend or repeal any provision of the Criminal or Penal Code or to impair any right or liability which any existing corpora- tion, its officers, directors, stockholders or creditors may have or be subject to or which any such corporation, other than a railroad corporation, had or was subject to on April 30, 1891, by virtue of any special act of the legislature creating such corporation or creating or defin- ing any such right or liability, unless such special act is repealed by this chapter.' L. 1890, u. 563, § 25, amended. ■ The following sections of the Statu- unless the amendatory statute be a tory Construction Law (L. 1892, c. substantial re-enactment of the statute 677), have an important bearing upon amended. The repeal of a statute or this subject: §31. Limiting the effect part thereof shall not affect or impair of repealing statutes. — The repeal any act done or right accrumg, accrued hereafter or by this chapter of any or acquired, or liability, penalty, for- provision of a statute, which repeals feiture or punishment incurred prior any provision of a prior statute, does to the time such repeal takes effect, but not revive such prior provision. The the same may be asserted, enforced, repeal hereafter or by this chapter of prosecuted or inflicted, as fully and to any provision of a statute, which the same extent as if such repeal had amends a provision of a pnor statute, not been effected ; and all actions and leaves such prior provision in force proceedings, civil or criminal, com- §36] GENERAL CORPORATION LAW, I"?! Effect upon former laws. — The foregoing section provides that all the enactments of the present laws, which are substantially the same as pre-existing laws, shall be construed as continuations of former law and not as new enactments. The important qualifying words "so far as they are substantially the same " should not be lost sight of, and it is misleading to speak of the laws as a codification of existing statutes.' For, although existing statutes are merged in the laws, many new provisions have been inserted and many alterations from former laws have been made, and the comprehensive restatements of the laws operate as repealing acts.' It is important to note the provision in paragraph three above, that the present laws do not impair any right or liability which any existing cor- poration, its officers, directors, stockholders, or creditors, may have or be subject to. The word right here also seems to be used to denote some- thing acquired by the corporation in reliance upon existing laws.^ menced under or by virtue of any pro- vision of (i statute so repealed, and pending immediately prior to the tak- ing effect of such repeal, may be prose- cuted and defended to final effect in the same manner as they might if such provisions were not so repealed. § 32. Effect of repeal and re-enact- ment. — The provisions of a law repeal- ing a prior law, which are substantial re-enactments of provisions of the prior law, shall be construed as a continua- tion of such provisions of such prior law, and not as new enactments. If any provision of a law be repealed and, in substance, re-enacted, a refer- ence in any law to such repealed pro- vision shall be deemed a reference to such re-enacted provision. (As am'd L. 1894, c. 448.) ^ 33. Effect of revision upon laws passed at same session or before re- vision takes effect.— No provision of any chapter of the revision of the general laws, of which this chapter is a part, shall supersede or repeal by im- plication any law passed at the same session of the legislature at which any such chapter was enacted, or passed after the enactment of any such chap- ter and before it shall have taken effect ; and an amendatory law passed at such session or at any subsequent session begun before any such chapter takes effect, shall not be deemed repealed, unless specifically designated in the repealing schedule of such chapter. § 34. Alterations of titles and head notes. — If the title of any article or other division of a. statute, or the head note of a section shall be amended or repealed in the body of the statute, or if a. new article or other divi- sion having a title, or a new section having a new head note be added to a statute, the corresponding title or head note, if any, in an abstract of contents at the beginning of the article or other division of the statute shall be deemed to be correspondingly amended or repealed, although there be no ex- press reference thereto. ' See Cameron v. New York, etc. Water Co., 62 Hun 269 ; and see 133 N. Y. 336. ' See People v. Jaehne, 103 N. Y. 182 ; Heckman v. Pinkney, 81 N. Y. 211; Moore -d. Mansert, 49 N. Y. 332; Eden Musee Am. Co. v. Carr, 36 Hun 488. ^See Close w. Potter CBuff. Super. Ct,), 49 St. Rep. 5go. See anie, p. 149. 152 GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. [§§ 37-4O § 37. Law revived. — Chapter three hundred of the laws of eighteen hundred and fifty-five, entitled "An act to incorporate the Baptist Historical Society of the city of New York," which was inadvertently repealed by the transportation corporations law, is revived and re-enacted, and shall be of the same force and effect as if it had not been repealed. § 38. When notice or lapse of time unnecessary. — When- ever under the provisions of any of the corporate laws a corporation is authorized to take any action after notice to its members or after the lapse of a prescribed period of time, such action may be taken without notice and without the lapse of any period of time, if such action be authorized or approved, and such requirements be waived in writing by every member of such corporation, or by his attorney thereunto authorized. New section added by L. 1895, c. 672. § 39. As to acts of directors. — Whenever, under the provisions of any of the corporate laws, a corporation is authorized to take any action by the agreement or action of its directors, managers or trustees, such agreement or. action may be taken by such directors, regularly convened as a board, and acting by a majority of a quorum, except when otherwise expressly required by law or the by-laws of the corporation and any such agreement shall be executed in behalf of the corporation by such officers as shall be designated by the board of directors, managers or trustees. New section added by L. 1895, c. 672. § 40. Alteration and repeal of charter. — The charter of every corporation shall be subject to alteration, suspen- sion and repeal, in the discretion of the legislature. New section added by L. 1895, c. 672, and made necessary by the repeal of the provisions of the Revised Statutes covering this subject. See post, p. 282. THE GENERAL COEPOEATION LAW. Schedule of Laws Eepealed. X53 EEVISED STATUTES. Part I, Chapter 18. All. LAWS OP CHAPTER SECTIONS. 1811 (Manufacturing*) 67 All 1815 (Extending Act 1811) 1815 (MT g textile fabrics) 1816 (Continuing Act 1811) 1817 (Extending Act 1811) 1818 Continuing Act 1811) 1819 (Special Act Oneida Co.). . . 1821 (Eeviving Act 1811) 1822 (Authorizing mortgages) . . . 1836 (Toll-gate) 47 All. 202 All. 58 All. 223 All. 67 All. 102 All. 14 All. 213 All. 284 All. 1836 Eaiboad) 1838 (Eailroad) 316 All. 160 All. 1838 E. E., canal, and bridge). . . 1838 (Turnpike) 161 All. 262 All. 1889 (Eailroad) 218 All. 1842 Transfer book of foreign) . . 1846 (Eailroad) 165 AIL 155 All. 1846 (Eailroad) 1847 (Canal) 215 17, 18. 100 3,4. 1847 (Turnpike) 210 All. 1847 (Eailroad) 222 All 1847 (Eailroad) 270 ... AU. 1847 (EaUroad) 272 All. 1847 (Turnpike) 287 All. 1847 (Turnpike) 398 All. 1847 (EaUroad) 404 All. 1847 (Eailroad) 405 37 All. 1848 (Gaslight) All. 1848 (Manufacturing Act) 1848 (Turnpike) 40 All. 45 All. 1848 (Bridge) 259 All. 1848 (Telegraph) 265 All. 1848 (Plank-road) 360 All. 1849 (Turnpike) 250 All. 1849 (Plank-road) 362 AU. 1850 (Turnpike) 71 All. 1850 (Eaiboad) 140 All. • The descriptive words in parentlieses in this table are not a part of the Statute. They are Inserted here to indicate the character of the corporation referred to, or the nature of the lav7 Itself. 154 THE GENERAL COEPOKATION LAW. Schedule of Laws Eepealed — continued. 1851 (Extending Act 1848) 1851 (Railroad) 1851 (Telegraph) 1851 (Turnpike) 1851 (Turnpike) 1851 (Railroad) 1852 (Navigation) 1852 (Bridge) 1853 (Railroad) 1853 (Building) 1853 (Navigation) 1853 (FerryJ 1853 (Turnpike) 1853 (Issuing stock for property). 1853 (Telegraph) 1853 (Turnpike) 1853 (Railroad, foreclosure) 1853 (Plank-road) 1854 (Navigation) 1854 (Turnpike) 1854 (Raikoad) 1854 (Am. § 27, Act 1848) . . .... 1854 (Navigation) 1854 (Improving horses) 1854 (Railroad) 1854 (Gas Ught) 1855 (Extending Act 1848) 1855 (Raih-oad) 1855 (Turnpike) 1855 (Raiboad) 1855 (Turnpike) 1855 (Turnpike) 1855 (Turnpike) 1855 (Telegraph) 1856 (Navigation).... * . 1857 (Salt Co.'s, Act 1848) 1857 (Navigation) 1857 (Railroad) 1857 (Turnpike) 1857 (Am. § 1, Act 1848) 1857 (Railroad) 1857 (Guano) 1857 (Improving horses) CHAPTBB SECTIONS. 14 AH. 19 All. 98 All. 107 All. 487 All. 497 All. 228 All. 372 All. 53 All. 117 All. 124 AH. 135 All. 245 All. 333 All. 471 1,2,4. 481 All. 502 All. 626 All. 3 All. 87 All. 140 All. 201 AU. 232 All. 269 AU. 282 All. 812 All. 301 AU 302 AU. 390 AU. 478 All. 485 All 495 All. 546 559 AU. All 65 AU. 29 All. 83. AU. 185 AU 202 AU. 262 All 444 All 546 AU. 558 All. THE GENERAL COEPOKATION LAW. ScHKDULB OF LiAws Repeaied — Continued. 155 LAWS OP 1857 (Turnpike) 1857 (Improving animals) 1858 (Navigation) 1858 (Railroad) 1859 (Turnpike) 1859 (GasUght) 1859 (Special Act, Buffalo Co.). 1860 (Gas light) I86I) (Changing trustees. Act 1848) 1860 (Improving horses) 186 1 (Skating parks) 1861 (Financial oface, Act 1848) . 1861 (Telegraph) 1861 (Navigation) 1862 (Navigation) 1862 (Turnpike) 1862 (Telegraph) 1862 (Preventing horse-stealing) . 1862 (Railroad) 1862 (Am. § 27, Act 1848) 1863 (Extending Act 1848) 1863 (Navigation) 1863 (Railroad) 1864 (Improving horses) 1864 (Extending Act 1848) 1864 (Changing place of business. Act 1848) 1864 (Railroad) 1865 (Extending Act 1848) 1865 (Railroad) 1865 (Extending Act 1848) 1865 (Navigation) 1865 (Turnpike) 1866 (Increasing shares, A. 1848). 1866 (Railroad) 1866 (Navigation) 1866 (Water) 1866 (Railroad) 1866 (Turnpike) 1866 (Am. title. Act 1848) 1866 (Am. title. Act 1848) 1867 (Extend'g existence, A. 1848) CHAPTER 643 776 10 125 2u9 311 455 116 269 523 149 170 215 238 205 248 425 438 449 472 63 134 346 85 337 517 582 234 246 307 691 780 73 259 322 371 697 780 799 838 12 BECTIOKS. All. All. AU. All. All. AIL AH. All. AU All. AU. AU. AU. AU AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. All. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. AJil. AU. All. AU. AU. AU. All. All. AU. All. All. AU. AU. AU. AU. 156 THE GENEEAL CORPORATION LAW. Schedule op Ijaws Repealed — continued. LAWS OP 1867 (Eailroad) 1867 (Changing No. trustees,1848) 1867 (Kailroad) 1867 (Navigation) 1867 (Gas light) 1867 (Building, etc.) 1867 (Raibroad) 1867 (Railroad) 1867 (Extending existence) 1867 (ConsoUdation) 1867 (Stage) 1868 (Gas Hght) 1868 (Reducing capital of joint stock Co.) 1868 (Navigation) 186:i (Extending Act 1848) 1869 (Turnpike) 1869 (Raiboad) 1869 (Am. § 1, Act 1848) 1869 (Mortgaging land out of State) 1869 (Railroad) 1869 (RaUroad) 1870 (To prevent horse-stealing) . 1870 (Amending certif. of incorp.) 1870 (Changing name) 1870 (Gaslight) 1870 (Telegraph) 1870 (Building, etc.) 1871 (Gas light) 1871 (Mortgages, Act 1848) 1871 (Extending Act 1848) 1871 (Railroad) 1871 (Am. § 1, Act 1848) 1871 (Raih'oad) .• 1871 (Gas light) 1871 (Monied) 1872 (Railroad) 1872 (Turnpike) 1872 (Property in other States) . . 1872 (Driving park) 1872 (Turnpike) 1872 (Railroad) CHAPTER 49 248 254 419 480 509 775 906 937 960 974 253 290 573 781 234 237 605 706 844 917 124 135 322 443 568 773 95 481 535 560 657 669 697 883 81 128 146 248 283 850 sections. All. AU. All. All. All. All. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU Au; AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU- AU. AU. All. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. All. AU. AU. All. AU. AU. All. AU. AU. All. AU. AU. AU. AU. THE GENERAL COEPOKATIOIT LAW. Schedule op Laws Repealed — continued. 157 liAWSDF 1872 (GasUght) 1872 (Am. § 1, Act 1848) . 1872 (Driving park) . 1872 ~ 1872 1872 1872 1872 1872 1873 1873 1873 1873 1873 1873 1873 1873 1873 1874 1874 1874 1874 1874 1874 1875 1875 1875 1875 1875 1875 1875 1875 1875 1875 1875 1875 1875 1875 1875 1875 1875 1875 Increasing capital) Turnpike) Plank-road) Homestead) Railroad) Railroad) Lost certificates) Railroad) Railroad) Turnpike) Purchasers of franchise) . . . Building and homestead) . . Railroad) Water-works) Extending Act 1848) Changing name) Hotel) Am. § 1, Act 1848) Railroad) Improvement of poultry) . . Railroad) Turnpike) Navigation) Filing consent to mortgage) Railroad) Extending Act 1848) Property in other States) . . Gas light) Driving park) Railroad) Railroad) Telegraph) Extending Act 1848) Navigation) Am. § 12, Act 1848) Railroad) Railroad) Railroad) (Business corp. Act) 1876 (Railroad). chapter 374, 426, 609, 611 779 780 820 829, 843, 151 352 432 440 469 616 710 737 814 76 143 149 240 288 430 4 58 88 108 113 119 120 159 193 256 319 365 445 510 586 598 606 611 77 BECTIONB. All. AM. AH. AU. All. AU. A 11 except SO — exempb ■^*^^s Ing enarta from e«* All CDtiOD. All. All. All. All. AU. All. All. AU. All. AU. All. All. AU. All. All. AU. All. All. AU. All. AU. All. AU. All. All. An. AJL Aa. All. All. All. All. AIL AU. - AIL 158 THE GENERAL COEPOEATION LAW. Schedule of Laws Eepeaied — continued. LAWS OF 1876 (Turnpike) 1876 (Kailroad) 1876 (Changing name) 1876 (Stock of other Co.'s, 1848) 1876 (Turnpike) 1876 (Water-works) 1876 (Turnpike) 1876 (Kailroad) 1877 (Eaikoad) 1877 (Purchase of mortgage land by foreign Co.) 1877 (Turnpike) 1877 ("Water-works) 1877 (Eailroad) 1877 (Improving poultry) .- 1877 f i.m. § , Act .848) 1878 (To prevent horse-stealing) . 1878 (Turnpike) 1878 'Mortgages, Act 1848) 1878 (Pipeline) 1878 (To prevent horse-stealing) . 1878 (Eailroad) 1878 (Diminishing capital) 1878 (Changing number trustees). 1878 (Patrons of husbandry, etc., 1875) 1878 (Navigation) 1879 (Turnpike) 1879 (Turnpike) 1879 (Am. § 1, Act 1848) 1879 (Eailroad) 1879 (Railroad) 1879 (Telegraph) 1879 (Directors of co-operative Co.'s.) .• 1879 (Eailroad) 1879 (Increasing trustees, library Co.'s ) 1879 (Railroad) 1879 (Turnpike) 1879 (Eailroad) 1879 (RaUroad) 1879 (Gas Ught) CHAPTBK SECTIONS. 135 AU. 198 All. 280 All 358 373 All. All. 415 All. 435 All. 446 103 AU. All. 158 Ml. 164 All. 171 All. 224 All. 266 All. 374 All. 61 All 121 All. 163 All. 203 All. 210 AU. 261 All. 264 316 All. AU. 334 All. 394 AU. 214 All. 253 AU. 290 293 All. AU. 350 AU. 377 393 All. AU. 395 AU. 413 AU. 415 AU. 441 AU. 503 AU. 505 AU. 512 AU. THE GENERAL COEPOEATION LAW. Schedule of Laws Repealed — continued. 159 LAWS OP 1879 1880 1880 1880 1880 1880 1880 1880 (Railroad) (Railroad) rWatei) (Telegraph) (Railroad) (Purchasers of franchise) . . (Railroad) (Railroad) 1880 (Building, etc.) 1880 (Reorganization, Act 1875) . (Railroad) (Exchange of pref d stock). (Am. § 1, Act 1848) (Exempting Co.'s from part ofR S.).... 1880 (Steam heating) 1880 (Railroad) 1880 1880 1880 1880 1880 (Raih-oad) 1880 (Railroad) 1880 (Raikoad) 1880 (Turnpike) 1880 (Raih-oad) 1880 (Railroad) 1880 (Railroad) 1880 (Raikoad) 1880 (Railroad) 1881 (Recording certificates) . 1881 (Extending Act 1848) . . . 1881 (Water-works) 1881 (Turnpike) 1881 (Railroad) 1881 (Water-works) 1881 (Extending Act 1848) . . . 1881 (Am. § 11, Act 1875) . . . . 1881 (Railroad and turnpike) . 1881 (Gas light) 1881 (Bridge) 1881 (Water- works) 18S1 (Turnpike) 1881 (Railroad) 1881 (Building, etc. ) 1881 (Railroad) 1881 (Am. §10, Act 1875)..., CHAPTEK 541. 5. 85. 90. 94. 113. 133. 155. 182. 187. 223. 225. 241. 254. 263. 267. 349. 415. 417. 484. 510. 575. 582. 583. 585. 22. 58. 77. 117. 148. 213. 232. 295. 296. 311. 313. 321. 337. 338. 351. 399. 422. All. All. All. All. AH. All. All. All. All. All. AH. AU. All. AIL All. All. All. All. All. All. All. All. AU. All. AU. All. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. All. AU. AU. All. AU. All. AU. l6o THE GENEEAL CORPORATION LAW. Schedule op Laws Eepeaied — continued. lAWB OP 1S81 (Turnpike) 1881 (Railroad) 1881 (Railroad) 1881 (Water) 1881 (Railroad) , 1881 (Am. § 32, Act 1875) 1881 (Extending Act of 1848) . . . , 1881 (Railroad) 1881 (Extending Act of 1848)... , 18»1 (Turnpike) 1881 (Railroad) 1882 (Gaslight) 1882 (Railroad) 1882 (Railroad) 1882 (Extending Act 1848) 1882 (Turnpike) 1882 (Purchase of adjacent land) 1882 (Diminishing stock) 1882 (Am. § 1, Act 1848) 1882 (Railroad) 1882 (Railroad) 1882 (Raih-oad) 1882 (Railroad) 1883 (Railroad) 1883 (Real estate of apartment houses, etc. ) 1883 (Am. § 11, Act 1875) 1883 (Water-works) 1883 (Am. § 3, Act 1848) 1883 (Steam heating) 1883 (Building, etc.) 1S83 (Am, §1, Act 1848) 1883 (Driving park) 1883 (Gaslight)....* 1888 (Property in other States) 1883 (Raiboad) 1883 (Railroad) 1883 (Railroad) 1883 (Railroad) 1883 (Railroad) 1883 (Railroad) 1883 (Turnpike) 1883 (Water-works) 464. 468. 470. 472. 485. 551. 589. 649. 650. 674. 685. 73. 82. 140. 278. 289. 290. 306. 309. 349. 353. 393. 405. 46. 71. 102. 216. 232. 237. 238. 240. 287. 323. 361. 381. 382. 384. 386. 387. 388. 409. 482. BKCTIONS. All. All. All. All. AU. All. All. All. AU. All. AU. All. AU. AU. All. AU. AU. AU. AH. AU. AU. All. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU AU. AU. AU. AU. THE GENERAL COEPOEATION LAW. Schedule op Laws Repealed — continued. i6i LAWS OF 1883 (Water-works) 1883 (Gaslight) 1884 (Driving park) 1884 (Railroad) 1884 (Am § 18, Act 1875) 1884 (Railroad) 1884 (Railroad) 1884 (Am. § 1, Act 1848) 1884 (Consolidation) 1884 (Extending Act 1848) .... 1884 (Increasing shares Act 1875). 1884 (Railroad) 1884 (Railroad) 1884 (Railroad) 1884 (Railroad) 1884 (Railroad) 1885 (Am. § 1, Act 1848) 1885 (Hotel) 1885 (Gas light) 1885 (Water-works) 1885 (Cemetery) 1885 (Railroad) 1885 (Railroad) 1885 (Water-works) 1885 (Water- works) 1885 (Directors' fraudulent acts).. 1885 (Raiboad) 1885 (Am. Act of 1875) 1885 (Reorganization under Act 1875) 1885 (District steam) 1886 (Railroad) 1886 (Driving park; 1886 (Raih-oad) 1886 (Gas) 1886 (Gas) 1886 (Railroad) 1886 (Raiboad) 1886 (Railroad) 18H6 (Railroad) 1886 (Am. Act 1875) 1886 (Am. Act 1875) 1886 (Hotel) CHAPTER 483 497 140 193 208 223 252 267 367 386 397 421 422 439 441 444 84 127 141 153 171 305 369 422 423. 489. 498. 535. 540. 549. 65. 182. 271. 321. 322. 403. 415. 509. 551. 579. 586. 592. SECTIONS. All. All. All. All. AU. AU. All. All. All. All. AU. AU. AU. All. AU. AU. AU. All. All. AU. AU. AU. All. All. AU. AU. All. All. All. AU. AU. All. AU. AU. All. All. All. AU. All. AU. AU. AU. II l62 THE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW. ScHEDUiiE OF Laws "Repeaijed— continued. LAWS OP 1886 (Kailroad). 1886 1886 1886 1887 1887 1887 1887 1887 1887 1887 1888 1888 1888 1888 1888 1888 1888 1888 1888 1888 1888 1889 1889 1889 1889 1889 1889 1889 1889 1889 1889 1889 1889 1889 1889 1890 1890 1890 1890 1890 1890 CHAPTER (Railroad) (Railroad) (Railroad) (Foreign to hold real estate) (Extending Act 1848) , (Railroad) ' (Gas) I (Railroad) (Railroad) ' (Railroad) j (Railroad) ' (Lost certificates) ' (Am. § 1, Act 1848) j (Driving park) j (Am. § 13, Act 1875) ' (Am. Act 187o) ! (Elevated tramway) (Am. § 39, Act 1875) (Railroad) (Railroad) (Railroad) (Building, etc.) (Railroad) (Railroad) (Railroad) (Railroad) (Railroad) (Gas light) (Water-works) (Railroad) (Gas) (Railroad) (Railroad) (Railroad) *. . . . (Railroad) (Am. § 3, Act 1875) . (Railroad) (Hotel).. (Purchasers at franchise sale) (Driving park) (Electrie light) 601 605 634 642 450 486 536 570 616 622 724, 189 306, 313 359, 394. 447. 462, 513, 514. 549, 560. 57. 76. 78, 236. 242, 281, 332 369. 426. 519. 524, 531 532 564, 23 98 119 193 292 416 SECTIONS. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. All. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. All. AU. AU. AU. AU. All. All. AU. AU. AU. AIL AU. AU. AU. AU. AU. All. All. AU. All AIL AIL All. THE GENERAL CORPOEATION LAW. Schedule op Laws Repealed — continued. 163 LAWS OF CFAPTEB SECTIONS. 1890 (Eailroad) ' 421 All. 1890 (Railroad) 483 All. 1890 (Limiting properLj') 1890 (Gas) 497 All. 505 508 All. 1890 (Am. § 1, Act 1848) 1890 (Railroad) 1891 (Increasing or reducing di- rectors) 1891 (Railroad) Aii; 543 All. 57 All. 287 All. 1892 (Am. 8 30, L. 1890, c. 564).. 2 All. The Laws Governing the, Taxation OF Corporations. Tax upon organization.— Every corporation, joint- stock company or association incorporated by or under any general or special law of this state, having capital stock divided into shares, shall pay to the state treasurer, for the use of the state a tax of one-eighth of one per centum upon the amount of the capital stock which said corporation, joint-stock company or association is author- ized to have, and a like tax upon any subsequent increase thereof. The said tax shall be due and payable upon the incor- poration of said corporation, joint-stock company or association, or upon the increase of the capital thereof; and no such corporation, joint-stock company or associa- tion shall have or exercise any corporate powers until the said tax shall have been paid. And the secretary of state and any county clerk shall not file any certificate of incorporation or articles of association or certify or give any certificate to any such corporation, joint-stock company or association, until he is satisfied, that the said tax has been paid to the state treasurer ; and no such company incorponated by any special act of the legislature shall go into operation or exercise any corporate powers or privileges until said tax has been paid as aforesaid. But this act shall not apply to literary, scientific, medi- cal and religious corporations or corporations organized under the banking laws of this state br under chapter one hundred and twenty-two of the laws of eighteen hundred and fifty-one, entitled " An act for incorpora- (164) ORGANIZATION TAX. 1 65 tion of building, mutual loan and accumulating fund associations," and the acts amendatory thereof. In case of the consolidation of two corporations into a new cor- poration said new corporation shall be required to pay the tax hereinbefore provided for only upon the amount of its capital stock in excess of the aggregate amount of capital stock of said two corporations. See L. 1886, c. 143 ; L. 1887, c. 284 ; L. 1892, c. 668. Amount of organization tax. — The amount of the organization tax varies with the capital of the corporation, and is one-eighth of one per cent, of the total capitalization. This amount must be paid to the State treasurer before the certificate of organization can be filed.' In cases of increase of capital, the tax must be paid upon the amount of such increase, and the certificates perfecting the increase of capital will not be filed until the tax is paid. Upon the consolidation of two or more' corporations into a new corporation, the tax upon the new corporation is " only upon the amount of its capital stock in excess of the aggregate amount of capital stock of said two corporations." ^ It has been held that the tax must be paid by a corporation reorgan- izing under the provisions of the Business Corporations Law,* and where a new corporation is formed upon the sale of the property and franchises of a former corporation under a mortgage, the new corporation must pay an organization tax upon its entire capital.* This rule is one of much hardship, and it should be altered by statute. Provisions of the State Tax Law. Corporations to report annually. — Hereafter it shall be the duty of the president or treasurer of every association, corporation or joint-stock company liable to be taxed on its corporate franchise or business, as provided in section three of this act, to make report in writing to the comptrol- ler, annually, on or before the fifteenth day of November, • See ante, p. 6. '' Matter of N. Y. etc. Investment ' See People i'jr >r/. Eickemeyer Field Co., 40 St. Rep. 139 (Special Term, Co. V. Rice, N. Y. L. J. Dec. I, 1892 ; Rens. Co.). affi'd by Ct. of App., N. Y. L. J. Apl. ' See People v. Schurtz, no N. Y. 26, 1893. 443. affi'd by U. S. Supreme Ct., ' See L. 1892, c. 668. Under the Apl. 24, 1893 ; see also People v. Mar- former statute see People v. Rice, 57 tins, 10 St. Rep. 650, affi'd by U. S. Hun 486, 128 N. Y. 591. Supreme Ct. as above. 1 66 . TAXATION LAWS. Stating specifically the amount of capital paid in, the date, amount and rate per centum of each and every dividend declared by their respective corporations, joint-stock companies or associations, during the year ending with the first day of said month. In all cases where any such corporation, joint-stock company or association shall fail to make or declare any dividend upon either its common or preferred stock during the year ending as aforesaid, or in case the dividend or dividends made or declared upon either its common or preferred stock during the year ending as aforesaid, shall amount to less than six per centum upon the par value of the said common or preferred stock, the treasurer and secretary thereof, after being duly sworn or affirmed to do and perform the same with fidelity, according to the best of their knowledge and belief, shall, between the first and fifteenth days of November, in each year, in which no dividend has been made or declared as aforesaid, or in which the dividend or dividends made or declared upon either its common or preferred stock amounted to less than six per centum upon the par value of said common or preferred stock, estimate and appraise the capital stock of such company upon which no dividend has been made or declared, or upon the par value of which the dividend or dividends made or declared amounted to less than six per centum, at its actual value in cash, not less, however, than the average price which said stock sold for during said year ; and when the sarfle shall have been so truly estimated and appraised, they shall forthwith forward to the comp- troller a certificate thereof, accompanied by a copy of their said oath or affirmation, by them signed, and at- tested by the magistrate or other person qualified to administer the same ; provided, that if the comptroller is not satisfied with the valuation so made and returned, he is hereby authorized and empowered to make a valu- STATE TAXATION. 167 ation thereof and to settle an account upon the valuation so made by hina for the taxes, penalties and interest due the State thereon ; and any association, corporation or joint-stock company dissatisfied with the account so settled, may within ten days appeal therefrom to a board consisting of the secretary of State, attorney-general and State treasurer, which board, on such appeal, shall affirm or correct the account so settled by the comptroller, and the decision of said board shall be final ; but such appeal shall not stay proceedings unless the full amount of the taxes, penalties and interest as due on said account, as settled by the comptroller, be deposited with the State treasurer. L. 1880, c. 542, § I ; ara'd L. 1881, c. 361. Penalty for neglect to report.— If the said officers of any such corporation, joint-stock company or association shall neglect or refuse to furnish the comptroller, on or before the fifteenth day of November of each and every year, with the report aforesaid,' or the certificate of appraise- ment, and oath or affirmation, as the case may be, as re- quired by the first section of this act, or to pay the tax imposed on such corporation, company or association within fifteen days after the first of January, as pro- vided in the fourth section of this act, it shall be the duty of the comptroller of the State to add ten per centum to the tax of said corporation, company or association, for each and every year for which such report or certificate of appraisement an oath or affirmation were not so fur- nished, or for which such tax shall not have been paid, which percentage shall be assessed and collected with the said tax in the usual manner of assessing and collecting such taxes ; provided, that if said officers of any such cor- poration, joint-stock company or association shall inten- 1 See Cerbat Mining Co. v. State, 29 Hun 81. 1 68 TAXATION LAWS. tionally fail to comply with the provisions of the first or fourth section of this act for one year, the comptroller shall report the fact to the governor, who, if he shall be made satisfied that such failure was intentional, shall there- upon direct the attorney-general to take proceedings, in the name of the people of this State, to declare the charter or privileges of said corporation, joint-stock com- pany or association forfeited, and at an end ; and for such intentional failure duly found, the charter and privi- leges of every such corporation, company or association shall cease, end, and be determined. Id. § 2, am'd L. 1881, c. 361. {Perform of report required, see post. Forms, XXVII.) Corporations taxable; amount of tax. — Every corpora- tion, joint-stock company, or association whatever, nov*^ or hereafter incorporated, organized, or formed under, by, or pursuant to law in this state or in any other state or country, and doing business in this state, except only saving banks and institutions for sav- ings, life insurance companies, banks, foreign insurance companies, manufacturing or mining corporations, or companies wholly engaged in carrying on manufacture, or mining ores within this state, and agricultural and horticultural societies, associations or corporations, which exceptions, however, shall not include gas companies, trust companies, electric or steam heating, lighting and power companies, siiall be liable to and shall pay a tax, as a tax upon its franchise or business, into the State treas- ury annually, to be computed as follows : If the divi- dend or dividends made or declared by such corporation, joint-stock company or association, during any year end- ing with the first day of November, amount to six or more than six per centum upon the par value of its capital stock, then the tax to be at the rate of one-quarter mill STATE TAXATION. 1 69 upon the capital stock for each one per centum of divi- dends so made or declared ; or if no dividend be made or declared, or if the dividend or dividends made or de- clared do not amount to six per centum upon the par value of said capital stock, then the tax to be at the rate of one and one-half mills upon each dollar of the valua- tion of the said capital stock, made in accordance with the provisions of the first section of this act ; and in case any such corporation, joint-stock company or association shall have more than one kind of capital stock, as, for instance, common and preferred stock, and upon one of said stocks a dividend or dividends, amounting to six or more than six per centum upon the par value thereof, has been made or declared, and upon the other no divi- dend has been made or declared, or the dividend or divi- dends made or declared thereon amount to less than six per centum upon the par value thereof, then the tax shall be at the rate of one-quarter mill for each one per centum of dividend made or declared upon the capital stock up- on the par value of which the dividend or dividends made or declared amount to six or more than six per centum, and in addition thereto, tax shall be charged at the rate of one and one-half mills upon each dollar of a valuation, made also in accordance with the provisions of this act, of the capital stock upon which no dividend was made or de- clared, or upon the par value of which the dividend or divi- dends made or declared did not amount to six per centum. Id. § 3, asam'd L. 1881, c. 361; L. 1885, c. 359; L. 1889, c. 193; L. i88g, c. 353; L. 1890, c. 522. Corporations and associations taxable under this law. — All corpora- tions ' and joint-stock associations '' organized for business purposes under ' See People ex rel. American, etc. Tel. Co., 98 N. Y. 67; Peoples Spring Co. V. Wemple, 129 N. Y. 55S; People Valley, etc. Co., 92 N. Y. 383. V. Horn Silver Mining Co., 105 N. Y. ' See People ex rel. Piatt v. Wemple, 76; People V. Home Insurance Co., 117 N. Y. 136. 92 N. Y. 328; People v. Gold & Stock 170 TAXATION LAWS. the laws of this State except such as are within the stated exemptions in the above section, and all corporations and joint-stock associations or- ganized under the laws of other States, territories, or countries and doing business here ' except foreign insurance corporations, are taxable under this section. The exemption in favor of manufacturing corporations has been before the courts many times and in general it may be said that to be exempt the corporation must create some new and artificial product.' Gas, electric, or steam heating, lighting, and power companies are now taxable, however, by special provision of the statute. Amonnt of tax. — The amount of State tax payable by a corporation varies with the amount of capital employed by it in this State {seepos^, page 175), and it depends largely upon whether it is taxed upon dividends or upon a valuation of its capital stock. If the dividends of a corporation amount to six per cent, or over for the year ending on the first day of November, then it is taxed at the rate of one-quarter mill upon its capital stock for each one per cent, of dividend.'" And in this event no valua- tion is placed upon the capital by the comptroller. If, however, the dividends of a corporation are less than six per cent, for the year ending November first, or if no dividends are made or de- clared, then a valuation of the capital stock employed in the State is de- termined upon by the comptroller pursuant to the reports submitted to him, and the tax is at the rate of one and one-half mills upon each dollar of such valuation. Duty to remit tax. — It shall be the duty of the treasurer or other officer having charge of any corporation, joint- stock company or association, upon which a tax is im- posed by either of the preceding sections of this act, to transmit the amount of said tax to the treasury of the state within fifteen days after the first day of January in each and every year. Id. §4, as am'd L. i88t, c. 361. Reports of insurance companies. — Hereafter it shall be the duty of the president, secretary, or other proper offi- ' See note i, p. 169. Co. v. Brooklyn, 8g N. Y. 409; People 'See People ex rel. Brush Electric u. Knickerbocker Ice Co., 99 N. Y. Mfg. Co. Tj. Wemple, 129 N. Y. 543; 181. See also Evening Journal Asso. z/. People ex rel. Edison Electric 111. Co. State Board of Assessors, 18 Vroom V. Wemple, 129 N. Y. 664; People v. (N. J.) 36; Printing Co. v. Assessors, Horn Silver Mining Co., 105 N. Y. 76; 22 Vroom (N. J.) 75. See 145 N.Y. 587. People V. N..Y. Floating, etc. Dock » See People v. Albany Ins. Co., 92 Co., 92 N. Y. 487; Nassau Gas Light N.Y. 458. STATE TAXATION. I7I cer of every insurance company and every association or- ganized or incorporated by or under any law of this state, and of every person or partnership doing an insurance business in this state (except life insurance companies, and purely mutual beneficial associations, whose fund for the benefit of members, their families or heirs, is made up entirely of contributions of their members, and the accu- mulated interest thereon), to make report in writing to the comptroller annually upon the first day of August in each year, after the first day of August, eighteen hundred and eighty-one, setting forth the entire amount of premi- ums received on business done in this state by such com- pany or association, person or partnership during the year ending with the preceding thirtieth day of June, whether the said premiums were in money or in the form of notes, credits, or any other substitute for money, and every such company, association, person or partnership shall pay into the state treasury, at the date aforesaid, a tax, as a tax on its corporate franchise or business, at the rate of eight-tenths of one per centum upon the gross amount of said premiums. And every company or association organized under the laws of any other state or country, and every person or partnership doing an insurance busi- ness in this state, except as aforesaid, shall pay into the treasury on the first day of August in each year a tax at the rate of eight-tenths of one per centum on their gross premiums received by them on business transacted in this state durmg the year ending with the preceding thirtieth day of June, whether the said premiums were in money or in the form of notes, credits, or any other substitute for money. And every such company, association, per- son, partnership, or the agents and officers thereof in this state, shall make report in writing to the comptroller annually upon the first day of August in each year, set- 172 TAXATION LAWS. ting forth the entire amount of premiums received dur- ing the period aforesaid. Provided, that the reports above required shall be made under oath or affirmation, and that it shall be the duty of the comptroller of the state to add ten per centum to the account of any com- pany, association, person, or partnership, which shall neg- lect or refuse for a period of thirty days to make the said report, or to pay into the state treasury the tax imposed by this section. And it shall also be the duty of the president, secretary, or other proper officer of each and every insurance company, association, partnership, and of every person liable to be taxed under this section, to make a report in writing to the comptroller on the first day of August, eighteen hundred and eighty-one, under oath or affirmation, of the entire amount of premiums received on business done in this state during the six months ending with the preceding thirtieth day of June, and to pay a tax at the rate of eight-tenths of one per centum thereon. And it shall be the duty of the comp- troller of the state to add ten per centum to the account of any company, association, person or partnership, which shall neglect or refuse for a period of thirty days to make the said report, or to pay into the state treasury the tax imposed. Id. § 5, as am'd L. 1881, c. 361. Tax on gross earnings of transportation corporations. — • In addition to the taxes above provided for, every corpo- ration formed for »ailroad, canal, steamboat, ferry, ex- press, navigation or transportation purposes, and every elevated railway company, and every other corporation, joint-stock company or association now or hereafter in- corporated or organized by or under any law of this state, or now or hereafter incorporated or organized by or un- der the laws of any other state or country and doing busi- STATE TAXATION. 1 73 ness in this state, and owning, operating or leasing to or from another corporation, joint-stock company or asso- ciation, any railroad, canal, steamboat, ferry, express, navi- gation, pipe-line or transportation route or line, or ele- vated railway, or other device for the transportation of freight or passengers, or in any way engaged in the busi- ness of transporting freights or passengers, and every tele- graph company or telephone company incorporated un- der the laws of this or any other state, and doing business in this state, and every express company or association, palace car or sleeping car company or association, incor- porated or unincorporated, doing business in this state, shall pay to the state treasurer for the use of the state, as a tax upon its corporate franchise or business in this state, a tax, at the rate of five-tenths of one per centum upon the gross earnings in this state of said corporation or company or association, for tolls, transportation, tele- grah, telephone or express business transacted in this state. Id. §6, as am'd L. 1881, c. 361. Tax of these corporations, when payable. — The tax im- posed under section six of this act shall, after the first day of August, eighteen hundred and eighty-one, be paid annually on the first day of August of each year. It shall, be the duty of the president, secretary or other proper ofificer of the corporations, joint-stock companies or associations referred to in section six of this act to transmit to the comptroller, on the first day of August in each year, a statement under oath or affirmation, of the amount of the gross earnings of the said associations, corporations or joint-stock companies derived from all sources during the year ending with the preceding thirti- eth day of June, together with the amount of tax im- posed thereon by section six. And it shall also be the 174 TAXATION LAWS. duty of the president, secretary or other proper officer of the corporations, joint-stock companies or associations re- ferred to in section six of this act, to transmit to the comp- troller on the first day of August, eighteen ..hundred and eighty-one, a statement under oath or affirmation of the amount of the gross earnings of the said associations, corpo- rations or joint-stock companies derived from all sources during the six months ending with the thirtieth day of June, eighteen hundred and eighty-one, together with the tax im- posed thereon by section six of this act. And if any such corporation, joint-stock company or association shall neg- lect or refuse, for a period of thirty days after any tax imposed by sections six or seven of this act becomes due, to make returns or to pay the same, the amount thereof, with the addition of ten per centum thereto, shall be col- lected for the use of the state as other taxes are recover- able by law from such corporation, joint-stock company or association. Id. § 7, as am'd L. 1881, c. 361. Corporations taxable hereunder exempt from other state tax. — The corporations, joint-stock companies and asso- ciations mentioned in this act as taxable shall hereafter be exempt from assessment and taxation for state pur- poses, except upon their real estate, and as herein pro- vided ; but they shall in all other respects be liable to assessment and taxation as heretofore.' Id. § 8, as am'd L. 1881, c. 361. Taxes, how to be applied. — The taxes imposed by this act, and the revenue derived therefrom, shall be applicable to the payment of the ordinary and current expenses of the .state, and if any corporation, joint-stock company, ' See People v. Davenport, 91 N. Y. 311 ; People v. Gold & Stock Tel. Co., 574; People V. Fire Asso., 92 N. Y. 98 N. Y. 67. STATE TAXATION. 1 75 person, partnership or association shall neglect or refuse to pay any tax by this act required to be paid, the same may be sued for in the name of the people of the state, and recovered in any court of competent jurisdiction, in an action to be brought by the attorney-general at the instance of the comptroller. Id. §9, as am'd L. i88i, c. 361. Saving clause. — All obligations, liabilities and taxes heretofore incurred or imposed under said act, chapter five hundred and forty-two of Laws of eighteen hun- dred and eighty, are saved, and shall be enforced as if the said act had not been hereby amended. Id. § ro, as ara'd L. 1881, c. 361. Capital employed in the state the basis of taxation. — The amount of capital stock which shall be the basis for tax under the provisions of section three of this act, in the case of every corporation, joint-stock company and asso- ciation liable to taxation thereunder, shall be the amount of capital stock employed within this state. In making to the comptroller the report in writing or certificate of estimate and appraisal of the capital stock of such cor- poration, joint-stock company or association, provided for by the first section of this act, it shall be the duty of the president or treasurer thereof, as the case may be, to state, specifically, the amount of capital stock employed within this state of such corporation, joint-stock com- pany or association. Whenever the comptroller is dis- satisfied with such report or certificate of estimate and appraisal, as the case may be, of any corporation, joint- stock company or association, whose capital is only par- tially employed w^ithin this state, he is authorized and empowered to ascertain, fix and determine the amount 176 TAXATION LAWS. of capital employed within this state, and so settle an account for the taxes and penalties due the state thereon. The gross earnings in this state, which shall be the basis of taxation, under the provisions of section, six of this act, shall be the gross earnings derived from business origi- nating and terminating within this state, and shall in no event include earnings derived from business which is of an interstate character, and all settlements for such taxes heretofore based by the comptroller upon gross earnings, excluding earnings from interstate business, are hereby ratified and confirmed, except that the accounts for taxa- tion under section six of this act for the years eighteen hundred and ninety-two and eighteen hundred and ninety- three shall be settled and adjusted by the comptroller by excluding the earnings of an interstate character as herein provided. §11. L. 1882, c 151, as am'd L. 1885, c. 501, and L. 1894, c. 562. Importance of the above provision. — The above section is of great im- portance to all business corporations, and since the amendment of 1894, to all transportation corporations.' The method of determining the amount of property employed in the State is outlined in the section, but there is much contention in the courts as to what is doing business in the State and as to how the value of the capital employed here shall be de- termined. The bank account of the corporation, its office or factory- expenses in the State, the value of its personal property here, the amount of sales made by it in the State, are all elements that are talcen into account.' Comptroller may examine books. — Whenever any corporation, joint- stock company or association liable to make reports or certificates of estimate and appraisal to the comptroller, under any of the provisions of this act, shall neglect or refuse to make' such report or reports within the time prescribed in this act, or shall make such report or certificate as shall be unsatisfactory to the comptroller, the comptroller is authorized to examine, or cause to be examined, the books and records of any such corporation, joint-stock aompany or association, and to fix and determine the amount of tax and penalty due in pursuance of the provisions of this act, either from the said books and records, or from any other data in his possession which shall be satisfactory to him, and to settle on account for said tax and penalty, together with the expenses of such examination, against said corporation, joint-stock company or association. Id. § 12. See L. 1882, c. 151 ; L. 1885, c. 501. ' See People ex rel. v. Campbell, 74 Clock Co. v. Wemple, 133 N. Y. 323 ; Hun 210, and 142 U. S. 217, 339. People ex rel. Southern Cotton Oil Co. ''See People ex rel. Setli Thomas w. Wemple, 131N. Y. 64; People ^j:?r/ STATE TAXATION. 177 Comptroller may call witnesses, etc. — Whenever the comptroller shall deem it necessary or important to ex- amine any person as a witness upon any subject or matter relating to the amount of capital stock of such corpora- tion, or to use, examine or inspect any book, account, voucher or document in pos3ession of any officer of such corporation, or other person, or under his control, relating to such capital stock and tax, he shall have the power to issue a subpoena in proper form, commanding such per- son or officer to appear before him or some person desig- nated as commissioner by him by an appointment in writing, filed in the office of such comptroller, at a time and at the place where the principal office of such cor- poration is situated within this state in such subpoena specified, to be examined as a witness, and such subpoena may contain a clause requiring such person or officer to produce on such examination all books, papers and docu- ments in his possession or under his control, relating to the capital stock of such corporation and the amount thereof employed within this state. Such subpoena shall be served upon the person named by showing him the original subpoena and delivering to and leaving with him at the same time a copy thereof. The comptroller or the commissioner so designated by him as aforesaid may administer oaths to such persons as he may desire to examine, so brought before him by subpoena or other- wise, and examine them on oath in relation to any mat- ter which may in any wise be material in determining the amount of the tax to be paid by any such corporation, joint-stock company or association as aforesaid. When- ever any person duly subpoenaed to appear and give evi- American, etc. Co. v. Wemple, 129 People ?/. Am. Bell Tel. Co.. 117 N. Y. N. Y. 558; People ex rel. Davis Colby, 241; People v. Equitable Trust Co., 96 etc. Co. V. Campbell, 48 St. Rep. 817; N. Y. 389. See 138 N. V. 543; 144 N, 12 Y. 166. 178 TAXATION LAWS. dence as aforesaid, or to produce any books and papers as hereinbefore provided, shall neglect or refuse to appear or to produce such books and papers according to the exigency of such subpoena, or shall refuse to testify before said comptroller or the commissioner so designated by him, or to answer any proper and pertinent question, he shall be deemed in contempt, and thereupon any jus- tice of the Supreme Court of the judicial district within which the principal office of such corporation within this state is situated shall, upon the motion of the comptroller, based upon affidavit showing the commission of the offense, either, first, make an order requiring the accused to show cause before him, at a time and place specified therein, why the accused should not be punished for the alleged offense ; or, second, issue a warrant of attachment directed to the sheriff of a particular county, or generally ■directed to the sheriff of any county where the man may be found, commanding him to bring him before said jus- tice either forthwith or at a time and place therein speci- fied, to answer for the alleged offense. On the return of said attachment and the production of the body of the defendant therein the said justice shall have jurisdiction in the matter, and the person charged may purge himself of the contempt in the same way, and the same proceed- ings shall be had, and the same penalties may be imposed and the same punishments inflicted as in the case of a witness subpoenaed to appear and give evidence as is pre- scribed in title thrae, chapter seventeenth of the Code of Civil Procedure, in proceedings to punish a contempt of court other than a criminal contempt. L. 1882, c. 151, asam'd L. 1885, c. 501. Adjusting back taxes. — The comptroller is hereby au- thorized and directed, upon application to him made by any corporation, joint-stock company or association, to STATE TAXATION. I 79 make, settle and adjust all accounts against such corpo- ration, joint-stock company or association, for all taxes and penalties arising under the third section of this act since the twelfth day of May, a.d. eighteen hundred and eighty-two, by taking as a basis for taxation the capital employed within the state by such corporation, joint- stock company or association. Provided, however, that such corporation, joint-stock company or association shall not be entitled to the benefit of a settlement upon such basis unless it shall have secured such adjustment and paid into the treasury the full amount of the taxes so set- tled, before the first day of August, eighteen hundred and eighty-five, nor shall this section apply to the case of any tax for which suit shall have been heretofore brought by the attorney-general, in which suit the trial has been com- menced, or in which judgment shall have been entered heretofore for the people for the amount of said tax. Any corporation, joint-stock company or association whose capital has heretofore been only partially employed within this state, and which is now liable for taxes arising under the third section of this act since the twelfth day of May, a.d. eighteen hundred and eighty-two, and which are still due and unpaid, may, at any time prior to the first day of August, eighteen hundred and eighty-five, pay to the state treasurer, for the use of the state, in full discharge of the same, such sum of money as shall be fixed by the comptroller as the tax due for the said period by the said corporation, joint-stock company or association, upon the basis of the capital employed within the state. Provided, that this section shall not apply to the case of any tax for which suit may have heretofore been brought by the attorney-general, and for which judg- ment shall have been entered therein, or if in such suit trial has been commenced. Id. § 14. See L. 1885, c. 501. l8o TAXATION LAWS. Interest thereon.— All accounts hereafter settled by the comptroller agreeably to the provisions of this act shall bear interest from a date thirty days after the sending of notice of settlement, hereinafter provided for, until full payment thereof shall be made. Id. § 15. See L. 1885, c. 501. Corporations to have notice.— It shall be the duty of the comptroller after making with any partnership, cor- poration, joint-stock company or association, liable to tax- ation under any of the provisions of this act, the settle- ment of such taxes, to forthwith send notice hereof, in writing, to such person, partnership, corporation, joint- stock company or association, which notice may be sent by mail to the post-office address of such corporation, joint-stock company or association. Id. g 16. See L. 1885, c. 501. Reviewing comptroller's decision. — No writ of certiorari to review the determination and settlement of the comp- troller as to the amount of capital used within the state by any corporation, joint-stock company or association, and as to the tax and penalty to be paid thereon, shall be granted, except application therefor be made within thirty days after service upon such corporation, joint-stock com- pany or association by the comptroller of notice of such settlement. Nor shall any such writ be granted except the papers upon which motion therefor is to be made, including notice o? motion, shall have been served upon the comptroller at least eight days before such motion, nor unless the corporation, joint-stock company or asso- ciation applying for such writ shall, before making such motion, have deposited with the state treasurer the full amount of taxes, penalties and charges so settled and ad- justed by the comptroller, and filed with him an under- STAIE TAXATION. l8l taking in such amount, and with such sufificient sureties as shall be approved by one of the justices of the supreme court of this state, to the effect that if said writ be vacated, and the determination of the comptroller sustained, the applicant for the writ will make payment of all costs and charges which may accrue against such applicant in the prosecution of such writ including costs on all appeals. Id. § 17. See L. 1885, c. 501. Warrant to collect taxes.— After the expiration of thirty days from the service by the comptroller of notice of the settlement aforesaid, if no proceedings shall have been taken to review the same, as provided by this act, or if the deposit with the state treasurer of the amount of the said settlement, together with the undertaking, as pro- vided for by this act, shall not then have been made, it shall be lawful for the comptroller to issue his warrant or warrants under his hand and seal of office directed to the sheriff of any county in this state, commanding him to levy upon and sell the goods and chattels, lands and tene- ments of the said corporation, joint-stock company or as- sociation found within the said county, for the payment of the amount of said settlement, together with interest thereon and costs of executing such warrant, and to re- turn the said warrant to the comptroller, and pay to the state treasurer the money which shall be collected by virtue thereof, by a certain time therein to be specified, not less than sixty days from the date of such warrant. Such warrant shall be a lien upon and shall bind the per- sonal estate of the person, partnership, corporation, joint- stock company or association against whom it shall be issued, from the time an actual levy shall be made by virtue thereof, and the sheriff to whom such warrant shall be directed shall proceed upon the same in all respects 1 82 -TAXATION LAWS. with the like effect and in the same manner as prescribed by law in respect to executions issued against property upon judgments rendered by a court of record, and shall be entitled to the same fees and costs for his services in executing the same to be collected in the same manner. Id. § i8. See L. 1885, c. 501. Comptroller may revise account.— The comptroller may at any time revise and readjust any account theretofore set- tled against any person, association, corporation or joint- stock company, by himself or any preceding comptroller, for taxes arising under this act or the act to which it is an amendment, whenever it shall be made to appear by evidence submitted to him that the same has been illegally paid or so made as to include taxes which could not have been lawfully demanded and shall resettle the same according to law and the facts, and charge or credit as the case may require the difference, if any, resulting from such revision and resettlement upon the current accounts of such person, association, corporation or joint- stock company. § :g. See L. 1S89, c. 463. Power of Supreme Court to review.— The action of the comptroller upon any application made to him by any person or corporation for a revision and resettlement of accounts as provided in this act may be reviewed, both upon the law and the facts, upon certiorari by the Supreme Court at (the instance either of the party mak- ing such application or of the attorney-general in the name and in behalf of the people of this state, and for that purpose the comptroller shall return to such certiorari the accounts and all the evidence submitted to him on such application, and, if the original or resettled accounts shall be found erroneous or illegal by that court either in STATE TAXATION. 1 83 point of law or of fact the said accounts shall be there corrected and restated by the said Supreme Court and from any such determination of the Supreme Court an appeal may be taken by either party to the Court of Appeals as in other cases. ' § 20. See L. i88g, c. 463. Application of L. 1889, c. 463. — None of the provisions of this act shall apply to any taxes heretofore paid by any person or corporation in pursuance of a judgment or order of a court or by virtue of any stipulation. L. 1889, c. 463. Persons reporting evasions of taxes to be compensated. — For the better enforcement of chapter five hundred and forty-two, of the laws of eighteen hundred and eighty, and the acts amendatory thereof, it shall be lawful for any person having knowledge of the evasion of taxation under said acts by any association, corporation or joint- stock company liable to taxation thereunder, to report such fact to the comptroller, together with such informa- tion as may be in his possession as may lead to the re- covery of such taxes from said association, corporation or joint-stock company; and whenever in the opinion of the attorney-general or comptroller the interests of the state require it, either of them is hereby authorized to employ such person so reporting such evasion to assist in the collection and preparation of evidence and in the prosecution and trial of suits for such taxes ; and so much of the sum collected from such delinquent association, corporation or joint-stock company, by reason of such report or such services, as shall have been agreed upon by such person and the attorney-general or comptroller ' See People ex rel. Edison 111. Co. v. Wemple, 133 N. Y. 617. 184 TAXATION LAWS. as a compensation therefor, shall be paid to such person, provided that the sum so paid shall not exceed ten per centum of the amount so collected ; and provided further, that nothing whatever shall be paid to such person for such purpose unless there shall be a recovery of taxes from such delinquent association, corporation or joint- stock company by reason of such report or such services. L. 1886, c. 266, § 1. Local taxation of corporations. — In addition to their State taxes corporations must also pay taxes in the localities where their principal offices are established. And corporations exempted from the provisions of the State Law are not exempted from local taxation. The principal law now governing the local taxation of business corpora- tions was enacted in 1857, and when it was adopted there was no law pro- viding for the State taxation of these bodies. It was therefore the one law under which their capital was taxed and it formed the one system of corporate taxation. Notwithstanding the increased taxation now put upon these corpora- tions by the new system of State taxation, including the organization tax law, the old law of 1857 has been allowed to continue in existence un- changed and frequent threats are made by the legislature of the State to make it more stringent. Business corporations derive none of their authority from the local authorities, and they do not obtain from the State any public or monopolistic powers. They are brought into com- petition with partnerships, and although it is reasonable to insist that corporate charters are valuable and that even business corporations must pay their share toward the support of the government, it is not reason- able to tax them for organization at an exceedingly high rate, then to tax them annually for State purposes at a high rate and finally to turn them over to the local authorities and allow them to proceed as though no taxes at all had yet been paid and re-tax them under a law which formerly represented their total amount of taxation on capital. For corporations located in cities this is particularly unjust. There, the amounts paid for local taxes are out of all proportion to the returns made by the locality to the cor^ration, and they are in the highest degree bur- densome. With a revision of our tax laws which although delayed must eventually come, it is to be hoped that a more liberal, consistent, and just law for local taxation may be adopted. The best course a corporation can take to forestall severe taxation under existing laws is to establish its principal office where local taxation is not heavy. What corporations liable to taxation.— All moneyed or stock corporations deriving an income or profit from LOCAL TAXATION. 1 85 their capital, or otherwise, shall be liable to taxation on their capital, in the manner hereinafter prescribed. See I R. 8. 414, § i; Birdseye's Ed., vol. 3, p. 3008. President, etc., to deliver annual statement to assessors. — The president, cashier, secretary, treasurer or other proper officer, of every such incorporated company, shall, on or before the first day of July in each year, make and deliver to the assessors, or one of them, of the town or ward in which such company is liable to be taxed, according to the provisions of the sixth section of the second Title of this Chapter, a written statement, specifying 1. The real estate, if any, owned by such company, the towns or wards in which the same is situated, and the sums actually paid therefor : 2. The capital stock actually paid in and secured to be paid in, excepting therefrom the sums paid for real estate, and the amount of such capital stock held by the state, and by any incorporated literary or charitable institution : And, 3. The town or ward in which the principal office or place of transacting the financial business of such com- pany, is situated ; or if there be no such principal office, the town or ward in which its operations are carried on, or in which it is liable to be taxed, under the provisions of this Chapter. Id. § 2. Report to comptroller.— The president or other proper officer of every such company shall also deliver to the comptroller, on or before the first day of July in each year, a written statement, containing the same matters required by the foregoing section to be specified in the statement, to be delivered to the assessors. The state- ments required by this and the preceding section of this Title, shall be certified under the oath of the said presi- 1 86 TAXATION LAWS. dent or other proper officer to be in all respects just and true. Id. § 3. Penalty for omission to make statement ; how collected. — If the statements above required, or eithef of them, shall not be furnished by any company to the assessors and to the comptroller, within thirty days after the time above provided, the company neglecting to furnish such state- ments or either of them, shall forfeit to the people of this state, for each statement omitted to be furnished, the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars ; and it shall be the duty of the comptroller to furnish the attorney- general with an account of all companies that shall neg- lect to render such lists, that he may prosecute for the penalties hereby imposed. Id. § 4. {For form of report in the city of New York, see post. Forms, XXVIIl.) When suit may be discontinued. — If any company, that shall be prosecuted for any such penalty, shall pay the costs of prosecution and furnish the statement required, the comptroller, if he shall be satisfied that the omission was not wilful, may, in his discretion, discontinue such suit. Id. § 5. How corporations to be assessed. — The assessors shall enter all incorporated companies from which such state- ments shall have been received by them, and the prop- erty of such companies, and the property of all other inj:orporated companies, liable to taxation in their re- spective towns, in tbeir assessment rolls, in the following manner: I. They shall insert in the first column of their assess- ment rolls the name of each incorporated company in their respective towns or wards liable to taxation on its capital or otherwise; and under its name they shall specify the amount of its capital stock paid in, and LOCAL TAXATION. 1 87 secured to be paid in, the amount paid by such company for real estate then belonging to such company, wherever the same may be situated, the amount of all surplus profits, or reserved funds, exceeding ten per cent, of their capital, after deducting therefrom the said amount of said real estate, and the amount of its stock, if any, belonging to the state and to incorporated literary and charitable institutions. 2. In the second column, they shall enter the quantity of real estate owned by such company, and situated within their town or ward ; and in the third column, the actual value thereof, estimated as in other cases. 3. In the fourth column, they shall enter the amount of the capital stock of every incorporated company paid in, and secured to be paid in, and all of such surplus profits or reserved funds as aforesaid, after deducting the sums paid out for all the real estate of such company, wherever the same may be situated and then belonging to it, and the amount of stock, if any, belonging to the people of this state and to incorporated literary and charitable institutions. Id. § 6, as am'd L. 1853, c. 654, § i. Proceedings on application to assessors to reduce valu- ation. — Whenever any person on his own behalf, or on behalf of those whom he may represent, shall apply to the assessors of any town or ward to reduce the value of his real and personal estate, as set down in the assess- ment roll, it shall be the duty of such assessors to examine such person under oath touching the value of his or their said real or personal estate ; and after such exam- ination, and such other supplementary evidence, under oath, as shall be presented by the party or person ag- grieved, they shall fix the value thereof at such sum as 1 88 TAXATION LAWS. they may deem just, under the rule prescribed by section * of this title ^ but if such person shall refuse to answer any question as to the value of his real or personal estate, or the amount thereof, or present sufficient supplement- ary evidence, under oath, to justify a reduction, the said assessors shall not reduce the value of such real or per- sonal estate. The examination so taken shall be written, and shall be subscribed by the person examined, and shall be filed in the office of the town clerk of the town or city in which such assessment shall be made ; and any person who shall willfully sweair false on such examina- tion before the assessors, shall be deemed guilty of wilful and corrupt perjury. It shall also be the duty of the as- sessors, whenever the valuation fixed tof them, after such examination, shall exceed that sworn to by the aggrieved party or person, to endorse on the written examination, the words " Disagreed to by the undersigned assessors, under the rule prescribed for making assessments, by section fifteen, article two, title two, chapter thirteen, part one, of the Revised Statutes, and in view of the obligations imposed by the deposition and oath, sub- scribed and made on the completion of the assessment roll, to which this disagreement refers." It shall be the duty of the assessors on the same occasion, to furnish the aggrieved party or person a duplicate copy of the before mentioned written examination, together with the endorsement of disagreement aforesaid, duly signed.' L. 1851, c. 176, § 6, as arri'd L. 1857, c. 536, § 5, See i R. S. 416, § 8. Birdseye's Ed., vol. 3, p. 2966. Taxes to be stated and collected.— The amount of taxes assessed on all incorporated companies liable to ' See People ex rel. McMaster v. * So in original. Supervisors of Niagara, 4 Hill 20 ; \%o in original. Utica Cotton M'f'g Co v. Supervisors of Oneida, i Barb. Ch. 432. LOCAL TAXATION. 1 89 taxation, shall be set down by the board of supervisors, in the fifth column of the corrected assessment roll, and shall form a part of the moneys to be collected by the collector. See I R. S. 417, § 15, as am'd L. 1857, c. 456, § 2 ; Birdseye's Ed., vol. 3. p. 3009. Capital stock, etc., of corporation taxable. — The cap- ital stock of every company liable to taxation, except such part of it as shall have been excepted in the assess- ment roll, or as shall have been exempted by law, to- gether with its surplus profits or reserved funds, exceed- ing ten per cent of its capital, after deducting the assess- ed value of its real estate, and all shares of stock in other corporations actually owned by such company, which are taxable upon their capital stock under the laws of this state, shall be assessed at its actual value, and taxed in the same manner as the other personal and real estate of the county. See L. 1857, c. 456, § 3 ; Birdseye's Ed., vol. 3, p. 2954. How a corporation is taxable for local pniposes. — The provision last given is the controlling law now applicable to the local taxation of domestic corporations. The courts have construed the law in a great variety of ways, and what it now means is not clear. Cases are con- stantly arising under it, and although the Court of Appeals has said that the share stock is the property of the shareholders and is not to be taxed,' the commissioners of taxes in New York City were recently upheld in taking the value of the share stock as their basis of taxation.' The as- sessed valuation of real estate owned by the corporation in this State, and the actual value of real estate owned by the corporation elsewhere, should be deducted from the amount of taxable capital.' United States ' People ex rel. Union Trust Co. v. People ex rel. Williainsburgh Gas Light Coleman, 126 N. Y. 433. Co. v. Assessors of Brooklyn, 76 N. Y. "^ People ex rel. Central Crosstown 202. R. Co. V. Barker (Sup. Ct. S. T.), N. » See People ex rel. Fairfield Chem- Y. L. J., Dec. 10, 1892. Upon the ical Co. v. Coleman, 115 N. Y. 178; subject of what is taxable as capital, People ex rel. Panama R. Co. v. Com- see People ex rel. Union Trust Co. v. missioners of Taxes, 104 N. Y. 240 ; Coleman, 126 N. Y. 433, where the People ex rel. Butchers' Hide, etc. Co. former authorities are elaborately re- v. Asten, 100 N. Y. 597; People ex rel. viewed ; and as to what is surplus, see Twenty-third St. R. Co. v. Commis- I go TAXATION LAWS. securities and any shares, of stock owned in corporations that are taxable in this State or in foreign corporations may also be deducted.' Debts also should be deducted before a surplus fund can be taxed.^ Cor- porations may be assessed differently in different localities,' and they may be assessed whether or not they make the report required.* Pro- ceedings to review assessments may be taken under L. 1880, c. 269 ' And in case the proper affidavit is made showing that a corporation is not in receipt of any income or profit either from its real or personal estate, no tax will be imposed." In New York City proceedings to reduce taxes should be taken under the Consolidation Act.* Place of taxation. — The real estate of all incorporated companies liable to taxation, shall be assessed in the town or ward in which the same shall lie, in the same manner as the real estate of individuals.' All the personal estate of every incorporated company liable to taxation on its capital, shall be assessed in the town or ward where the principal office, or place for transacting the financial concerns of the company, shall be ; " or if such company sioners of Taxes, 95 N. Y. 554; People ex rel. Van Nest v. Commissioners of Taxes, 80 N. Y. 573. See also People ex rel. Central Crosstown R. Co. v. Barker, N. Y. L. J., Dec. 10, 1892. ' See Davies' System of Taxation, p. loi ; International Life Assur. So. v. Com. of Taxes, 28 Barb. 318 ; People ex rel. Bank of Commerce v. Com. of Taxes, 23 N. Y. 192 ; People ex rel. Pacific Mail S. S. Co. v. Com. of Taxes, 64 N. Y. 541 ; People ex rel. Edison Gen'l III. Co. v. Tax Com'rs (Sup. Ct. Cha;ii.), N. Y. L. J., Dec. 8, 1892. ' See People ex rel. West Side, etc. R. Co. V. Com. of Taxes, 31 Hun 32 ; People ex rel. Hanover FireTlns. Co. v. Coleman, 44 Hun 47 ; People ex rel. Broadway, etc. R. Co. v. Com. of Taxes, i T. & C. 635 ; People ex rel. Utica, etc. R. Co. v. Shields, 6 Hun 556; People ex rel. Bank of Commerce V. Com. of Taxes, 23 N. Y. 192; People ex rel. Pacific Mail S. S. Co. v. Com. of Taxes, 46 How. Pr. 315. See 141 N. Y. 196, 251. ' People ex rel. Parsons Mfg. Co. v. Moore, 11 St. Rep. 859. ■• People ex rel. Mutual Un. Tel. Co. V. Com. of Taxes, 99 N.Y. 254 ; Peo- ple ex rel. Man. Fire Ins. Co. v. Com. of Taxes, 76 N. Y. 64 ; People ex rel. West Shore R. Co. v. Pitman, 9 St. Rep. 469. " See People ex rel. W. U. T. Co. v. Dolan, 125 N. Y. 166; People ^;i; >•«/. Warren v. Carter, 109 N. Y. 576; Peo- ple ex rel. Smith v. Commissioners, lor N. Y. 651 ; People ex rel. Church of Holy Com. v. Assessors, io6 N. Y. 671; People V. Com. of Taxes, 99 N. Y. 254. ' See Utica Cotton Mfg. Co. v. Supervisors of Oneida, r Barb. Ch. 432; People ex rel. McMaster v. Super- visors of Niagara, 4 Hill 20. 'See People v. Gold & Stock Tel. Co., 98 N. Y.,67; Hudson River Bridge Co. V. Patterson, 74 N. Y. 365. * See Peter Cooper's Glue Factory v. McMahon, 15 Abb. N. C. 314; Peoples. Assessors of Glean, 15 St. Rep. 461; People V. McLean, 80 N. Y. 254. Se« 138 N. Y. 158. * See L. 1882, c. 4to, §§ 821, 822 ; and § 861, as am'd L. 1892, c. 58 ; 140 N. Y. 437; 139 N.Y. 5i;i44 NY. 94, 483, 638. %te form 39. FOREIGN CORPORATIONS. I9I have no principal office, or place for transacting its finan- cial concerns, then in the town or ward where the opera- tions of such company shall he carried on. See R. S., Part I., ch. 13, title 4, § 6, 8th Ed., p. 1094; Birdseye's Ed., p, 2962. Local taxation of foreign corporations.— Foreign cor- porations are not taxable for local purposes under the foregoing laws, but their property in this State is taxable under the following statute : " All persons and associations doing business in the State of New York, as merchants, bankers or otherwise, either as principals or partners, whether special or other- wise, and not residents of this state, shall be assessed and taxed, on all sums invested in any manner in said busi- ness, the same as if they were residents of this state ; and said taxes shall be collected from the property of the firms, persons or associations to which they severally belong." ' See L. 1855, c. 37. Other taxation of foreign business corporations. — Corporations organ- ized under the laws of other States, and transacting business here, are also taxable under the State tax law as already seen.' They are taxed on the same basis as domestic corporations, so far as this annual tax is concerned, both being taxed upon the amount of capital employed in the State. ^ Their real estate is taxed where located.^ ■ See People ex rel. Keystone Gas ^ Ante, pp. 168-170. As to when a Co. V. Assessors of Olean, 15 St. Rep. tax of this character is a tax upon inter- 462; International Life Assur. So. v. state commerce, see People z/. Wemple, Com. of Taxes, 2S Barb. 318. A for- 138 N. Y. i. See also ante, p. 107 et eign corporation cannot deduct its in- seq. debtedness from the amount invested 'See cases cited ante, n. 2, p. 176,. in its business in this State. People ex and 139 N. Y. 68. rel. Thurber-Whyland Co. v. Barker, * See i R. S. 389, §§ i, 2, 3, 4 ; Birds- 141 N. Y. n8. eye's R. S., vol. 3, p. 2961. 192 TAXATION LAWS. Taxation of joint-stock associations. — Joint-stock associations have this advantage over business corporations, namely, they are not subject to the statute covering local taxation.' They are, however, subject to the State tax law,^ the organization tax law,^ and the law of 1855, given on the preceding page. License tax upon foreign corporations. — Laws of 1895, chapter 240, entitled : " An act to provide for licensing foreign corporations," contain the following provisions : Section i. Every foreign corporation except banking, fire, marine, casu- alty and life insurance companies, and corporations wholly, engaged in carrying on manufactures in this state, co-operative fraternal insurance companies, endowment orders and building and loan associations, now authorized to do business in this state, under the provisions of chapter six hundred and eighty-seven of the laws of eighteen hundred and ninety-two, entitled " An act to amend the general corporation law," shall pay to the state treasurer for the use of the state, a license fee of one-eighth of one per cen- tum for the privilege of exercising its corporate franchises or carrying on its business in such corporate or organized capacity in this state, on the first day of December, eighteen hundred and ninetj'-five, to be computed upon the basis of the amount of capital stock employed by it within this state during the year preceding that date, and every such foreign corporation which shall hereafter be authorized to do business in this state shall pay a like license fee for the privilege, to be computed upon the basis of the capital stock employed by it within this state for its business during the first year of carrying on its business in this state. The amount of capital upon which such taxes shall be paid shall be fixed by the comptroller, who shall have the same authority to examine the books and records in this state of such foreign corporations, and the employes thereof, and the same power to issue his warrant for the collection of such taxes, as he now has with regard to domestic corporationb. Every such foreign corporation hereafter authorized to do business in this state shall, before receiving the certificate of authority provided by law, pay to the state treasurer, for the use of the state, the tax hereinbefore provided for. No action shall be maintained or recovery had in any of the courts of this state by such foreign corporation doing business in this state, without obtaining the certificate of authority prescribed by law, and a receipt for the license fee hereby imposed.^ § 2. This act shall tak^effect immediately. ' People ex rel. Winchester as Treas. u. Coleman, 10 Ry. and Corp. L. J. V. Coleman, 133 N. Y. 279, 45 St. 127. Rep. 217. See also People ex rel. ''Ante, p. 168. Piatt V. Wemple, 117 N. Y. 136; Hoey ^ Ante, p. 164. '' See ante, pp. 105-112. APPENDIX. Transportation Corporations Law. BEING LAWS OF 1890, CHAPTER 566, ENTITLED: "AN ACT IN RELATION TO TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS, EXCEPTING RAILROADS CON- STITUTING CHAPTER FORTY OF THE GENERAL LAWS," WITH THE AMENDMENTS OF 1892-189S. THE TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS LAW. ARTICLE I. Ferry corporations (§§ i-6). 2. Navigation corporations (§§ 10-13). 3. Stage-coach corporations (§§ 20-22). 4. Tramway corporations (§§ 30-33). 5. Pipe LINE corporations (§§ 40-54). 6. Gas and electric light corporations (§§ 60-71). 7. Water-works corporations (§§ 80-85). 8. Telegraph and telephone corporations (§§ 100- 109). 9. Turnpike, plank-road and bridge corporations (§§ 120-151). 10. Miscellaneous provisions (§§ 160-163). ARTICLE I. FERRY CORPORATIONS. Section i. Short title of chapter. 2. Incorporation of ferry corporations. 3. Payment of capital stock. 4. Powers. 5. Effect of failure to pay in capital stock. 6. Posting schedule «f rates. Section i. Short title of chapter. — This chapter shall be known as the transportation corporations law. § 2. Incorporation of ferry corporations. — Three or more persons may become a corporation for conducting and manag- ing a ferry, by executing, acknowledging and filing a certificate, stating the name of the corporation, the places from and to (195)^ 196 TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS LAW. [§§ 3-6 which the ferry established or to be established shall run; the term not exceeding fifty years for which the corporation is to exist, the amount and number of shares of its capital stock ; the number of directors thereof, not less than thrqe nor more than fifteen, and the names of the directors for the first year. {For form see post. Forms, XXIX.) § 3. Half of capital to be paid in before commencing busi- ness. — No ferry corporation shall be authorized to commence business until at least one-half its capital shall have been actu- ally paid in, nor until affidavits of such payment, sworn to by a majority of the directors, shall have been filed, in each of the offices in which the certificate of incorporation is required to be filed. I 4. Powers.^ — In addition to the powers conferred by the general and stock corporation laws, any such corporation shall have power to take by grant from any authority entitled by the laws of this State to make such grant, or by assignment, the franchise or right to establish and maintain ferries, at the place specified in the certificate of incorporation, and to hold and exer- cise, such franchise or right and carry on the business appertain- ing thereto, subject to the rights of the mayor, aldermen and commonalty pf the city of New York, or any other municipal corporation, or of the owner or owners of any legally existing ferry, or the vested rights of any other corporation whatever. § 5. Effect of failure to pay in capital stock.— The capital stock of every such corporation shall all be paid in, one-half thereof within one year and the other half thereof within two years from its incorporation, or such corporation shall be dis- solved. § 6. Must post sthedule of rates. — Every corporation oper- ating any ferry in this state, or between this state and any other state, and from or to a city of five hundred thousand in- habitants or over, shall post in a conspicuous and accessible place in each of its ferry houses, in plain view of the passengers, a schedule plainly printed in the English language, of the rates of ferriage charged thereon and authorized by law to be charged for ferriage over such ferry. See L. 1890, c. 568, §§ 170-174 ; L. 1893, c. 692, § 415a. § lO] NAVIGATION CORPORATIONS. 1 97 ARTICLE II. NAVIGATION CORPORATION.* Section 10. Formation of corporation. 11. Navigation between additional ports. 12. Payment of capital stock. 13. Ferries unauthorized. § 10. Formation of corporation. — Seven or more persons may become a corporation, for the purpose of building for their own use, equipping, furnishing, fitting, purchasing,, chartering, navigating or owning steam, sail or other boats, ships, vessels or other property to be used in any lawful business, trade, com- merce or navigation upon the ocean, or any seas, sounds, lakes or rivers, and for the carriage, transportation or storing of lading, freight, mails, property or passengers thereon by mak- ing, signing, acknowledging and filing a certificate stating the name of the corporation, the specific objects for which it is formed, the waters to be navigated, and in case of ocean steam- ers,^ the ports between which such vessels are intended to be navigated, the amount of its capital stock, which shall not be less than twenty thousand nor more than four million dollars, the term of its existence not to exceed fifty years, the number of shares of which the capital stock shall consist, the number of directors thereof, not less than five nor more than thirteen, the names of the directors for the first year, and the name of the city or town and county in which its principal office is to be situated, the number of shares of stock which each subscriber of the cer- tificate agrees to take, which must in the aggregate equal ten per cent of the capital, and at least ten per cent of which must be paid in cash. Such certificate shall have attached thereto as a part thereof, the affidavit of at least three of such di- rectors, to the effect that ten per cent of such capital stock has been in good faith subscribed and at least ten per cent of such subscription has been paid in cash. No railroad corpora- tion shall have, own or hold any stock in any such corpora- tion. {For form see post. Forms. XXX) *So in the original. 'See L. 1892, c. 66i. 198 TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS LAW. [§§II-20 § II. Navigation between additional ports. — Any such cor- poration desiring or intending to navigate boats, ships or vessels, upon any other waters, or in case of ocean steamers between any other or additional ports than those namedin its original cer- tificate, may from time to time, file a further certificate, in the same manner as is prescribed by law for the filing of the original certificate, in which shall be stated such additional waters or ports upon or between which such corporation desires to navi- gate vessels, and thereafter such corporation may navigate its vessels upon such waters and between such ports, with the like effect as if they had been named in the original certificate. § 12. Payment of capital stock. — The capital stock of such corporation shall be paid in, at least one-half thereof, within one year, and the remainder within two years from its incorpo- ration, or the corporation shall be dissolved. Within thirty days after the payment of the last installment, a certificate stat- ing that the whole amount of such capital stock has been paid in shall be made, signed and sworn to by the president and a majority of the directors of the corporation, and filed and re- corded in the offices where the original certificates of incorpora- tion were filed. § 13. Ferries unauthorized.— This article shall not author- ize the formation of any ferry corporation to ply between the city of New York and any other pomt. ARTICLE III. STAGE-COACH CORPORATIONS. Section 20. Incorporation. 21. Alteration or extension of route. 22. Powers. « § 20. Incorporation. — Five, or more persons, may become a corporation for the purpose of establishing, maintaming and operating any stage or omnibus route or routes for public use in the conveyance of persons and property elsewhere than in the city of New York, or any stage route or routes already es- tablished for a like public use, by makmg, signing, acknowledg- ing and filing a certificate which shall state the name of the §§ 21-30] TRAMWAY CORPORATIONS. 1 99 corporation, the number of years it is to continue, the route or routes upon which it is intended to run as near as practicable, the number of the directors thereof, not less than three nor more than five, the names of the directors for the first year, the amount of its capital stock, the place of residence of each sub- scriber thereto, and the number of shares of stock he agrees to take in such corporation. (For form see post. Forms, XXXI.) §21. Alteration or extension of route. — The directors may, by a vote of two-thirds of their number, at any time alter or extend the route or routes designated in the certificate of in- corporation, upon making, acknowledging, and filing a cer- tificate to that effect, in the offices where the original cer- tificates of incorporation were filed. § 22. Powers. — In addition to the powers conferred by the general and stock corporation laws, every such corporation shall have power : 1. To take and convey persons and property in stages and omnibuses, and to provide and run the necessary stages and omnibuses, upon their route or routes for the public use and to receive compensation therefor. 2. To erect and maintain all necessary and convenient build- ings, fixtures and machinery for the use and accommodation of their passengers and business. ARTICLE IV. TRAMWAY CORPORATIONS. Section 30. Incorporation. 31. Powers. 32. Condemnation of real property. 33. Crossings. § 30. Incorporation. — Thirteen or more persons may be- come a corporation for constructing, maintaining and operating an elevated tramway, constructed of poles, piers, wires, rods, ropes, bars or chains, for the transportation of freight in sus- pended buckets, cars or other receptacles, for hire, by making, signing, acknowledging and filing a certificate stating the name 200 TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS LAW. [§§31-33 of the corporation, the number of years it is to continue, the places from and to which such tramway is to be constructed, maintained and operated, its length as near as may be, the name of each county through or in which it is made or intended to be made, the amount of its capital stock and the number of shares into which it is to be divided, the number of the directors thereof, not less than three, the names and places of residence of the directors for the first year, the place of residence of each subscriber thereto, and the number of shares he agrees to take in such corporation. (For form see post, Forms, XXXII.) § 31. Powers. — Every such corporation, in addition to the powers conferred by the general and stock corporation laws, shall have power : 1. To cause such examination and surveys for its proposed tramway to be made as may be necessary to the selection of the most advantageous route, and for such purpose by its offi- cers and servants, to enter upon the lands or waters of any person, but subject to responsibility for all damages done thereto. 2. To lay out its tramway and to construct the same as hereby provided. 3. To erect and maintain all necessary and convenient build- ings, stations, fixtures and machinery for the accommodation and transaction of its business. § 32. May acquire land by condemnation. — In case any such corporation is unable to agree for the purchase, use or lease of any real property required for the purposes of its in- corporation, it shall have the right to acquire title to the same by condemnation. • § 33- Crossings. — Whenever any tramway, constructed by any such corporation, shall cross a railroad, highway, turnpike, plank-road or canal, such tramway shall be so constructed as not to interfere with the free use of such railroad, highway, turn-pike, plank-road or canal for the purposes for which they were intended. § 40] PIPE LINE CORPORATIONS. 20I ARTICLE V. PIPE LINE CORPORATIONS. Section 40. Incorporation. 41. Location of line. 42. Condemnation of real property. 43. Railroad, turnpike, plank-road and highway crossings. 44. Crossings of canals, rivers and creeks. 45. Consent of local authorities. 46. Construction through villages and cities. 47. Over Indian reservations. 48. Over state lands. 49. Additional powers. 50. Use of line 10 be public ; storage ; liable as common carriers ; rates and charges. 51. Receipts for property ; cancellation of vouchers. 52. Monthly statements. 53. Fences, farm crossings and use of line not inclosed. 54. Taxation of property. § 40. Incorporation. — Twelve or more persons may become a corporation for constructing and operating for public use, except in the city of New York, lines of pipe for conveying or transporting therein petroleum, gas, liquids or any products or property, or for maintaining and operating any line of pipe already constructed and owned by any corporation, person or persons, except in such city, for the public use, by making, signing, acknowledging and filing a certificate stating the name of the corporation, the number of years it is to continue, the places from and to which it is to be constructed or maintained and operated, its length as near as may be, the name of each county through or into which it is to be constructed ; the amount of its capital stock, which shall not be less than fifteen hundred dollars for every mile of pipe constructed, or proposed to be constructed, and the number of shares of which it shall consist ; the number of directors not less than seven, and the names and places of residence of the directors for the first year, and the place of residence of each subscriber and the number of shares he agrees to take in such corporation, which must in the aggregate equal ten hundred and fifty dollars for every mile of pipe constructed or proposed to be constructed, and twenty- 202 TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS LAW. [§ 4I five per cent of which must be paid in cash. Such certificate shall have indorsed thereon or appended thereto and as a part thereof, an affidavit made by at least three of the directors named therein that at least ten hundred and fifty dollars of stock for every mile of line proposed to be constructed or main- tained and operated has been in good faith subscribed, and twenty-five per cent paid in money thereon, and that it is in- tended in good faith to construct or to maintain and operate the line of pipe mentioned in such certificate, and that such corporation was not projected or formed with the intent or for the purpose of injuring any person or corporation, nor for the purpose of selling or conveying its franchise to any person or corporation, nor for any fraudulent purpose. {For form see post. Forms, XXXIII.) § 41. Location of line. — Every such corporation shall, before commencing the construction of its pipe line in any county, or any proceeding for the condemnation of real property, plainly and distinctly mark and designate the line adopted and located by them by a line of stakes consecutively numbered and equally distant, and not more than twenty rods from each other, so that each line can be definitely known and ascertained in all places, and make a map and survey of the route so located and staked out, and shall indicate thereon plainly the points where such route crosses each parcel of land to which they have not acquired title by agreement, and shall cause such map and survey to be certified by the president and engineer, and filed in the office of the clerk of the county into or through which the line so located and mapped passes, and shall give to the owner or occupant, if he is known or can be ascertained, of every parcel of land through which such route passes, the title to which has not beefl acquired by purchase, written notice of the filing of such map and survey, stating that such route passes over or across such owner's or occupant's lands, and that the route thereof is indicated thereon by such line of stakes. Any occupant or owner of such lands feeling aggrieved by the pro- posed location, may, within fifteen days after the service of such notice, give ten days' written notice to the corporation, by ser- vice upon the president, engineer, or any director thereof, and § 42] PIPE LINE CORPORATIONS. 2O3 to the owner or occupant of any lands to be affected by the alteration to be proposed by him, of the time and place of an application to be made by him to a special term of the supreme court in the judicial district in which the lands are siuated for the appointment of commissioners to relocate such line. If upon the hearing the court shall consider that sufficient cause exists therefor, it shall appoint three disinterested persons com- missioners to examine the route located and the proposed alteration thereof, and direct the mode of proceeding, who shall report to the court the facts relating thereto and their opinion as to the proposed alteration, and what, if any, alteration should be made in such line, and the court shall thereupon make such order as it shall deem proper in relation to such alteration, and determine the location of such line, and fix and adjust the costs, fees and charges of the commissioners, and the costs and charges of 'proceedings, and direct by which party the same shall be paid, and may enforce payment thereof by proceedings as for a contempt of court, for refusal to pay costs directed to be paid by an order of the court, and such order shall be final as to the location of the line upon the lands embraced therein. Such corporation shall not commence the work of constructing or laying its line of pipe, or institute proceedings for the condem- nation of real property, in any county, until after the expiration of fifteen days from the service by it of the notice herein re- quired, nor until all applications for a relocation of its line in such county if any are made, have been finally determined. § 42. Condemnation of real property. — In case such corpora- tion is unable to agree for the purchase of any real estate re- quired for the purposes 'of its incorporation, and its line of pipe in the county in which such real estate is situated has been finally located, it shall have the right to acquire title thereto by condemnation, but such corporation shall not locate or construct any line of pipe through or under any building, door-yard, lawn, garden or orchard, except by the consent of the owner thereof in writing duly acknowledged, nor through any cemetery or burial ground, nor within one hundred feet of any building, except where such line is authorized by public ofificers to be laid across or upon any public highway, or where the same is 204 TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS LAW. [§§ 43, 44 laid across or upon any turnpike or plank-road. No pipes shall be laid for the purpose of carrying petroleum, gas, or other products or property through or under any of the streets in the cities of this state, unless such corporation shalL first obtain the consent of a majority of the property owners on the streets which may be selected for the laying of pipes, and such pipe- line shall be located with all reasonable care and prudence so as to avoid danger from the bursting of the pipes. § 43. Railroad, turnpike, plank-road and highway crossings. — Whenever any Ime of pipe of any such corporation shall neces- sarily cross any railroad, highway, turnpike or plank-road, such line of pipe shall be made to cross under such rail- road, highway, turnpike or plank-road, and with the least injury thereto practicable, and unless the right to cross the same shall be acquired by agreement, compensation shall be ascertained and made to the owners thereof, or to the public iri case of highways, in the manner prescribed in the con- demnation law, but no exclusive title or use shall be so acquired as against any railroad, turnpike or plank-road corporation, nor as against the rights of the people of this state in any public highway, but the rights acquired shall be a common use of the lands in such manner as to be of the least practical injury to such railroad, turnpike or plank-road, consistent with the use thereof by such pipe-line corporation, nor shall any such corporation take or use any lands, fixtures or erections of any railroad corporation, or have the right to acquire by con- demnation the title_or use, or right to run along or upon the lands of any such corporation, except for the purpose of di- rectly crossing the same when necessary. § 44. Construction across and along canals, rivers and creeks. — No pipe line'shall be constructed upon or across any of the canals of this state, except by the consent of and in the manner and upon the terms prescribed by the superintendent of public works, unless constructed upon a fixed bridge across such canal, and with the consent of the person for whose bene- fit such bridge is constructed and maintained, or upon such a bridge over the canal, at the crossing of a public highway or street, with the consent of the public officers having the super. §§ 45' 46] PIPE LINE CORPORATIONS. 205 vision thereof, or of the municipal authorities of any village or city within whose limits such bridge may be, nor shall the pipes of any such corporation be laid through or along the banks of any of the canals of this state, nor through or under any of its rivers or creeks, unless such pipes shall be encased so as to prevent leakage, in such manner as shall be approved by the superin- tendent of public works. § 45. Consent of local authorities. — No pipe line shall be constructed across, along or upon any public highway without the consent of the commissioners of highways of the town in which such highway is located, upon such terms as may be agreed upon with such commissioners. If such consent or the consent of the commissioners or municipal authorities required by the preceding section cannot be obtained, application may be made to the general term of the supreme court of the depart- ment in which such highway or bridge is situated for an order permitting the corporation to construct its line across, along or upon such highway, or across or upon such bridge. The ap- plication shall be by duly verified petition and notice which shall be served upon the commissioners of highways of the town in which the highway is situated, or the municipal author- ities of the village or city where such bridge is located, accord- ing to the practice or order of the court, or an order to show cause, and the court upon the hearing of the application may grant an order permitting the line to be so constructed in such manner and upon such terms as it may direct. § 46. Construction through villages and cities. — No pipe line shall be constructed into or through any incorporated village or city in this state, unless authorized by a resolution prescribing the route, manner of construction and terms upon which granted, adopted at a regular meeting of the board of trustees of the village or the common council of the city by a two-thirds vote of such board or council, but such resolution shall not affect any private right. No pavement shall be re- moved in any city under the provisions of this article, unless done under the direction of the common council, nor until such corporation shall give a bond in such sum as the common coun- cil may require for the replacing of any pavements which shall 206 TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS LAW. [§§ 47-49 have been removed. In case any pavement shall have been removed and not properly relaid, the common council may bring suit in any court of record for the cost of relaying such pavement, against any such corporation. No gas-houses shall be erected in any city under the provisions of this article for supplying gas to the inhabitants, unless consent is first given by the corporate authorities of the city. § 47. Over Indian reservations. — Such corporation may contract with the chiefs of any nation of Indians over whose lands it may be necessary to construct their pipe line for the right to construct such pipe line upon such lands, but no such contract shall vest in the corporation the fee of such lands, nor the right to occupy the same for any purpose other than for the construction, operation and maintenance of such pipe line, nor shall such contract be valid or effectual until the same has been ratified by the county court of the county in which the lands are situated. § 48. Over State lands. — The commissioners of the land ofiSce shall have power to grant to any pipe line corporation any lands belonging to the people of this state which may be required for the purposes of its incorporation on such terms as may be agreed on by them or such corporation may acquire title thereto by condemnation, and if any lands owned by any county, city or town as required by such corporation for such purposes, the county, city or town ofificers having charge of such lands may grant them to such corporation upon such terms and for such compensation as may be agreed upon. § 49. Additional powers. — Every corporation formed under this article shall in addition to the powers conferred by the general and stock corporation law have power : I. To cause such examination and surveys of its proposed line of pipe to be made as may be necessary to the selection of the most advantageous route, and for such purpose by its ofifi- cers, agents or servants may enter upon the lands or waters of any person, upon, through or across which such corporation can construct its line of pipe, under the provisions of this article, sub- ject, however, to liability for all actual damage which shall be done thereto. § 50] • PIPE LINE CORPORATIONS. 207 2. To take and hold such voluntary grants of real estate and other property, as shall be made to it to aid in the construction, maintenance, operation and accommodation of its pipe line. 3. To lay out its pipe line route not exceeding twelve feet in width, but at the terminations of such line and at all receiving and discharging points and at all places where machinery may properly or must necessarily be set up for the operation of such pipe line it may take such additional \yidth, and for such length as may be necessary. 4. To take and convey through pipes any property, substance or product capable of transportation therein by any force, power or mechanical agency, and to erect and maintain all necessary and convenient buildings, stations, fixtures and machinery for the purposes of its incorporation. 5. To regulate the time and manner in which property shall be transported over its pipe lines, and the compensation to be paid therefor, but such compensation shall not exceed the sum or be above the rate of twenty-five cents per one hundred miles for the transportation of forty-two gallons of any product transported on lines of one hundred miles in length or over, which shall be reckoned and adjusted upon the quantity or number of gallons delivered by such corporation at the point to which it shall have undertaken to deliver the same. § 50. Use of line to be public ; storage ; liable as common carriers; rates and charges. — The pipe lines of every such corporation shall be open for transportation to the public use, and all persons desiring to transport products through such pipe line shall have the absolute right upon equal terms to such transportation in the order of application therefor, on complying with the general requirements of such corporation, as to delivery for any payment of such transportation, but no application for such transportation shall be valid beyond or for a greater quantity of products than the applicant shall then own and have ready for delivery for transportation to such corporation, and every such corporation shall provide suitable and necessary receptacles for receiving all such products for transportation, and for storage at the place of delivery until the same can rea- sonably be moved by the consignee, and shall be liable as com- 208 TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS LAW. [§§51,52 mon carriers therefor from the time the same is delivered for transportation until a reasonable time after the same has been transported to the place of consignment and ready for delivery to the consignee, which time shall be fixed by general regulation by the corporation, and shall not be less than two days from and after the same shall be ready for delivery and notice thereof given to such consignee, and all rates and charges of every description, for or on account of or in any manner connected with the transportation of any products, shall be fixed by such corporation by general rules and regulations, which shall be applicable to all parties who shall transport any products through such pipe line, or deliver or contract to deliver products for transportation and shall be written or printed and exposed to public view and at all times open to public examination. § 51. Receipts for property ; cancellation of vouchers ; delivery of property. — No receipt, certificate or order of any kind shall be made, accepted or issued by any pipe line corpo- ration for any commodity unless the commodity represented by them is actually in possession of the corporation at the time of making, issuing or acceptance thereof. Whenever any such corporation shall have parted with the possession of any com- modity and received therefor any order, voucher, receipt or cer- tificate, such order, voucher, receipt or certificate shall not be issued or used again, but shall be cancelled with the word " cancelled " stamped or printed legibly across the face thereof, and such cancelled order, voucher, receipt or certificate shall be filed and preserved by such corporation and a record of the same kept by the secretary thereof. No petroleum or other commodity received for transportation by such corporation shall be delivered to any person without the presentation and surrender of all vouchers, receipts, orders or certificates that have been issued or accepted for the same. § 52. Monthly statements. — Every pipe line corporation shall make monthly a specific statement showing the amount of all commodities received, the amount delivered during the month, and the stock on hand on the last day of each month of the year, and how much of such stock is represented by out- standing certificates, vouchers, receipts or orders, and how §§ 53» 54J PIPE LINE CORPORATIONS. 2O9 much in credit balances on the books of the corporation. Such statement shall be made on or before the tenth day of the suc- ceeding month and verified by the oath of the president and secretary that it is in all respects true and correct, and shall be filed within three days thereafter in the county clerk's office in the county where the principal office of the corporation is located, and a true copy of the same posted in a conspicuous place in its principal office for at least thirty days thereafter. § 53- Fences ; farm crossings and use of line not in- closed. — It shall not be necessary for any such corporation to fence the lands acquired by them for the purposes of its incorpo- ration. But, if not enclosed by a substantial fence, the owner of the adjoining lands from whom such lands were obtained, his heirs or assigns, may occupy and use such lands in any man- ner not injurious to the interests of the corporation, and shall not be liable therefor, or for any trespass upon any such lands except for willful or negligent injuries to the pipes, fixtures, machinery, or personal property of the corporation. If the corporation shall keep such lands inclosed it shall construct and provide all suitable and necessary crossings with gates for the use and convenience of any owners of lands adjoining the portion of its lands so inclosed, and no claim shall be made by it against any owner of adjoining lands to make or contribute to the making or maintaining of any division fence between such adjoining lands and its lands, and if it shall neglect to keek ' and maintain substantial fences along its lands the owners of adjoining lands may construct and maintain all farm or division fences, and all line fences crossed by such pipe line in the same manner as though it had not acquired such lands for such pipe line, and it shall be liable for all injuries to such fences caused or done by any of its officers or agents, or any persons acting in their or its behalf, or by any laborer in its or their employ or in the employ of any of its contractors. § 54. Taxation of property. — The real estate and personal property belonging to any pipe line corporation in this state, shall be assessed and taxed in the several towns, villages and ' So in the original. 14 2IO TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS LAW. [§ 6o cities in the same manner as the real estate and personal prop- erty of railroad corporations are assessed and taxed, and such corporation may pay such taxes or commute therefor in the same manner as railroad corporations. ARTICLE VI. GAS AND ELECTRIC LIGHT CORPORATIONS. Section 6o. Incorporation. 6i. Powers. 62. Appointment of inspectors of gas meters. 63. Deputy inspectors. 64. Inspection of gas meters. 65. Gas or electric light must be supplied on application. 66. Deposit of money may be required. 67. Entry of buildings to ' meters or lights. 68. Refusal or neglect to pay rent. 6g. No rent for meters to be charged. 70. Price of gas. § 60. Incorporation. — Three or more persons may become a corporation for manufacturing and supplying gas for lighting the streets and public and private buildings of any city, village or town, or two or more villages or towns not over five miles distant from each other, in this state, or for manufacturing and using electricity for producing light, heat or power, and in lighting streets, avenues, public parks and places, and public and private buildings of cities, villages and towns within this state, by making, signing, acknowledging and filing a certificate stating the name of the corporation, its objects, the amount of its capital stock, the term of its existence not to exceed fifty years, the number of shares. of which the stock shall consist, the number of directors not less than three nor more than thirteen, the names and plac^ of residence of the directors for the first year, and the name, of the town and county in which the oper- ations of the corporation are to be carried on, and thereupon the persons who shall have signed the same, their associates and successors shall be a corporation by the name stated in the certificate. (For form see post. Forms, XXXIV.) ' So in the original. §§6 1, 62] GAS AND ELECTRIC LIGHT CORPORATIONS. 211 § 6i. Powers. — Every such corporation shall have the follow- ing additional powers : 1. If incorporated for the purpose of supplying gas for light, to manufacture, sell and furnish such quantities of gas as may be required in the city, town or village where the same shall be located, or said two or more villages or towns, not over five miles distant from each other, named in its certificate of incor- poration, for lighting the streets, and public or private build- ings or for other purposes ; and to lay conductors for conduct- ing gas through the streets, lanes, alleys, squares and highways, in such city, villages or towns, with the consent of the municipal authorities thereof, and under such reasonable regulations as they may prescribe ; and such municipal authorities shall have power to exempt any such corporation from taxation on their personal property for a period not exceeding three years from the organization of the corporation. 2. If incorporated for the purpose of using electricity for light, heat or power, to carry on the business of lighting by electricity or using it for heat or power in cities, towns and vil- lages within this state, and the streets, avenues, public parks and places thereof, and public and private buildings therein ; and for the purposes of such business to generate and supply electricity ; and to make, sell or lease all machines, instruments, apparatus and other equipments therefor, and to lay, erect and construct suitable wires or other conductors with the necessary poles, pipes or other fixtures in, on, over and under the streets, avenues, public parks and places of such cities, towns or vil- lages, for conducting and distributing electricity, with the con- sent of the municipal authorities thereof, and in such manner and under such reasonable regulations as they may prescribe. 3. Any two or more corporations organized under this article or under any general or special law of the state for the purpose of carrying on any business which a corporation organized un- der this article might carry on, may consolidate such corpora- tions into a single corporation by complying with the provi- sions of the business corporations law relating to the consoUda- tion of business corporations. § 62. Inspector of gas meters. — The governor shall nomi- 212 TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS LAW. [§§63,64 nate and by and with the consent of the senate appoint an in- spector of gas meters, who shall have an office in the city of New York, whose duty it shall be, when required, to inspect, exam- ine, prove and ascertain the accuracy of anyand all gas meters used or intended to be used for measuring or ascertaining the quantity of illuminating gas furnished by any gas-light corpora- tion in this state, except corporations engaged in supplying natural gas to consumers, to or for the use of any person or persons, and, when found to be or made correct, to seal, stamp or mark all such meters, and each of them, with some suitable device, which device shall be recorded in the office of the sec- retary of state. Such inspector shall hold his office for the term of five years and until the appointment of his successor, but may be removed by the governor for sufficient cause. He shall receive an annual salary of five thousand dollars, to be paid in the first instance out of the state treasury on the warrant of the comptroller, which shall be charged to and paid into the state treasury by the several gas-(light) corporations in this state, in amounts proportionate to the amount of the capi- tal stock of such corporations respectively, to be ascertained and assessed by the comptroller of the state. If any such cor- poration shall refuse or neglect to pay into the state treasury the amount or portion of such salary required of them respect- ively, for the space of thirty days after written notice given it by the comptroller to make such payment, then the comptroller may maintain an action, in his name of office, against any such delinquent corporation for its portion or amount of such salary, with interest thereon at the rate of ten per cent per annum from the time when such notice was given and the costs of the action. (As am'd L. 1893, c. 385 ; L. 189S, c. 972.) § 63. Deputy inspectors.— The inspector of gas meters shall appoint three deputy inspectors of gas meters, to reside in the city of Brooklyn, Albany and Buffalo, respectively, to hold (office) during his pleasure, and who shall in their respective places of residence discharge the same duties as are required of the in- spector. Such deputies shall each receive an annual salary of fifteen hundred dollars, to be paid in the same manner as the salary of the inspector. (As am'd L. 1893, c. 385.) § 64. Inspectioo of gas meters.— No corporation or person § 65 j GAS AND ELECTRIC LIGHT CORPORATIONS. 213 shall furnish or put in use any gas meter, which shall not have been inspected, proved and sealed by the inspector, except dur- ing such time as the office of inspector may be vacant, or such inspector after request made, shall refuse or neglect to prove and seal the meters furnished for that purpose, and every gas- light corporation shall provide and keep in and upon their premises a suitable and proper apparatus, to be approved and sealed by the inspector of meters, for testing and proving the accuracy of the gas meters furnished for use by it, and by which apparatus every meter may and shall be tested, on the written request of the consumer, to whom the same shall be furnished, and in his presence if he desire it. If any such meter on being so tested, shall be found defective or incorrect to the prejudice or injury of the consumer, the necessary removal, inspection, correction and replacing of such meter shall be without ex- pense to the consumer, but in all other cases he shall pay the reasonable expenses of such removal, inspection and replacing ; and in case any consumer shall not be satisfied with such in- spection of the meter furnished to him, and shall give to the corporation written notice to that effect, he may have such me- ter reinspected by the state inspector, if he require it, upon the same terms and conditions as herein provided for the original inspection thereof. § 65. Gas and electric light must be supplied on applica- tion. — Upon the application, in writing, of the owners or occu- pant of any building or premises within one hundred feet of any main laid down by any gas-light corporation, or the wires of any electric-light corporation, and payment by him of all money due from him to the corporation, the corporation shall supply gas or electric light as may be required for lighting such building or premises, notwithstanding there be rent or compensation in arrear, for gas or electric light supplied, or for meter, wire, pipe or fittings, furnished to a former occupant thereof, unless such owner or occupant shall have undertaken or agreed with the former occupant to pay or to exonerate him from the payment of such arrears, and shall refuse or neglect to pay the same ; and if for the space of ten days after such application, and the deposit of a reasonable sum as provided in 214 TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS LAW. [§§ 66, 67 the next section, if required, the corporation shall refuse or neglect to supply gas or electric light as required, such cor- poration shall forfeit and pay to the applicant the sum of ten dollars, and the further sum of five dollars for every day there- after during which such refusal or neglect shall continue: pro- vided that no such corporation shall be required to lay service pipes or wires for the purpose of supplying gas or electric light to any applicant where the ground in which such pipe or wire is required to be laid shall be frozen, or shall otherwise present serious obstacles to laying the same ; nor unless the applicant, if required, shall deposit in advance with the corporation a sum of money sufficient to pay the cost of his portion of the pipe or wire required to be laid, and the expense of laying such portion. § 66. Deposit of money may be required. — Every gas-light and electric-light corporation may require every person to which such corporation shall supply gas or electric light for lighting any building, room or premises, to deposit with such corporation a reasonable sum of money according to the num- ber and size of lights used or required, or proposed to be used for two calendar months, by such person, and the quantity of gas and electric light necessary to supply the same as security for the payment of the gas and electric light rent or compensa- tion for gas consumed, or rent of pipe or wire and fixtures, to become due to the corporation, but every corporation shall allow and pay to every such depositor legal interest on the sum deposited for the time his deposit shall remain with the cor- poration. § 67. Buildings may be entered for the examination of meters, lights, and-so-forth. — Any officer or other agent of any gas-light or elecjric-light corporation, for that purpose duly appointed and authorized by the corporation, may, at all reasonable times, upon exhibiting a written authority, signed by the president and secretary of the corporation, enter any dwelling, store, building, room or place lighted with gas or electric light supplied by such corporation, for the purpose of inspecting and examining the meters, pipes, fittings, wires and works for supplying or regulating the supply of gas or electric §§ 68-70] GAS AND ELECTRIC LIGHT CORPORATIONS. 2 1 5 light, and of ascertaining the quantity of gas or electric light consumed or supplied, and if any person shall, at any time, directly or indirectly, prevent or hinder any such officer or agent from so entering any such premises, or from making such inspection or examination at any reasonable time, he shall, for every such offense, forfeit to the corporation twenty-five dollars. § 68. Refusal or neglect to pay rent. — If any person sup- plied with gas or electric light by any such corporation shall neglect or refuse to pay the rent or remuneration due for the same or for the wires, pipes or fittings let by the corporation, for supplying or using such gas or electric light or for ascer- taining the quantity consumed or used as required by his con- tract with the corporation, or shall refuse or neglect, after being required so to do, to make the deposit required, such corpora- tion may prevent the gas or electric light from entering the premises of such person ; and their officers, agents or workmen may enter into or upon any such premises between the hours of eight o'clock in the forenoon and six o'clock in the after- noon, and separate and carry away any meter, pipe, fittings, wires or other property of the corporation, and may disconnect any meter, pipe, fittings, wires or other works, whether the property of the corporation or not, from the mains, pipes or wires of the corporation. § 69. No rent for meters to be charged. — No gas-light corporation in this state shall charge or collect rent on its gas meters, either in a direct or indirect manner, and any person, party or corporation violating this provision shall be liable to a penalty of fifty dollars for each offense, to be sued for and recovered in the corporate name of the city or village where the violation occurs, in any court having jurisdiction, and when collected to be paid into the treasury of such city or village and to constitute a part of the contingent or general fund thereof. § 70. Price of gas. — In any city in this state having a popu- lation of eight hundred thousand or over, no corporation or person shall charge for illuminating gas a sum to exceed one dollar and twenty-five cents per thousand feet, and such gas shall have an illuminating power of not less than twenty sperm 2l6 TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS LAW, [§ 8o candles, of six to the pound, and burning at the rate of one hundred and twenty grains of spermaceti per hour, tested at a distance of not less than one mile from the place of manufac- ture, by a burner consuming five cubic feet of gas per hour, and shall comply with the standard of purity now or hereafter established by law ; but in any district or ward of any city con- taining over one million inhabitants, which district or ward is separated from the main portion thereof by a stream or other natural boundary any gas-light corporation may charge a price not to exceed one dollar and sixty cents per thousand cubic feet, but such corporation shall not charge a greater price in the city where its main works shall be situated than in such district or ward. ARTICLE VII. WATER-WORKS CORPORATIONS. Section 8o. Incorporation. 8i. Must supply water ; village trustees may contract lor same ; tax therefor. 82. Powers. 83. Survey and map. 84. Condemnation of real property. 85. Corporation may contract with other towns or villages ; amended certificate. § 80. Incorporation. — Seven or more persons may become a corporation for the purpose of supplying water to any of the cities, towns or villages and the inhabitants thereof in this state, by executing, acknowledging and filing a certificate stating the name of the corporation, the amount of its capital stock, the number of shares into which it is to be divided, the location of its principal office, the number of its directors, not less than seven, the names and places of residence of the directors for the first year, the name of*the cities, towns and villages which it is proposed to supply with water ; that the permit of the author- ities of such cities, towns and villages herein required has been granted ; the post-office address of each subscriber, and the number of shares he agrees to take in such corporation, the aggregate of which shall be at least one-tenth of the capital stock, and ten per centum of which shall be paid in cash to the § 8l] WATER- WORKS CORPORATIONS. 21 7 directors. At the time of filing there shall be annexed to the certificate and as a part thereof, a permit, signed and acknowl- edged by a majority of the board of trustees of the village, in case an incorporated village is to be supplied with water, and in case a town, or any part thereof, not within an incorporated village, is to be so supplied, by the supervisor, justice of the peace, town clerk and highway commissioners thereof or a ma- jority of them, and in case a city is to be supplied with water by the board of water commissioners of said city, or by such other board or set of officials as perform the duties of water commissioners and have charge of the water supply for said city, authorizing the formation of such corporation for the purpose of supplying such city, village or town with water, and an affi- davit of at least three of the directors that the amount of capital stock herein required has been subscribed and paid in cash. As amended by Laws of 1892, ch. 617, § i. (For form, see post. Forms, XXXV.) § 81. Must supply water ; village trustees may contract for same ; tax therefor. — Every such corporation shall supply the authorities or any of the inhabitants of any city, town or village through which the conduits or mains of such corpora- tions may pass, or wherein such corporations may have organ- ized, with pure and wholesome water at reasonable rates and cost, and the town board of any town, and the board of trustees of any incorporated village, and the water commissioners, or other board or officials performing the duties of water commis- sioners, and having charge of the water supplies of any city of this state, shall have the power to contract in the name and be- half of the municipal corporation of which they are officers, for the term of one year or more, for the delivery by such company to the town, village or city, of water, through hydrants or other- wise, for the extinguishment of fires, and for sanitary and other public purposes ; and the amount of such contract agreed to be paid shall be annually raised as a part of the expenses of such town, village or city, and shall be levied, assessed and collected in the same manner as other expenses of the town, village or city are raised, and when collected shall be kept separate from other funds of the town, village or city, and be paid over to such 2l8 TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS LAW. [§82 corporation by the supervisor of the town, such trustees or city officials, according to the terms and conditions of any such con- tract ; and any such contract entered into by any town board, or by the board of trustees of any village, or by water commissioners, or other board performing the duties of water commissioners, and having charge of the water supply of any city, shall be valid and binding upon such town, village or city, but no such contract shall be made for a longer period than ten years, nor for a sum exceed- ing, in the aggregate, two and one-half mills for every dollar of the taxable property of such town, village or city, per annum, except upon a petition of a majority of the taxable inhabitants of any such town, village or city, or portion thereof which it is pro- posed to supply with pure and wholesome water, unless a reso- lution authorizing the same has been submitted to a vote of the electors of the town, village or city, in the manner provided by the town law, village law or city charter, and approved by a majority of the voters entitled to vote, and voting on such ques- tion at any annual election or special election duly called ; and any town board or board of trustees, or board of water commis- sioners, or other city officials, when so authorized, may make such contract for a term not exceeding thirty years, and the amount of such contract shall be paid in semi-annual install- ments ; provided that in towns where there shall be at the time of making any such contract, an incorporated village, constitut- ing a part only of such town, no tax shall be assessed, levied or collected upon property within the limits of such village, for such purpose, except in pursuance of an agreement with the board of trustees of such village ; and in any town where it is proposed to supply with water only a portion of such town, or the inhabitants of a portion of the town (such portion not being an incorporated village), the town board may contract, as here- inbefore prescribed, for a supply of water as aforesaid for such portion of the town, or for the inhabitants of such portion, and the whole town shall be bound by such contract when duly made ; but the entire annual rental or expense, or such portion thereof as they may deem just, may be directed by said town board to be assessed and levied upon,\ and collected from the taxable property of that portion of the town which will be benefited by such supply of water ; provided always that such expense shall in no case exceed per year three mills upon each dollar of the taxable property of that portion of the town. As amended by L. 1892, c. 617, §2 ; L. 1893, c. 549; and L. 1894, c. 230. § 82. Powers. — Every such corporation shall have the fol- lowing additional powers : I. To lay and maintain their pipes and hydrants for deliver- ing and distributing water in any street, highway or public .§§ 83, 84] WATER-WORKS CORPORATIONS. 219 place of any city, town or village in which it has obtained the permit required by section eighty of this article. 2. To lay their water pipes in any streets or avenues or pub- lic places of an adjoining city, town or village, to the city, town or village where such permit has been obtained. 3. To cause such examinations and surveys for its proposed water-works to be made as may be necessary to determine the proper location thereof, and for such purpose by its officers, agents or servants, to enter upon any lands or waters in the city, town or village where organized, or in any adjoining city, town or village for the purpose of making such examinations or surveys, subject to liability for all damages done. As amended by Laws of 1892, chap. 617. § 3. § 83. Survey and map. — Before entering upon, taking or using any land, for the purpose of its incorporation, such cor- poration shall cause a survey and map to be made of the lands intended to be taken or entered upon, by and on which the land of each owner or occupant shall be designated, which map shall be signed by the president and secretary, and filed in office of the county clerk of the county in which such lands are situated. § 84. Condemnation of real property. — Any corporation organized under this article, shall have the right to acquire real estate, or any interest therein necessary for the purposes of its incorporation, and the right to lay, relay, repair and maintain conduits and water-pipes with connections and fixtures, in, through or over the lands of others ; the right to intercept and divert the flow of waters from the lands of riparian owners, and from persons owning or interested in any waters, and the right to prevent the flow or drainage of noxious or impure matters from the lands of others into its reservoirs or sources of supply. If any such corporation, which has made a contract with any city, town or village or with any of the inhabitants thereof for the supply of pure and wholesome water as author- ized by section eighty-one of this article, shall be unable to agree upon the terms of purchase of any such prop- erty or rights, it may acquire the same by condemnation. But no such corporation shall have power to take or use water from any of the canals of this state, or any canal reservoirs as 220 TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS LAW. [§ 85 ; § lOO feeders, or any streams which have been taken by the state for the purpose of supplying the canals with water. As amended by Laws of 1892, ch. 617, § 4. See Code of Civ. Pro. § 3357 et seq. See L. 1894, c. 230. § 85. Corporation may contract with other cities, towns or villages ; amended certificate. — When any such corporation has entered into a contract with the authorities of any city, town or village not mentioned in its certificate of incorporation, but situated in the same county as the city, towns or villages mentioned therein or an adjoining county, to supply it with pure and wholesome water, it may file an amended certificate, stating the name of such other city, town or village to be so sup- plied with water, and it may thereupon supply any such city, town or village with water in the same manner and with the same rights and subject to the same requirements as if it had been named in the original certificate of incorporation. As amended by Laws of 1892, ch. 617, § 5. ARTICLE VIII. TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATIONS. Section 100. Incorporation. loi. Extension of lines. 102. Construction of lines. 103. Transmission of despatches. 104. Consolidation of corporations. 105. Special policemen. Section ioo. Incorporation. — Seven or more persons may become a corporation for the purpose of constructing, owning, using and maintaining a line or lines of electric telegraph or telephone, wholly within or partly beyond the limits of this state, or for the purpose of owning any intferest in any such line or lines, or any grants therefor by executing, acknowledg- ing and filing a certificate, stating the name of the corporation ; its general route and the points to be connected ; its capital stock ; the number of shares into which it is to be divided ; the term of its existence ; the number of its directors not less than seven ; the names and residence of the directors for the first §§ IOI-IO3] TELEGRAPH, TELEPHONE CORPORATIONS. 221 year, and the post-office address of the subscribers and the number of shares which each agrees to take in such corpora- tion. (For form, see post, Forms, XXXVL) § lOI. Extension of lines. — Any such corporation may con- struct, own, use and maintain any line of electric telegraph or telephone, not described in its original certificate of incorpora- tion, whether wholly within or partly beyond the limits of this state, and may join with any other corporation in con- structing, leasing, owning, using and maintaining such line, or hold or own any interest therein, or becomes lessees thereof, upon filing in the same manner as the original certificate is required to be filed, an amended certificate, executed and acknowledged by at least two-thirds of the directors of such corporation, describing the general route of such line or lines, and designating the extreme points connected thereby, and upon procuring the written consent of the persons owning at least two-thirds of the capital stock of such corporation, and such amended certificate shall not be filed until there is indorsed thereon or annexed thereto an affidavit made by at least three of the directors of the corporation that such consent has been obtained, which affidavit shall be filed with and be a part of such certificate. § 102. Construction of lines. — Such corporation may erect, construct and maintain the necessary fixtures for its lines upon, over or under any of the public roads, streets and high- ways ; and through, across or under any of the waters within the limits of this state, and upon, through or over any other land, subject to the right of the owners thereof to full compen- sation for the same. If any such corporation cannot agree with such owner or owners upon the compensation to be paid therefor, such compensation shall be ascertained in the manner provided in the condemnation law. § 103. Transmission of despatches. — Every such corpora- tion shall receive despatches from and for other telegraph or telephone lines or corporations, and from and for any individual, and on payment of the usual charges by individuals for transmit- ting despatches as established by the rules and regulations 222 TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS LAW. [§§ IO4, IO5 of such corporation, transmit the same with impartiality and good faith and in the order in which they are received, and if it neglects or refuses so to do, it shall pay one hundred dollars for every such refusal or neglect to the person or persons send- ing or desiring to send any such despatch, and entitled to have the same so transmitted, but arrangements may be made with the proprietors or publishers of newspapers for the transmission for publication of intelligence of general and public interest out of its regular order. § 104. Consolidation of corporations. — Any corporation organized under this article may lease, sell or convey its prop- erty, rights, privileges and franchises, or any interest therein, or any part thereof to any telegraph or telephone corporation organized under or created by the laws of this or any other state, and may acquire by purchase, lease or conveyance the property rights, privileges and franchises, or any interest therein or part thereof of any such corporation, and may make pay- ments therefor in its own stock, money or property, or receive payment therefor in the stock, money or property of the corpo- ration to which the same may be so sold, leased or conveyed, but no such lease, sale, purchase or conveyance shall be valid until it shall have been ratified and approved by a three-fifths vote of its board of directors or trustees, and by the vote or written consent of stockholders owning at least three-fifths of the capital stock given at a meeting of all the stockholders duly called for that purpose. § 105. Special policemen. — The police department or board of police of any city may, in addition to the police force now authorized by law, appoint a number of persons, not exceeding two hundred, who may be designated by any corporation oper- ating a system of signaj^ng by telegraph to a central office for police assistance, to act as special patrolmen in connection with such telegraphic system. And the person so appointed shall, in and about such service, have all the powers possessed by the members of the regular force, except as may be limited by and subject to the supervision and control of the police department or board of police of such city. No person shall be appointed such special policeman who does not possess the qualifications § 105] TURNPIKES, PLANK-ROADS, BRIDGES. 223 required by such police department or board of police for such special service ; and persons so appointed shall be subject, in case of emergency, to do duty as part of the regular police force of the city. The police department or board of police shall have power to revoke any such appointment at any time, and every person appointed shall wear a badge and uniform, to be furnished by such corporation and approved by the police department or board of police, such uniform shall be designated at the time of the first appointment, and shall be the permanent uniform to be worn by such special police, and the pay of such special patrolmen and all expenses connected with their service shall be wholly paid by such corporation, and no expense or liability shall at any time be incurred or paid by the police department or board of police of any city, for or by reason of the services of such persons so appointed. ARTICLE IX. TURNPIKE, PLANK-ROAD AND BRIDGE CORPORATIONS. Section 120. Incorporation. 121. Restriction upon location of road. 122. Agreement for use of highway. 123. Application to board of supervisors. 124. Commissioners to lay out road. 125. Possession of and title to real estate. 126. Use of turnpike road by plank-road. 127. Width and construction of road. 128. Construction of bridges. I2g. Certificate of completion of road or bridge. 130. Toll-gates and rates of toll, and exemptions. 131. Toll gatherers. 132. Penalty for running a gate. 133. Location of gates and change thereof. 134. Inspectors, their powers and duties. 135. Change of route, extensions and branches. 136. Mile stones, guide-posts and hoist-gates. 137. Location of office of corporation. 138. Consolidation of corporations, sale of franchise. 139. Surrender of road. 140. Taxation and exemption. 141. Hauling logs and timber. 142. Encroachment of fences. 224 TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS LAW. [§§ I20, 121 Section 143. Penalty for fast driving over bridges. 144. Acts of directors prohibited. 145. Actions for penalties. 146. Proof of incorporation. 147. When stockholders to be directors. 148. Dissolution of corporation, road to be a highway. 149. Town must pay for lands not originally a highway. 150. Highway labor upon line of plank-road or turnpike. 151. Extension of corporate existence. Section 120. Incorporation. — Five or more persons may become a corporation for the purpose of constructing, main- taining and owning a turnpike, plank-road, or abridge or cause- way across any stream or channel of water, or adjoining bay, swamp, marsh, or water, to form in connection with such bridge or causeway a continuous roadway across the same, by signing, acknowledging and filing a certificate containing the name of the corporation, its duration, not exceeding fifty years, the amount and number of shares of its capital stock, the number of its directors, and their names and post-ofifice ad- dress for the first year, the termini of the proposed road, its length, and each town, city or village into or through which it is to pass, or of a bridge, the location and plan thereof, and the post-office address of each subscriber, and the number of shares of stock which he agrees to take, the aggregate of which sub- scriptions shall not be less than five hundred dollars for every mile of road, or if a bridge corporation not less than one-fourth of the amount of the capital stock, and five per cent of which must be actually paid in cash. There shall be indorsed on and annexed to the certificate and made a part thereof the affidavit of at least three of the directors named therein that the re- quired amount of capital stock has been subscribed and the prescribed percentege paid in cash. (For form, see post. Forms, XXXVII.) §121. Restrictions upon location of road. — No such road shall be laid out through any orchard of the growth of four years or more to the injury or destruction of fruit trees, or through any garden cultivated for four years or more before the laying out of the road, or through any dwelling-house or §§ 122, 123] TURNPIKES, PLANK-ROADS, BRIDGES. 225 building connected therewith, or any yards or inclosures neces- sary for its use or enjoyment without the consent of the owner thereof, nor shall any such corporation bridge any stream in any manner that will prevent or endanger the passage of any raft of twenty-five feet in width, or where the same is navigable by vessels or steamboats. § 122. Agreement for use of highways. — The supervisor and commissioner of highways, or a majority if there be more than one of any town, may agree in writing with any such corporation for the use of any part of a public highway therein required for the construction of any such road, and the compensation to be paid by the corporation for taking and using such highway for such purpose on first obtaining consent of at least two-thirds of all the owners of land bounded on or along such highway, which agreement shall be filed and re- corded in the town clerk's ofifice of the town. If such agree- ment cannot be made the corporation may acquire the right to take such highway for such purpose by condemnation. The compensation therefor shall be paid to the commissioners of highways, to be expended by them in improving the highways of the town. § 123. Application to board of supervisors. — If the lands nec- essary for the construction of the road or bridge of any such cor- poration in any county have not been procured by gift or pur- chase, and the right to take and use any part of any highway therein required by such corporation shall not have been pro- cured by agreement with the supervisor and commissioners of highways of the town in which such highway is situated, the corporation may make application to the board of super- visors of each county in which such bridge or road, or any part thereof, is to be located, for authority to build, lay out and construct the same, and take the necessary real estate for such purpose. Notice of the application shall be published in at least one public newspaper in each county for six successive weeks, specifying the time and place where it will be made, the location, length and breadth of any such bridge, and the length and route of any such proposed road, its character, and each town, city and village in or through which it is to be con- 15 226 TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS LAW. [§ 1 24 structed. The application may be made at any annual or special meeting of the board, and if the corporation desires a Special meeting therefor, any three members of the board may fix a time when the same shall be held, and notice thereof shall be served upon each of the other supervisors by delivering the same to him personally or leaving it at his place of residence at least twenty days before the minutes,' and the expenses of the special meeting and of notifying the members of the board thereof shall be paid by the corporation. All persons inter- ested therein or owning real estate in any of the towns through which it is proposed to construct the road may appear and be heard upon the hearing of the application. The board may take testimony in respect thereto, or authorize it to be taken by a committee of the board, and may adjourn the hearing from time to time. After hearing the application the board may, by an order entered in its meetings," authorize the corporation to construct such bridge or road, and to take the real estate necessary for that purpose, and a copy of the order certified by the clerk of the board shall be recorded by the corporation in the ofiSce of the clerk of the county in which such bridge or road or any part thereof is to be located before any act shall be done under it. § 124. Commissioners to lay out roads. — If the applica- tion for the construction of any such road is granted, the board shall appoint three disinterested persons, not owners of real estate in any town, through which the road is to be con- structed, or in any adjoining town, commissioners to lay out the road. They shall take the constitutional oath of office, and without unnecessary delay lay out the route of such road in such manner as in their opinion will best promote the public interests ; they sljall hear all persons interested who shall apply to be heard, and may take testimony in relation thereto, and shall cause an accurate survey and description of the road and the necessary buildings and gates, signed and acknowledged by them, to be recorded in the clerk's ofifice of the county. If the road is situated in more than one county, such survey and de- ' So in the original. §§ 12 5, 126] TURNPIKES, PLANK- ROADS, BRIDGES. 22 7 scription shall be separate as to that portion in each county and filed in the oiifice of the clerk of the county in ' which it relates. The corporation shall pay each commissioner three dollars for every day spent by him in the performance of his duties and his necessary expenses. § 125. Possession of and title to real estate.— The route so laid out and surveyed by the commissioners shall be the route of the road, and the corporation may enter upon, take and hold for the purposes of its incorporation, the lands de- scribed in such survey as necessary for the construction of its road, and requisite buildings and gates. If for any cause the owner of any such lands shall be incapable of selling the same or his name or residence can not, with reasonable diligence, be ascertained, or the corporation is unable to agree with the owner for the purchase thereof, it may acquire title thereto by condemnation. See Code of Civ. Pro. §3357 et seq. § 126. Use of turnpike road by plank-road. — No plank- road shall be made on the roadway of any turnpike corporation without its consent, except for the purpose of crossing the same. Any plank-road corporation may contract with any connecting turnpike corporation for the purchase of its roadway or a part thereof, or of its stock, on such terms as may be mutually agreed upon, and such stock, if purchased, shall be held by the plank-road corporation for the benefit of its stockholders in proportion to the amount of stock held by each, and a transfer of stock in the plank-road corporation shall carry with it its proportional amount of the turnpike stock, and entitle the holder thereof to his share of the dividends derived therefrom. After the purchase of the whole of the stock of any such turn- pike corporation by such plank-road corporation, the directors of the plank-road corporation shall be the directors of the turnpike corporation, and shall manage its affairs and render an account of the same annually to the stockholders of the plank-road cor- poration. If the plank-road corporation is dissolved, its stock- holders at the time of dissolution shall be the stockholders of the ' So in the original. 228 TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS LAW. [§§127,128 turnpike corporation in proportion to the amount of stock held by each, and the stock of the turnpike corporation shall there- after be deemed to be divided into shares equal in number to the shares of stock of the late plank-road cofporation, and scrip therefor shall be issued accordingly to each of the last stock- holders of the plank-road corporation, and the officers of the turn- pike corporation shall be the same in number as provided for in its charter or certificate of incorporation, and shall be chosen by such former stockholders of the plank-road corporation or their assigns. A corporation owning a turnpike road on or adjoin- ing which a plank-road shall have been constructed, may abandon that portion of its road on or adjoining the route of which a plank-road is actually constructed and used. § 127. Width and construction of road. — Every such plank- road shall be so constructed as to make, secure and maintain a smooth and permanent road, the track of which shall be made of timber, plank or other hard material forming a hard and even surface, and every such turnpike road shall be bedded with stone, gravel or such other material as may be found on the line thereof, and faced with broken stone or gravel, forming a hard and even surface with good and sufficient ditches on each side wherever practicable, and all such roads shall be laid out at least four rods wide, and the arch or bed at least eighteen feet wide, and shall be so constructed as to permit carriages and other vehicles conveniently to pass each other, and to pass on and off such road where intersected with other roads. Any corpora- tion which shall have once laid its road with plank may relay the same, or any part thereof, with broken stone, gravel, shells or other hard materials, forming a good and substantial road. Any plank-road or turnpike corporation may lay iron rails on its road suitable for tjje use of wagons and vehicles drawn by horses or animals over its road, but no other motive power shall be used thereon. § 128. Construction of bridges ; obstruction of rafts prohib- ited. — Every bridge constructed by any such corporation shall be built with a good and substantial railing or siding at least four and one-half feet high, and over any stream navigable by rafts the corporation shall keep the channel of the stream above and §§129,130] TURNPIKES, PLANK-ROADS, BRIDGES. 229 below the bridge free and clear from all deposits, formed or occasioned by the erection of the bridge, which shall in any wise obstruct the navigation thereof, and shall be liable to all persons unreasonably or unnecessarily delayed or hindered in passing the same for all damages sustained thereby. Nothing in this act shall be construed to authorize the bridging of any river or water course where the tide ebbs and flows or any water used for a harbor, or any lake, river or water which is navigable by sail vessels or steamboats, nor the construction of any bridge within the limits prescribed by any existing law for the erection or maintenance of any other bridge. (As am'd L. 1895, c. 722.) § 129. Certificate of completion of road or bridge. — When any such corporation shall have completed its bridge or road, or any five consecutive miles thereof, it may apply to the com- missioners of highways of each town in which the completed road or bridge is situated to inspect the same, and if a majority of the commissioners are satisfied that the road or bridge is made and completed as required by law, and in a manner safe and convenient for the public use, they shall make a certificate to that effect, which shall be filed in the office of the county clerk. Each commissioner shall be paid by the corporation two dollars per day for his services and necessary expenses. § 130. Gates, rates of toll ; and exemption. — Upon filing such certificate such corporation may erect a toll-gate at such bridge or one or more toll-gates upon the road so inspected, and may demand and receive the following rates of toll, a printed list of which shall be conspicuously posted at or over each gate : If a bridge corporation, such sum as shall be from time to time prescribed by the board of supervisors of the county or counties in which the bridge is located. If a turn- pike or plank-road, for every vehicle drawn by one animal, one cent per mile, and one cent per mile for each additional animal ; for every vehicle used chiefly for carrying passengers, three cents per mile, and one cent per mile for each additional animal ; for every horse rode, led or driven, three-quarters of a cent per mile ; for every score of sheep or swine, one and one-half cents per mile, and for every score of neat cattle, two cents per mile. When diverging roads strike any plank-road or turnpike at or 230 TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS LAW. [§ I3I near any toll-gate, the board of supervisors of the county may direct that the toll charge shall commence from the point of such divergence, and only for the distance traveled on such turnpike or plank-road, but fractions of centS may be made units of cents in favor of the plank-road or turnpike corporation. The corporation may from time to time commute, but not for a longer period than one year at any one time, with any person vsrhose place of abode shall adjoin or be near to the road for the toll payable at the nearest gate on each side thereof, and the commutation may be renewed from year to year. No tolls shall be charged or collected at any gate, from any person going to or from public worship, a funeral, school, town meeting or election at which he is a voter to cast his vote, a military par- ade which he is required by law to attend, any court which he shall be required to attend as a juror or witness, nor when going to or from his required work upon any public highway, nor when transporting troops in the actual service of the United States; and no toll from persons living within one-half mile of the gate by the most usual traveled road when not engaged in the transportation of other persons or property except that persons living within one mile of the gate, by the most usually traveled road, in an incorporated village of over six thousand inhabitants, when not engaged in the transportation of the persons or property shall be exempt from the payment of toll. As am'd by L. 1893, c. 538. § 131. Toll gatherers. — Every such corporation may appoint toll gatherers to collect toll at each gate, who may detain and prevent from passing through the gate any person riding, lead- ing or driving animals or vehicles, subject to the payment of toll, until the toll fc paid, but if he shall unreasonably hinder or delay any traveler or passenger liable to the payment of toll, or shall deniand or receive from any person more toll than he is authorized by law to collect, he shall forfeit to such person the sum of five dollars for every offense, and the corporation em- ploying him shall be liable for the payment thereof, and for any damages sustained by any person for acts done or omitted to be done by him in his capacity of toll gatherer, if, on recovery of §§ 132, 133] TURNPIKES, PLANK-ROADS, BRIDGES. 23I judgment against the toll gatherer therefor, execution thereon shall be returned nulla bona. § 132. Penalty for running a gate.— Any person who, with intent to avoid the payment of toll, shall pass any gate, with- out paying the toll required by law, or shall, with his team, carriage or horse, turn out of a turnpike or plank-road and pass any gate thereon on ground adjacent thereto, shall forfeit for each offense the sum of ten dollars to the corporation injured. § 133. Location of gates and change thereof. — No such corporation shall erect any toll-gate, house, or other building within ten rods of the front of any dwelling house, barn or other out-house, without the written consent of the owner, and the county judge of the county in which the same is located shall, on application, order any building so erected to be removed, and if a majority of the commissioners of highways of any town, in which a toll-gate shall be located, or in an adjoining town, shall deem the location of any gate unjust to the public interests by reason of the proximity of diverging roads or otherwise, they may, on fifteen days' written notice to the president or secretary of the corporation, apply to the county court of the county in which the gate is located, for an order to alter or change its location. On hearing such application, and viewing the premises, if deemed necessary, the court may make such order in the matter as may be just and proper. Either party may, within fifteen days thereafter, appeal to the general term of the supreme court from such order, on giving such security as the county judge, making the order, may prescribe. Upon such appeal the supreme court, on motion of either party and on due notice, shall appoint three disinterested persons who are not residents of any town through or into which such road shall run, or to or from which it is the principal thoroughfare, or any adjoining town, as referees to hear, try and determine the appeal. Such referees shall view the premises and the location of the gate, and hear the parties in the same manner as on the trial of an issue of fact by a referee in a civil action in the supreme court, and report their decision thereon and the reasons therefor, and the evidence taken thereon to the supreme court, and such court shall review the report and render judg- 232 TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS LAW. [§ 1 34 ment thereon as justice and equity shall require, which shall be final and conclusive. The referees shall be entitled to the same fees as referees in civil actions in the supreme court, to be paid in the first instance by the party in whose favor their re- port or decision shall be, and the supreme court shall award judgment therefor, with such costs and expenses as it may deem reasonable, to the successful party on the appeal, which judgment shall be entered with the order affirming or reversing the order appealed from, and may be enforced, by execution as a judgment of a court of record. If the order of the county court is not appealed from, it may be enforced, as the court may direct, and the court may allow such costs as may be deemed just and equitable. § 134. Inspectors ; their powers and duties. — The com- missioners of highways of the several towns and the trustees or other officers in the incorporated cities and villages of the state, who perform the duties of commissioners of highways in such cities and villages, shall be inspectors of plank-roads and turn- pikes, in their respective towns, cities and villages. They shall personally inspect the whole of such turnpike or plank-road as lies in their respective towns, villages or cities, at least once in each month, and upon written complaint to them, or any of them, that any part of such road is out of repair, they shall, without delay, view and examine the part complained of, and if it shall be found to be out of repair, or in condition not to be conveniently used by the public, they shall give written notice to the toll gatherer or person attending the gate nearest the place out of repair or in bad condition to cause the same to be put in good condition within forty-eight hours from the service of the notice, and in default thereof they shall order the toll- gates upon such roa^i to be immediately thrown open until the road shall be fully repaired to the satisfaction of the inspector. The fees of the inspectors for such services shall be two dollars for each day actually emploj^ed, to be paid by the corporation or person whose road is so inspected, if they order the gates to be thrown open, but otherwise to be charged, audited and paid in the same manner as other fees of commissioners of highways. Any party aggrieved by the order of the inspectors may appeal § 135] TURNPIKES, PLANK-ROADS, BRIDGES. 233 therefrom to the county court of the county in which that part of the order ' is situated within twenty days after service of the order by serving a notice of appeal upon one of the inspectors, and filing a copy thereof in the county clerk's office, and the appeal may be brought on for hearing upon a notice of not less than five days, and the county court shall always be open to hear the same, and upon hearing the proofs and allegations of the parties the court may affirm, reverse or modify the order. If the order requires the gates to be thrown open, they shall re- main open during the pendency of the appeal. Any inspector who shall neglect to perform his duties as such inspector, shall forfeit the sum of twenty-five dollars for each offense. Every keeper of a gate ordered to be thrown open not immediately obeying such order, or not keeping such gate open until a cer- tificate permitting it to be closed shall be granted, or hindering or delaying any person in passing, or taking any tolls from any person passing such gate during the time it ought to be open, shall forfeit to the party aggrieved the sum of ten dollars for each offense, and the corporation owning the road, who shall refuse or neglect to obey the requirements of any such notice or order, shall forfeit to the people of the State the sum of two hundred dollars for each offense. § 135. ■ Change of route ; extensions and branches. — Any such corporation may, with the written consent of the owners of two-thirds of its capital stock, and of a majority of the com- missioners of highways of the town or towns, in which any change or extension is proposed to be made, construct branches to its main line or extend the same, or change the route of its road or any part thereof, and acquire the right of way for the same in the same manner as for the original or main line, and may, by any of its officers, agents or servants, enter upon lands for the purpose of making any examination, survey or map, doing no necessary damage, but before entering upon, taking or using such lands, the corporation shall make a survey and map thereof, designating thereon the lands of each owner or occupant intended to be taken or used, which shall be signed and acknowledged by the engineer making the same and the ' So in the original. 234 TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS LAW. [§§ 1 36, I37 president of the corporation, and filed in the office of the clerk of the county in which the land is situated. § 136. Mile-stones, guide posts and hoist-gates. — A mile- stone' or post shall be erected and maintaihed by every such corporation on each mile of its road, on which shall be fairly and legibly marked or inscribed the distance of such stone or post from the place of commencement of the road, and when the road shall commence at the end of any other road having mile-stones or posts on which the distance from any city or town is marked, a continuation of that distance shall in like manner be inscribed. A guide-post shall also be erected at the intersection of every public road leading 'into or from every turnpike or plank-road, on which shall be inscribed the name of the place to which such intersecting road leads in the direction to which the name on the guide-post shall point. No plank-road or turnpike corporation shall erect or put up any hoist-gate on its road. Any person who shall willfully break, cut down, deface or injure any mile-stone, post or gate on such road, or dig up, or injure any part of the road, or anything be- longing thereto, shall forfeit to the corporation twenty-five dollars for every offense, in addition to the damages resulting from the act. § 137. Location of ofifice of corporation. — Within two weeks after the formation of any such corporation its direct- ors shall designate some place within a county in which its road or bridge, or some part thereof, shall be constructed as its office, and shall give public notice thereof by publishing the same once in each week for three successive weeks in a public newspaper in the county, and shall file a copy of the notice in the office of the county clerk of every county in which any part of the road or tfidge is, or is to be constructed, and if the location of such office shall be changed, like notice of the change shall be published and filed, in which shall be specified the time of making the change, before it shall take effect. Every notice, summons, or other paper required by law to be served on the corporation may be served by leaving the same at such office with any person having charge thereof, at any §§ 138-140] TURNPIKES, PLANK-ROADS, BRIDGES. 235 time between nine o'clock in the forenoon, and five o'clock in the afternoon of any day except Sunday or a legal holiday. § 138. Consolidation of corporations and sale of franchise. — Any two or more of such corporations may consolidate into one corporation on such terms as the persons owning two- thirds of the stock of each corporation may agree upon, and may change the name of the road on filing in the office where the original certificates of incorporation were filed, a cer- tificate containing the names of the roads so consolidated, and the name by which such road shall thereafter be known. Any plank-road or turnpike corporation may, with the consent of the owners of sixty per cent of its stock, sell, and convey the whole or any part of its rights, property and franchises to any other domestic plank-road or turnpike corporation, and such sale and conveyance shall vest the rights, property and fran- chises thereby transferred in the corporation to which they are conveyed for the term of its corporate existence. § 139. Surrender of road. — The directors of any plank-road or turnpike corporation may abandon the whole or any part of its road at either or both ends thereof, upon obtaining the writ- ten consent of the stockholders, owning two-thirds of the stock of the corporation, which surrender shall be by a declaration in wanting to that effect, attested by the seal of the corporation and acknowledged by the president and secretary. Such dec- laration and consent shall be filed and recorded in the clerk's office of the county in which any part of the road abandoned shall be situated, and the road so abandoned shall cease to be the road or property of the corporation, and shall revert and belong to the several towns, cities and villages through which it was constructed, and the corporation shall no longer be liable to maintain it or to be assessed thereon, or permitted to collect tolls for traveling over the same, but without impairing its right to take toll on the remaining part of its road at the rate prescribed by law. § 140. Taxation and exemption. — So much of any bridge or toll-house of any bridge corporation as may be within any town, city or village, shall be liable to taxation therein as real estate. Toll-houses and other fixtures and all property belong- 236 TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS LAW. [§§ I4I, I42 ing to any plank-road or turnpike corporation shall be exempt from assessment and taxation for any purpose until the sur- plus annual receipts of tolls on its road over necessary repairs and a suitable reserve fund for repairs or relaying of plank, shall exceed seven per cent per annum on the first cost of the road. If the assessors of any town, village or city and the cor- poration disagree concerning any exemption claim, the corpo- ration may appeal to the county judge of the county in which such assessment is proposed to be made, who shall, after due notice to both parties, examine the books and vouchers of the corporation, and take such further proof as he shall deem proper, and decide whether such corporation is liable to taxa- tion under this section, and his decision shall be final. § 141. Hauling logs and timber. — Any person who shall draw or haul or cause to be drawn or hauled, any logs, timber or other material upon the bed of any plank or turnpike road, unless the same shall be entirely elevated above the surface of the road on wheels or runners, and the road-bed shall be injured thereby, or who shall do or cause to be done any act by which the road-bed, or any ditch, -sluice, culvert or drain appertaining to any turnpike or plank-road shall be injured or obstructed, or shall divert or cause to be diverted, any stream of water so as to injure or endanger any part of such road, shall forfeit to the corporation the sum of five dollars for every offense in addition to the damages resulting from the wrongful act. § 142. Encroachment of fences. — Whenever the president or secretary of any turnpike or plank-road corporation shall no- tify any inspector of such roads in the county where situated that any person is erecting or has erected any fence or other structure upon any part of the premises lawfully set apart for any such turnpike o§ plank-road, the inspector shall examine into the facts and order the fence or other structure to be re- moved if it shall appear to be upon any part of any such road, and any person neglecting or refusing to remove the same within twenty days or such further time not exceeding three months, as may be fixed by the inspector, shall forfeit to the corporation the sum of five dollars for every day during which the fence or other structure shall remain upon such road, but §§ 143-146] TURNPIKES, PLANK-ROADS, BRIDGES. 237 no such order shall require the removal of any fence, previously erected, between the first day of December and the first day of April. § 143. Penalty for fast driving over bridges. — Any plank- road, turnpike or bridge corporation may put up and maintain at conspicuous places at each end of any bridge, owned or main- tained by it, the length of whose span is not less than twenty- five feet, a notice with the following words in large characters : " One dollar fine for riding or driving over this bridge faster than a walk." Whoever shall ride or drive faster than a walk, over any bridge upon which such notice shall have been placed, and shall then be, shall forfeit to the corporation the sum of one dollar for every such offense. § 144. Acts of directors prohibited. — No director of any such corporation shall be concerned, directly or indirectly, in any contract for making or wprking any road belonging to it during the time he shall be a director. No contractor for the making of such road, or any part thereof, shall make a new con- tract for the performance of his work, or any part of it, other than by hiring hands, teams, carriages or utensils, to be super- intended and paid by himself, unless such new contract and its terms be laid before the boai^d of directors and be approved by them. § 145. Actions for penalties. — No action to recover any pen- alty against any turnpike or plank-road corporation, shall be commenced or maintained against it, or any of its ofificers or agents, unless commenced within thirty days after the penalty was incurred. § 146. Proof of incorporation. — In any action brought by or against any domestic turnpike or plank-road corporation, which shall have been in actual operation, and in possession of a road upon which it has taken toll for five consecutive years, next preceding the commencement of the action, parol proof of such corporate existence and use shall be sufificient to estab- lish the incorporation of the corporation, for all the purposes of the action, unless the opposing party shall set up a claim in his complaint or answer duly verified of title in himself to the road, 238 TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS LAW. [§§ I47, 1 48 or some part thereof stating the nature of his title, and right to the immediate possession and use thereof. § 147. When stockholders to be directors. — When the whole number of stockholders in any turnpike or plank-road corpora- tion shall not exceed the number of the directors specified in the certificate of incorporation, each stockholder shall be a di- rector of such corporation, and the stockholders shall constitute the board of directors, whatever may be their number, and a majority thereof shall be a quorum for the transaction of busi- ness. § 148. Dissolution of corporation. — Every turnpike, plank- road or bridge corporation may be dissolved by the legislature when, by the income arising from tolls, it shall have been com- pensated for all moneys expended in purchasing, making, re- pairing and taking care of its road, and have received in addi- tion thereto an average annual interest at the rate of ten per cent, and on such dissolution all the rights and property of the corporation shall vest in the people of the state. Any such corporation, which shall not within two years from the filing of its certificate of incorporation, have commenced the construc- tion of its road or bridge, and actually expended thereon ten per cent of its capital, or which shall not within five years from such filing have completed its road or bridge, or in case such bridge is destroyed, shall not rebuild the same within five years, or which, for a period of five consecutive years shall have neg- lected or omitted to exercise its corporate functions, shall be deemed dissolved. Where the corporation has neglected or omitted for five years to exercise its corporate functions, and its road-bed or right of way shall have been used as a public highway for that period, or where any such corporation shall have become dissolved, or where the road or any part of it of a turn- pike or plank-road corporation, or the bridge of any bridge cor- poration, shall have been discontinued, such road-bed or right of way, and such discontinued road or bridge, and the road or bridge of any such dissolved corporation, shall thereafter be a public highway, with the same effect as if laid out by the commissioners of highways of the town, and be subject to the §§ 149. 150] TURNPIKES, PLANK-ROADS, BRIDGES. 239 laws relating to highways and the erection, repairing and preser- vation of bridges thereon. § 149. Town must pay for lands not originally a high- way. — When the corporate existence of any plank-road or turnpike corporation shall have ceased by limitation of time, or where any judgment of ouster or dissolution, or restraining the exercise of its franchises has been rendered in any action against it, such portion of the line of its road as was built over lands which were originally purchased by it and not previously a pub- lic highway, shall not be used as a public highway, nor be taken possession or control of by the town in which the same may be, or by any of the authorities thereof, or be claimed or worked or used as a public highway until the town shall pay over to the treasurer, receiver or other legal representatives of the corpora- tion, or its assigns, the principal sum of the, amounts paid by it for such lands, as shown by the deeds of conveyance thereof to it, and every such judgment shall provide accordingly. Such payments shall be made within three months after the expira- tion of the corporate existence of the corporation, or if any such judgment has been or shall be rendered within three months after service of written notice of the entry thereof on the supervisor of the town, and the person receiving such payment shall execute a proper discharge therefor and a con- veyance to the town of all the title and interest which the cor- poration had in such lands at the expiration of its corporate existence. § 150. Highway labor upon line of plank-road or turn- pike. — Every person liable for highway labor living or owning property on the line of any plank-road or turnpike may, on written application to the commissioners of highways of the town, on any day previous to making out the highway warrant by the commissioners, be assessed for the highway labor upon his property upon the line of such road, in the discretion of the commissioners to be worked out upon the line of such road as a separate road district, and the commissioners shall make a separate list of the persons and property so assessed, as for a separate road district, and deliver the same to one of the direct- ors of the corporation owning such road, who shall cause such 240 TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS LAW. [§ 15I highway labor to be worked out on such road in the same man- ner that oversees' of highways are required to do, and such directors shall possess the powers and have the authority to compel the performance of such highway labor or the payment of the tax therefor as such oversees ' now have by law, and shall make like returns to the commissioner of highways, and any person so assessed may commute for the highway labor assessed upon him or his property by paying the sum now fixed by law as the commutation for such highway labor. § 151. Extension of corporate existence. — No turnpike, plank-road or bridge corporation shall extend its corporate ex- istence, pursuant to the provisions of the general corporation law, without the written consent of the persons owning at least two-thirds of its capital stock, nor without the consent of the board of supervisors of each county in which any part of its road or bridge is situated, which consent shall be given by a resolution of the board adopted at any regular or special meet- ing, and a copy of such resolution, certified by the clerk of the board, or verified by the afifidavit of some member thereof, to- gether witji such consent of the stockholders, and a statement verified by the affidavit of the president and treasurer of the corporation, showing the actual capital expended upon the con- struction of the road, exclusive of repairs, the name of each town or ward through or into which the road passes, and, if any part of the road shall have been abandoned, the actual cost of the remaining part, exclusive of repairs, shall be filed with the . certificate of the continuance of the corporate existence. No further abandonment of any road belonging to a corpora- tion whose corporate existence has been so extended shall be made, except with the consent of a majority of the board of supervisors of the cjunty in which the abandoned portion of the road may lie, which consent shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the county. ' So in the original. ' So in the original. §§ 160-163] MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS. 24I ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS. Section 160, Laws repealed. i6i. Saving clause. 162. Construction. 163. When to take effect. § 160. Laws repealed. — Of the laws enumerated in the schedule hereto annexed, that portion speciiied in the last column is repealed. Such repeal shall not revive a law re- pealed by any law hereby repealed, but shall include all laws amendatory of the laws hereby repealed. § 161. Saving clause. — The repeal of a law or any part of it specified in the annexed schedule shall not affect or impair any act done, or right accruing, accrued or acquired, or liability, penalty, forfeiture or punishment incurred prior to May first, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, under or by virtue of any law so repealed, but the same may be asserted, enforced, prose- cuted or inflicted, as fully and to the same extent, as if such law had not been repealed ; and all actions and proceedings civil or criminal, commenced under or by virtue of the laws so repealed and pending on April thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, may be prosecuted and defended to final effect, in the same manner as they might under the laws then existing, unless it shall be otherwise specially provided by law. § 162. Construction. — The provisions of this chapter, so • far as they are substantially the same as those of laws existing on April thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, shall be con- strued as a continuation of such laws, modified or amended ac- cording to the language employed in this chapter, and not as new enactments; and references in laws not repealed to pro- visions of laws incorporated into this chapter and repealed shall be construed as applying to the provisions so incorporated, and nothing in this chapter shall be construed to amend or repeal any provision of the Criminal or Penal Code. § 163. When to take effect.— This chapter shall take effect on May first, eighteen hundred and ninety-one. 16 24.2 TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS LAW. Schedule of Laws Repealed. REVISED STATUTES, PART I. Chap. 18, title 1. All. LAWS OP CHAPTER. SECTIONS. 1836 284 All. 1838 262 210 All 1847 All 1847 287 : All. 1847 398 All 1848 37 All. 1848 45 . All 1848 265 259 All 1848 All 1848 360. . .. All 1849 250 All 1849 362 All. 1850 71.. All, except § 1, All. 1851 107.. 1851 487 All 1851 98 All. 1852 228 AH 1852 372 All 1858 124 "AH 135 .. All 1858 245 . . . All 1853 471. ... All 1853 626 ... All 1854 3 .. . . All 1854 87 All 232 . All 300 . . All 1855 485 All. 1855 546 All 1855 559 83... 202 All AH. All. 643 All 1858 10 .... All 1859 209 . All 1859 311 All 1860 116 All 1861 215 . . AU 238 All 1862 205.. AH. SCHEDULE OF LAWS REPEALED. Schedule of Laws Eepealed. — {Continued.) HI REVISED STATUTES, PART I. Chap. 18, title 1. All. CHAPTER. 1862 1862 1865 1865 1866 1867 1867 1868 1869 1870 1870 1871 1872 1872 1872 1872 1872 1873 1873 1875 1875 1875 1875 1876 1876 1876 1876 1877 1878 1878 1879 1879 1879 1879 1879 1880 1880 1881 1881 1881 1881 248. 425. 691. 780. 780. 419. 974. 253. 284. 443, 568, 95. 128, 283. 374, 779, 780, 440, 737 4, 120 319 445 135 373 415 435 164 208 394 214 253 377 441 512 90 484 77 117 213 311 All. All. All. All. AD. All. All. All. All. All. All. AH. All. AU. All. AU. All. All. All. All. All. An. All. All. All. All. AH. AU. AU. All. All. All. All. AU. All. All. All. All. AU. AU. AU. 244 TRANSPORTATION CORPORATIONS LAW. Schedule op Laws Repealed. — (Continued.) REVISED STATUTES, PART I. Chap. 18, title 1. * All. LAWB OF CHAPTEK. SBCTIOlfS. 1881 313 All. 1881 337 All. 1881 464 AU. 1881 674 289 216.. . . AH. 1882 AIL 1883 All. 1883 323 All 1883 409 All. 1883 482 AU. 1883 483 AH. 1883 497 . AU. 1884 386 AU. 1885 153 A]l. 1885 141 AU. 1885 422 AU. 1885 423 248 .. AU. 1886 AU. 1886 321 AU. 322 AU. 1887 570 462 All. AU 1889 ; 369 All. Miscellaneous Statutes. The Joint Stock Association Law. LAWS OF 1894, CHAPTER 235, ENTITLED: " AN ACT IN RELA- TION TO JOINT STOCK ASSOCIATIONS, CONSTITUTING CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE OF THE GENERAL LAWS." Section i. Short title. 2. Definitions. 3. Contents of articles of association. 4. Certificate to be filed within sixty days and annually thereafter. Penalty. Evidence. 5. Dissolution. 6. Power to take and convey real property. 7. Changing articles of association. 8. When officer or stockholder not privileged from testifying, g. Laws repealed. 10. When to take effect. § I. Short title. — This chapter shall be known as the Joint Stock Association Law. §2, Definitions.— As used in this chapter, the term joint stock association includes every unincorporated joint stock as- sociation, company or enterprise having written articles of association and capital stock divided into shares, but does not include a corporation ; and the term stockholder includes every member of such an association. § 3. Contents of articles of association. — The articles of as- sociation of a joint stock association may : 1. Provide that the death of a stockholder thereof or the transfer of his shares of stock therein shall not work a dissolu- tion of the association. 2. Prescribe the number of its directors, not less than three, to have the sole management of its affairs ; (245) 246 THE JOINT STOCK ASSOCIATION LAW, 3. Contain any other provision for the management of its affairs, not inconsistent with law. §4. Certificate to be filed within sixty days and annually thereafter; penalty; evidence. — Every joint stock association transacting business within this state shall, within sixty days after its formation, and in each January thereafter, file with the secretary of state, and with the clerk of the county in which its principal business is carried on, a written certificate, signed and verified by its president and treasurer, stating the name and date of organization of such association, the number of its stockholders, the names and places of residence of its officers, and its principal place of business. Such certificates shall be recorded in such offices respectively. Any such certificate, the record thereof, or a certified copy of such certificate or record shall be presumptive evidence of the truth of all facts therein stated, against such association, its officers and stockholders. The officers of a joint stock association who fail to comply with the provisions of this section shall be jointly and severally liable to pay to the people of this state a penalty of $50 for each day such failure continues. § 5. Dissolution. — A joint stock association shall not be dis- solved except in pursuance of its articles of association, or by consent of all its stockholders, or by judgment of a court for fraud in its management, or for good cause shown. §6. Power to take and convey real property. — A joint stock association in the name of its president, as such presi- dent, may purchase, take, hold and convey such real property only, 1. As may be necessary for its immediate accommodation in the convenient trarj^action of its business. 2. As may be mortgaged to it in good faith by way of security for loans made by or moneys due to it. 3. As it may purchase at sales under judgments, decrees or mortgages held by it. § 7. Changing articles of association.— Any change in the articles of association of a joint stock association, not inconsist- THE JOINT STOCK ASSOCIATION LAW. 247 ent with law, may be made with the consent of all its stock- holders, or otherwise as the articles of association may provide. Unless the articles of association of a joint-stock association contain provisions to the contrary, its directors may be increased or reduced to not less than three ; its capital stock may be in- creased or reduced ; or the term of its existence may be extended, with the consent of its stockholders owning at least two-thirds of its stock issued and outstanding, on the following terms and conditions : The consent of the requisite number of stock- holders must be given by vote, or by writing presented and filed, at a regular or regularly called special meeting. Notice of the time and place of such meeting with notice of the pro- posed change must be personally served on each stockholder of the association at least thirty days before the meeting, or by mailing it to such stockholder at his last-known post-office ad- dress at least sixty days before the meeting. The amount of its capital stock shall not be reduced below the amount of its paid- up capital stock, nor shall it be reduced if the liabilities of the association exceed its assets. § 8. When officer or stockholder not privileged from testi- fying. — An officer or stockholder of a joint stock association is not privileged from testifying in an action or proceeding against such association or any stockholder thereof as to its existence, the members composing it, or any fact relating to its organiza- tion. § 9. Laws repealed. — The following laws are repealed : Of the Laws of 1854, chap. 245. Of the Laws of 1867, chap. 289. Of the Laws of 1885, chap. 505.' The Code of Civil Procedure also provides for the manner of bringing actions and enforcing demands against unincorporated associations. See §§ 1919-1924. 1 L. 1881, c. 599, were repealed by L. of laws repealed in 1892, seeanie. p. 153. iSgo, c. 564, and L. 1885, c. 505, §4, eiseg., and see Ottraan v. Hoffman (N. was repealed by L. 1890, c. 563. These Y. C. P.), N. Y. L. J., Apl. 24, 1894. were not, however, included in the table 248 LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS. Statutes authorizing the formation of Limited Partnerships. When limited partnerships may be formed. — Limited partnerships for the transaction of any mercantile, mechanical or manufacturing business, or of any other lawful trade or busi- ness, within this State, may be formed by two or more persons, upon the terms, with the rights and powers, and subject to the conditions and liabilities, herein prescribed ; but the provisions of this title shall not be construed to authorize any such partner- ships for the purpose of banking or making insurance, i R. S. 704, § I, as am 'd L. 1866, c. 70.' Liabilities of members ; of special partners.^ — Such part- nerships may consist of one or more persons, who shall be called general partners, and who shall be jointly and severally responsible as general partners now are by law ; and of one or more persons who shall contribute, in actual cash payments, a specific sum as capital, to the common stock, who shall be called special partners, and who shall not be liable for the debts of the partnership, beyond the fund, so contributed by him or them to the capital. Id. § 2. General partners only to act. — The general partners only shall be authorized to transact business for the partnership, except as provided in section seventeen, and no special part- ner shall be authorized to sign for the partnership, or to bind the same. Id. § 3, as am'd L. 1857, c. 414, § I. Formation of firms ; certificate. — The persons desirous of forming such partnership, shall make and severally sign a cer- tificate, which shall opntain, 1. .The name or firm under which such partnership is to be conducted : 2. The general nature of the business intended to be trans- acted : 3. The names of all the general and special partners inter- ' See Birdseye's R. S., vol. 2, p 2169 et seq. LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS. 249 ested therein, distinguishing which are general and which are special, partners, and their respective places of residence : 4. The amount of capital which each special partner shall have contributed to the common stock : 5. The period at which the partnership is to commerice, and the period, at which it will terminate. Id. § 4. Certificate to be acknowledged. — The certificate required by the fourth section of title first of chapter four of part second of the Revised Statutes of the state of New York, may be acknowledged or proved, as to the several persons signing the same, before the same persons, before whom a conveyance of lands may be now or hereafter acknowledged or proved ; and such acknowledgment or proof, shall be made and certified in the same manner as the acknowledgment or proof of the con- veyances of lands may be made or certified ; and the certificate when so made, shall have the same effect as if it were acknowl- edged in the manner heretofore required by the law hereby amended. L. 1837, c. 129, § i. Same, to be filed and recorded. — The certificate so ac- knowledged and certified, shall be filed in the oiifice of the clerk of the county in which the principal place of business of the partnership shall be situated, and shall also be recorded by him at large, in a book to be kept for that purpose, open to public inspection. If the partnership shall have places of business situated in different counties a transcript of the certificate, and of the acknowledgment thereof, duly certified by the clerk in whose ofifice it shall be filed, under his ofificial seal, shall be filed and recorded in like manner in the oiifice of the clerk of every such county, i R. S. 764, § 6. Affidavit to be filed; what to contain. — At the time of filing the original certificate, with the evidence of the acknowl- edgment thereof, as beifore directed, an affidavit of one or more of the general partners shall also be filed in the same office, stating that the sums, specified in the certificate, to have been contributed by each of the special partners to the common stock, have been actually and in good faith paid in cash, i R. S. 765, § 7- 250 LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS. When formation complete ; false statement. — No such part- nership shall be deemed to have been formed, until a certificate shall have been made, acknowledged, filed and recorded, nor until an affidavit shall have been filed, as above directed ; and if any false statement be made in such certificate or affidavit all the persons interested in such partnership, shall be liable for all the engagements thereof, as general partners. Id. § 8. Terms of partnership to be published ; effect of omis- sion. — The partners shall publish the terms of the partnership, when requested, for at least six weeks immediately after such registry in two newspapers, to be designated by the clerk of the county in which such registry shall be made, and to be pub- lished in the Senate district or city or town in which their busi- ness shall be carried on ; and if such publication be not made, the partnership shall be deemed general. Id. § 9, as am'd L. 1862, c. 476, § 2. Proof of publication to be filed. — Affidavits of the publi- cation of such notice, by the printers of the newspapers, in which the same shall be published, may be filed with the elerk directing the same, and shall be evidence of the facts therein contained. Id. § 10. Renewals, etc., how made. — Every renewal or continuance of such partnership, beyond the time originally fixed for its duration, shall be certified, acknowledged and recorded, and an affidavit of a general partner be made and filed, and notice be given, in the manner herein required for its original formation ; and every such partnership which shall be otherwise renewed or continued shall be deemed a general partnership. Id. § 11. Alteration of names, etc. ; when partnership deemed gen- eral. — Every alteratign which shall be made in the names of the general partners, in the nature of the business, or in the capital or shares thereof contributed, held or owned, or to be contributed, held or owned, by any of the special partners, and the death of any partner, whether general or special, shall be deemed a dissolution of the partnership, unless the articles of partnership shall specify that in such events the partnership shall be continued by the survivors, in which case it may be so con- tinued with the assent of the heirs or legal representatives of the deceased partner. And every such partnership which shall be carried on after such alteration shall have been made, or such LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS. 25 1 death shall have occurred, shall be deemed a general partnership in respect to all business transacted after such alteration or death, except in the case of a provision in the articles of partnership for the continuance of the business by the survivors as aforesaid, in which case the heirs or legal representatives of the deceased partner may succeed to the partnership rights of such deceased partner, and to continue the business the same as if such partner had remained alive ; provided, however, that any special partner may at any time increase the amount of capital stock contributed, held or owned by him, or one or more special partner or part- ners may be added to the partnership, upon actually paying in an additional amount of capital, to be agreed upon by the gen- eral and Special partners, and the alteration of the partnership by such an increase of the capital stock or by such additional special partners shall not make the partnership general, nor alter its name, nor work a dissolution provided the general partners in the partnership name shall file an additional certificate with the clerk with whom the original certificate may have been filed, signed by each member of the partnership general or special and duly acknowledged by one of them and certified in the manner required by law for the original certificate, stating the names and residences of such special partners and the increase of capi- tal or the amounts respectively contributed to the common stock by them, together with an affidavit of one or more of the gen- eral partners, stating that the sums specified in such additional certificate, to have been contributed by each of such special partners to the common stock, have been actually and in good faith paid in cash. No additional publication of the terms of the partnership nor of the alteration thereof shall be required in any of the cases provided for in this section. And any special partner, or the heirs or legal representatives of any such special partner, deceased, may sell his interest in the partnership with- out working a dissolution thereof, or rendering the partnership general, provided a notice of such sale be filed within ten days thereafter, with the clerk with whom such original certificate of partnership may have been filed, and the purchaser of such interest may thereupon become a special partner, with the same rights as an original special partner. Id. § 12, as am'd L. 1857, c. 414, § 2 ; L. 1858, c. 289, and L. 1895, c. 145. Business, how conducted ; firm name. — The business of the partnership shall be conducted under a firm in which the names of the general partners only shall be inserted, except that where there are two or more general partners the firm name may con- sist of either one or more of such general partners, with or with- out the addition of the words " and company," or " & Co." ; * and if the name of any special partner shall be used in such * See L. 1893, c. 263. 252 LIMITED PARTNERSIIirS. firm with his privity, he shall be deemed a general partner ; but the said partnership shall put upon some conspicuous place on the outside and in front of the building in which it has its chief place of business, some sign on which, shall be painted in legible English characters all the names in full of all the mem- bers of said partnership, and in default thereof no action shall be abated or dismissed by reason of the proof of plaintiff of the partnership failing to meet the allegations of his pleading as to the names and number of the partnership ; but the pleading may be amended on the trial to conform to the proof in that respect without costs. Id. § 13, as am'd L. 1862, c. 476, § 2, and L. 1866, c. 661. Suits to be conducted by and against general partners. — Suits in relation to the business of the partnership may be brought and conducted, by and against the general partners, in the same manner as if there were no special partners, i R. S. ;66, § 14. Capital of special partners not to be withdrawn ; may re- ceive interest. — No part of the sum which any special partner shall have contributed to the capital stock, shall be withdrawn by him, or paid or transferred to him, in the shape of dividends, profits, or otherwise, at any time during the continuance of the partnership ; but any partner may annually receive lawful in- terest on the sum so contributed by him, if the payment of such interest shall not reduce the original amount of such capital ; and if, after the payment of such interest, any profits shall remain to be divided, he may also receive his portion of such profits. Id. § 15. Special partner to refund, when. — If it shall appear, that by the payment of interest or profits to any special partner, the original capital has been reduced, the partner receiving the same, shall be bound to restore the amount necessary to make good his share of capital, with interest. Id. § 16. Rights of special partner ; restrictions. — A special partner may from time to time, examine into the state and progress of the partnership concerns, and may advise as to their manage- ment. He may also loan money to, and advance and pay money LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS. 253 for the partnership, and may take and hold the notes, drafts, acceptances and bonds of or belonging to the partnership, as security for the repayment of such moneys and interest, and may use and lend his name and credit as security for the partner- ship in any business thereof, and shall have the same rights and remedies in these respects as any other creditor might have. He may also negotiate sales, purchases, and other business for the partnership, but no business so negotiated shall be binding upon the partnership, until approved by a general partner. Excepting as herein mentioned, he shall not transact any business on ac- count of the partnership, nor be employed for that purpose, as agent, attorney, or otherwise. If he shall interfere, contrary to these provisions, he shall be deemed a general partner. Id, § 17, as am'd L. 1857, c. 414, § 3. General partners to account.— The general partners shall be liable to account to each other, and to the special partners, for their management of the concern, both in law and equity, as other partners now are by law. Id. § 18. Certain transfers, judgments, and securities void when made by partnership. — Every sale, assignment, or transfer of any of the property or effects of such partnership, made by such partnership when insolvent, or in contemplation of insolvency, or after, or in contemplation of, the insolvency of any partner, with the intent of giving a preference to any creditor of such partnership or insolvent partner, over other creditors of such partnership ; and every judgment confessed, lien created, or security given, by such partnership, under the like circumstances, and with the like intent, shall be void, as against the creditors of such partnership. Id. § 20. Same ; when made by partners. — Every such sale, assign- ment, or transfer of any of the property or effects of a general or special partner, made by such general or special partner, when insolvent, or in contemplation of insolvency, or after or in contemplation of the insolvency of the partnership, with the intent of giving to any creditor of his own, or of the part- nership, a preference over creditors of the partnership , and every judgment confessed, lien created, or security given, by 254 LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS. any such partner, under the like circumstances, and with the like intent, shall be void, as against the creditors of the partner- ship. I R. S. 767, § 21. Special partner, when liable. — Every special partner, who shall violate any provision of the two last preceding sections, or who shall concur in, or assent to, any such violation by the partnership or by any individual partner, shall be liable as a general partner. Id. § 22. When special partner not to claim as creditor. — In case of the insolvency or bankruptcy of thi partnership, no special partner shall, except for claims contracted pursuant to section seventeen, under any circumstances, be allowed to claim as a creditor, until the claims of all the other creditors of the part- nership shall be satisfied. Id. § 23, as am'd L. 1857, c. 414, §4. Dissolution by act of partner, how effected. — No dissolution of such partnership by the acts of the parties, shall take place previous to the time specified in its certificate of formation, or in the certificate of its renewal, until a notice of such dissolution shall have been filed and recorded in the clerk's office in which the original certificate was recorded, and published once in each week for four weeks, in a newspaper printed in each of the counties where the partnership may have places of business, and in the state paper. Id. § 24. Special partner may lease to general. — It shall be lawful for a special partner in any limited partnership to lease to the general partner or partners any lands, tenements or other prop- erty for the purposes of the partnership, at such rents and upon such terms as may be agreed upon between them. L. 1872, c. 114, §1.' The following statute is of importance to corporations desir- ing to change their organizations into limited partnerships (L. 1893, c. 263): § I. Section one of chapter two hundred and fifty-six of the ' The Revised Statutes also contain hibiting the use of ficticious names, etc. provisions allowing the continued use See Birdseye's R-. S., vol 2, pp. 2173- of partnership names and the use of 2175. names of deceased persons, and pro- PROVISIONS OF THE PENAL CODE. 255 laws of eighteen hundred and sixty-eight, as amended by chapter four hundred and twenty-five of the laws of eighteen hundred and eighty-one, entitled " An act in relation to partner- ships and the use by new partnerships of the names of former partnerships," is hereby amended so as to read as follows : § I. Any limited partnership which may hereafter be formed under the laws of this state may use the firm or corporate name of any general or limited partnership or of any corporation, domestic or foreign, which may theretofore have carried on its business within this state, where said general or limited part- nership or corporation has discontinued or shall be about to discontinue its business within the state, and where a majority of the partners, general or special, in either of such last men- tioned copartnerships or of the survivors thereof shall be members of the new limited copartnership, or where a majority of the members of such copartnership theretofore existing or of the surviving members thereof, or of the stockholders of such corporation shall consent in writing to the use of such firm or corporate name by such new copartnership, upon com- plying with the provisions of the act entitled " An act allowing the continued use of partnership names in certain cases," passed April seventeenth, eighteen hundred and fifty-four, and the act amendatory thereof, so far as the same may be applicable. Provisions of the Penal Code. § 363a. Firm or corporation names ; how filed ; responsi- bility, etc. — I. Any person now carrying on or conducting a gen- eral mercantile or manufacturing business within this state, or hereafter commencing such business at or in a fixed location, as agent or manager for another or others, shall, within thirty days after the passage of this act, or the commencement of such business, file a sworn statement,' verified by such agent and principal or principals, in the county clerk's office of the county within which said business is carried on, stating the na- ture of the business and the full name and residence of such principal or principals. ' Spp Editorial N. Y. L. J. June 5, 1893. 256 PROVISIONS OF THE PENAL CODE. 2. Any person or persons, principal or principals, may be re- lieved from all liability for the future act of such agent or man- ager by filing in the ofifice of the county clerk where the origi- nal statement appointing such agent or manager is filed, a state- ment revoking such agency or managership, to take effect ten days after the filing thereof, said statement to be acknowledged before an officer authorized to take acknowledgments of deeds and to be published in at least three consecutive issues of a newspaper published in the county in which the business of said agent or manager is carried on ; but if no newspaper is published in said county, then said statement shall be published in an adjoining county. 3. The county clerk shall keep a register of the names of such agents in alphabetical order, and of their principals, for which registering and filing he shall receive a fee of one dollar; and copies of such certificate and registry certified by him and the affidavit of such publication, shall be evidence. 4. Any person or persons failing to make and file the state- ment required by the first paragraph of this act, as therein re- quired, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.' § 590. Frauds in the organization of corporations. — A per- son who, 1. Without authority subscribes the name of another to or inserts the name of another in any prospectus, circular or other advertisement or announcement of any corporation or joint- stock association existing or intended to be formed, with intent to permit the same to be published, and thereby to lead persons to believe that the person whose name is so subscribed is an officer, agent, member or promoter of such corporation or asso- ciation ; or, 2. Signs the naqje of a fictitious person to any subscription for, or agreement to take stock in any corporation, existing or proposed ; or 3. Signs to any such subscription or agreement the name of any person, knowing that such person does not intend in good faith to comply with the terms thereof, or under any under- ' L. 1893, c. 708. PROVISIONS OF THE PENAL CODE. 257 standing or agreement, that the terms of such subscription or agreement are not to be complied with or enforced ; Is guilty of a misdemeanor. {As amended by L. 1892, c. 692.) §591. Fraudulent issue of stock. — An ofificer, agent or other person in the service of any joint-stock company or cor- poration formed or existing under the laws of this state, or of the United States or of any state or territory thereof, or of any foreign government or country, who willfully and knowingly, with intent to defraud, either : 1. Sells, pledges or issues, or causes to be sold, pledged or is- sued, or signs or executes, or causes to be signed or executed with intent to sell, pledges or issues, or causes to be sold, pledged or issued, any certificate or instrument purporting to be a certificate or evidence of the ownership of any share or shares of such company or corporation, or any bond or evi- dence of debt, or writing purporting to be a bond or evidence of debt of such company or corporation, without being first thereto duly authorized by such company or corporation, or contrary to the charter or laws under which such corporation or company exists, or in excess of the power of such company or corporation or of the limit imposed by law or otherwise upon its power to create or issue stock or evidences of debt ; or, 2. Reissues, sells, pledges or disposes of, or causes to be re- issued, sold, pledged or disposed of, any surrendered or can- celed certificates, or other evidence of the transfer of ownership of any such share or shares, is punishable by imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years, or by" a fine not exceeding three thousand dollars, or by both. (As attid L. 1892, c. 662, §19-) § 592. Frauds in procuring organization, corporation, etc. — An officer, agent or clerk of a corporation, or of persons pro- posing to organize a corporation, or to increase the capital stock of a corporation, who knowingly exhibits a false, forged or al- tered book, paper, voucher, security, or other instrument of evi- dence to any public officer or board authorized by law to ex- amine the organization of such corporation, or to investigate its affairs, or to allow an increase of its capital with intent to 17 258 PROVISIONS OF THE PENAL CODE. deceive such officer or board in respect thereto, is punishable by imprisonment in a state prison not exceeding ten years. {As amd L. 1892, c. 662, § 20.) § 593- Acting for foreign corporations not authorized to do business in this state. — Any person or corporation who acts as agent or representative of any mortgage company or co- operative loan and building association organized outside of this state, while such mortgage company or co-operative loan and building association shall not be authorized under a license of the superintendent of banks to do business in this state, is guilty of a misdemeanor. {As am'd L. 1892, c. 692.) §594. Misconduct of directors of stock corporations. —A director of a stock corporation, who concurs in any vote or act of the directors of such corporation or any of them, by which it is intended, 1. To make a dividend, except from the surplus profits aris- ing from the business of the corporation, and in the cases and manner allowed by law ; or, 2. To divide, withdraw, or in any manner pay to the stock- holders or any of them, any part of the capital stock of the cor- poration ; or to reduce such capital stock without the consent of the legislature ; or, 3. To discount or receive any note or other evidence of debt in payment of an installment of capital stock actually called in, and required to be paid, or with intent to provide the means of making such payment ; or, 4. To receive or discount any note or other evidence of debt with intent to enable any stockholder to withdraw any part of the money paid in by him on his stock; or, 5. To apply any^portion of the funds of such corporation, ex- cept surplus profits, directly or indirectly, to purchase of shares of its own stock ; or, 6. To receive any such shares in payment or satisfaction of a debt due to such corporation ; or, 7. To receive in exchange for the shares, notes, bonds or other evidences of debt of such corporation, shares of the capi- tal stock, notes, bonds or other evidences of debt issued by PROVISIONS OF THE PENAL CODE. 259 any other stock corporation engaged in another line of business unless authorized by law to make such exchange, Is guilty of a misdemeanor. (As anid L. 1892, c. 692.) § 602. Frauds in preparing accounts. — A director, officer or agent of any corporation or joint-stock association, who know- ingly receives or possesses himself of any property of such cor- poration or association, otherwise than in payment of a just de- mand, and with intent to defraud, omits to make, or cause or direct to be made, a full and true entry thereof, in the books or accounts of such corporation or association ; and a director, officer, agent or member of any corporation or joint-stock asso- ciation who, with intent to defraud, destroys, alters, mutilates, or falsifies any of the books, papers, writings, or securities be- longing to such corporation or association, or makes or concurs in making any false entry, or omits or concurs in omitting to make any material entry in any book of accounts, or other record or document kept by such corporation or association, is punishable by imprisonment in a state prison not exceeding ten years, or by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment. {As anid L. 1892, c. 662, §21.) § 610. Misconduct of ofificers and directors of stock cor- porations. — An officer or director of a stock corporation who : 1. Issues, participates in issuing, or concurs in a vote to issue any increase of its capital stock beyond the amount of the capital stock thereof, duly authorized by or in pursuance of law ; or, 2. Sells, or agrees to sell, or is directly or indirectly inter- ested in the sale of any share of stock of such corpora- tion, or in any agreement to sell the same, unless at the time of such sale or agreement he is an actual owner of such share ; Is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not less than six months, or by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars, or by both. {As anid L. 1892, c. 692.) § 611. Misconduct of ofificers and employes of corporations. '■ — A director, officer, agent or employe of any corporation or joint-stock association who : 26o PROVISIONS OF THE PENAL CODE. 1. Knowingly receives or possesses himself of any of its prop- erty otherwise than in payment for a just demand, and with intent to defraud, omits to make or to cause or direct to be made a full and true entry thereof in its baoks and accounts ; or, 2. Concurs in omitting to make any material entry thereof ; or, 3. Knowingly concurs in making or publishing any written report, exhibit or statement of its affairs or pecuniary condi- tion, containing any material statement which is false ; or, 4. Having the custody or control of its books, willfully re- fuses or neglects to allow the same to be inspected and ex- tracts to be taken therefrom by any person entitled by law to inspect the same or to take extracts therefrom ;' or 5. If a notice of an application for an injunction affecting the property or business of such joint-stock association or corpora- tion is served upon him, omits to disclose the fact of such ser- vice and the time and place of such application to the other directors, ofificers and managers thereof; or, 6. Refuses or neglects to make any report or statement law- fully required by a public officer ; Is guilty of a misdemeanor. {As am'd L. 1892, c. 692.) § 613." Misconduct of corporate elections. — Any person who: 1. Votes or issues a proxy to vote at any meeting of the stockholders or bondholders, or both, of a stock corporation, upon any stock or bond, if the person in whose behalf such vote is given shall not then have the title to the stock repre- sented by such certificate or to such bond, and shall not have it in his possession and control, notwithstanding such stock or bond shall then stand on the books of such corporation in the name of the person in whose behalf such vote is given ; or, 2. Being entitled to vote at such meeting, sells his vote or ' By L. 1893, c. 694, subd. 4 was therefrom by any person entitled by amended so as to read as follows : law to inspect the same or to take ex- ' Having the custody or control of its tracts therefrom." This amendment, books, willfully refuses or neglects to however, does not take effect until Oc- make any proper entry in the stock tober ist, 1893. book of such corporation as required *§6i2 affects officers, etc., of pipe by law or to exhibit or allow the same line corporations, to be inspected and extracts to be taken PROVISIONS OF THE PENAL CODE. 26 1 issues a proxy to vote to any person for any sum of money or thing of value ; or, 3. Acts as an inspector of election at any such meeting and violates an oath taken by him, in pursuance of law as such in- spector, or violates the provisions of an oath required by law to be taken by him as such inspector, or is guilty of any dishonest or corrupt conduct as such inspector; Is guilty of a misdemeanor. {As atn'd L. 1892, c. 692.) §614, Presumption of knowledge of corporate condition and business and of assent thereto by directors; defini- tions. — It is no defense to a prosecution for a violation of the provisions of this chapter, that the corporation is a foreign cor poration, if it carries on business or keeps an office therefor in this state. The term " director " as used in this chapter includes any of the persons having, by law, the direction or management of the affairs of a corporation, by whatever name described. A director of a corporation or joint-stock association is deemed to have such a knowledge of the affairs of the corpo- ration or association as to enable him to determine whether any act, proceeding or omission of its directors is a violation of this chapter. If present at a meeting of the directors at which any act, proceeding or omission of such directors in violation of this chapter occurs, he must be deemed to have concurred therein, unless he at the time causes or in writing requires his dissent therefrom to be entered on the minutes of the directors. If absent from such meeting, he must be deemed to have con- curred in any such violation, if the facts constituting such vio- lation appear on the record or minutes of the proceedings of the board of directors, and he remains a director of the corpo- ration for six months thereafter without causing or in writing requiring his dissent from such violation to be entered on such record or minutes. {As am'd L. 1892, c. 692.)' § 651. Unlawful interference with gas meter or steam valves. — A person who willfully, with intent to injure or de- fraud : I, Connects a tube, pipe or other instrument or contrivance, ' See §§681, 682, Criminal Code, as amended L. 1892, c. 219. 262 PROVISIONS OF THE PENAL CODE. with a pipe used for conducting or supplying illuminating gas fuel or natural gas, in such a manner as to supply such gas to any burner or orifice, where the same is or can be burned, or used, without passing through the meter or instrument pro- vided for registering the quantity consumed ; or 2. Obstructs, alters, injures or prevents the action of a meter or other instrument used to measure or register the quantity of illuminating fuel or natural gas consumed in a house or apart- ment, or at an orifice or burner or by a consumer or other per- son, or a person other than a state inspector or deputy inspector of gas meters or an employe of the company owning any gas meter who willfully shall detach or disconnect such meter or make or report any test of or examine for the purpose of test- ing any such meter so detached or disconnected ; or 3. In any manner whatever, changes, extends or alters, any service or other pipe, or attachment of any kind, connecting ,or through which, natural or artificial gas is furnished from the gas mains or pipes of any person, company or corporation, without first procuring from said person, company or corpora- tion written permission to make such change, extension or alter- ation ; or 4. Makes any connection or reconnection with the gas mains or service pipes of any person, company or corporation furnish-' ing to consumers natural or artificial gas or turns on or off, or in any manner interferes with any valve or stop-cock or other appliances belonging to such person, company or corporation, and connected with its service or other pipes or enlarges the orifice of mixers, or uses natural gas for heating purposes ex- cept through mixers, without first procuring from such person, company or corporation, a written permit to turn on or off such stop-cock or valve, «or to make such connections or reconnec- tions, or to enlarge the orifice of mixers, or to use for heating purposes without mixers, or to interfere with the valves, stop- cocks, or other appliances of such person, company or corpora- tion as the case may be ; or 5. Retains possession of, or refuses to deliver any mixer or mixers, or other appliances which may be, or may have been loaned or rented to them by any person, company or corpora- FEES OF SECRETARY OF STATE, 263 tion, for the purpose of furnishing gas through the same, or who sells, loans, or in any manner disposes of the same to any person or persons, other than the said person, company or cor- poration entitled to the possession of the same ; or 6. Sets on fire any gas escaping from wells, broken or leaking mains, pipes, valves or other appliances used by any person, company or corporation, in conveying gas to consumers, or in- terferes in any manner with the wells, pipes, mains, gate boxes, valves, stop-cocks, or any other appliances, machinery or prop- erty of any person, company or corporation engaged in furnish- ing gas to consumers, unless employed by or acting under the authority and direction of such person, company or corpora- tion ; or 7. Opens or causes to be opened, or reconnects, or causes to be reconnected, any valve lawfully closed or disconnected by a district steam corporation ; or 8. Turns on steam, or causes it to be turned on, or to re- enter any premises when the same has been lawfully stopped from entering such premises; is guilty of a misdemeanor. To take effect October first, eighteen hundred and ninety- three.' See § 168 of the Penal Code in reference to conspiracies. Fees of Secretary of State. L. 1892, c. 683, § 26, provides as follows: The secretary of state shall collect the following fees : 1. For entering a caveat, twelve and a half cents ; 2. Searching the records in his office for any one year and for every other year in which such search is made, six cents ; 3. For a copy of any paper or record not required to be cer- tified or otherwise authenticated by him, ten cents per folio ; 4. For a certified or exemplified copy of any law, record or paper, fifteen cents per folio ; 5. For a certificate under the great seal of the state, one dollar ; 6. For recording a certificate, notice or other paper required ' L. 1893, c. 692. 264 FEES OF COUNTY CLERK. to be recorded, except as otherwise provided by this section, fifteen cents per folio ; 7. For a certificate of the oiHicial character of a commissioner of deeds residing in another state or a foreign country, twenty- five cents, and for every other certificate under the seal of his office, one dollar. 8. For a certificate as to the official character of such a com- missioner, twenty five cents ; 9. For every patent for lands under water, five dollars, and for every other patent the sum of one dollar for each separate lot embraced in such patent ; 10. For each license granted to a peddler, the sum of two dollars ; 11. For recording the depositions of resident aliens, fifty cents, and for a certified copy of such deposition, fifty cents ; 12. For filing and recording the original certificate of incor- poration of a railroad corporation for the construction of a rail- road in a foreign country, fifty dollars ; for filing the original certificate of every other railroad corporation, twenty-five dol- lars ; for filing the original certificate of any other stock corpo-\ ration, ten dollars ; j 13. For filing the certificate of a foreign corporation desiring to do business in the state, ten dollars ; 14. For certified copies of the evidence and proceedings of the board of audit, on appeal to the supreme court, to be paid by the appellant on serving notice of appeal, fifteen cents per folio. No fee shall be collected for copies of records furnished to public officers for use in their official capacity. F^s of County Clerk. Section 3304 of the Code of Civil Procedure contains the following : A county clerk is entitled, for the services specified in this section, except where another fee is allowed therefor by special statutory provision, to the following fees : . . . . For a copy of an order, record or other paper, entered or filed in his office, eight cents for each folio STATUTES RELATING TO RECEIVERS. 265 For recording any instrument, which must or may legally be recorded by him, ten cents for each folio. I<"or filing any paper required by law to be filed in this ofifice, other than as expressly provided for in this section, six cents. Statutes relating to Receivers. Appointment of receiver; security by. — Any of the direct- ors, trustees, or other ofificers of such corporation, or any of its stockholders, may be appointed receivers, who, before entering upon the duties of their appointment, shall give such security to the people of this state, and in such penalty, as the court shall direct, conditioned for the faithful discharge of the duties of their appointment, and for the due accounting for all monies received by them. 2 R. C. 468, § 66. See Birdseye's R. S., vol. 1 , p. 696 et seq. Title to property. — Such receivers shall be vested with all the estate, real and personal, of such corporation, from the time of their having filed the security hereinbefore required, and shall be trustees of such estate for the benefit of the creditors of such corporation and of its stockholders. Id. § 67. Authority. — Such receivers shall have all the power and authority conferred by law upon trustees to whom an assign- ment of the estate of insolvent debtors may be made, pursuant to the provisions of the fifth chapter of the Second Part of the Revised Statutes. Id. § 68. To prosecute for arrears of stock. — If there shall be any sum remaining due upon any share of stock subscribed in such corporation, the receivers shall immediately proceed and re- cover the same, unless the person so indebted shall be wholly insolvent ; and for that purpose may file their bill in the court of chancery, or may commence and prosecute an action at law, for the recovery of such sum, without the consent of any cred- itors of such corporation. Id. § 69. To give notice of appointment, etc. — The receivers, im- mediately on their appointment, shall give notice thereof, which shall contain the same matters required by law in notices of • See ante, pp. 13 [-142; L. i88o, c. 245; Correspondence N. Y. L. J. May 6, 1895. 266 STATUTES RELATING TO RECEIVERS. trustees of insolvent debtors ; and in addition thereto, shall re- quire all persons holding any open or subsisting contract of such corporation, to present the same in writing and in detail to such receivers, at the time and place in such notice specified ; which shall be published for three weeks in the state paper and in a newspaper printed in the county where the principal place of conducting the business of such corporation shall have been situated. Id. § 70. Transfers, etc., after filing petition, when void. — All sales, assignments, transfers, mortgages, and conveyances of any part of the estate, real or personal, including things in action, of every such corporation, made after the filing of the petition for a dissolution thereof, in payment of, or as a security for, any existing or prior debt, or for any other consideration, and all judgments confessed by such corporation after that time, shall be absolutely void as against the receivers who may be appointed on such petition, and as against the creditors of such corpora- tion. Id. § 71. Debtors, etc., to account ; powers of receivers. — After the first publication of the notice of the appointment of receivers, every person having possession of any property belonging to such corporation, and every person indebted to such corporation, shall account and answer for the amount of such debt and for the value of such property to the said receivers ; and all the provisions of law, in respect to trustees of insolvent debtors, the collection and preservation of the property of such debtors, the concealment and discovery thereof, and the means of en- forcing such discovery, shall be applicable to the receivers so ap- pointed, and to the property of such corporation. Id. § 72. Referring controversies. — Such receivers shall have the same power to settle any aontroversy that shall arise between them and any debtors or creditors of such corporation, by a reference, as is given by law to trustees of insolvent debtors ; and the same proceedings for that purpose shall be had, and with the like effect ; an application for the appointment of referees may be made to any officer authorized to appoint such referees on the application of trustees of insolvent debtors, who shall pro- ceed therein in the same manner ; and the referees shall pro- STATUTES RELATING TO RECEIVERS. 267 ceed in like manner, and file their report with the like effect in all respects. Id. § 73. Duties, etc., of receivers ; creditors' meeting. — The receiv- ers shall be subject to all the duties and obligations by law imposed on trustees of insolvent debtors, so far as they may be applicable, except where other provisions shall be herein made. They shall call a general meeting of the creditors of such cor- poration, within four months from the time of their appoint- ment, when all accounts and demands for and against such cor- poration, and all its open and subsisting contracts, shall be as- certained and adjusted as far as may be, and the amount of monies in the hands of the receivers declared. 2 R. S. 470, §74- Cancellation of subsisting contracts. — If there shall be any open and subsisting engagements or contracts of such corpora- tion, which are in the nature of insurances or contingent en- gagements of any kind, the receivers may, with the consent of the parties holding such engagement, cancel and discharge the same, by refunding to such party the premium or consideration, paid thereon by such corporation, or so much thereof as shall be in the same proportion to the time which shall remain of any risk assumed by such engagement, as the whole premium bore to the whole term of such risk; and upon such amount being paid by such receivers to the person holding or being the legal owner of such engagement, it shall be deemed cancelled and discharged as against such receivers. Id. § 75. Receivers' commissions. — Such receivers, shall, in addition to their actual disbursements, be entitled to such commissions as the court shall allow, not exceeding the sum allowed by law to executors or administrators. Id. § ^6. (See post, p. 272.) To retain certain moneys. — The receivers shall retain out of the monies in their hands, a sufficient amount to pay the sums which they are hereinbefore authorized to pay, for the purpose of cancelling and discharging any open or subsist- ing engagements. Id. § yy. Same : to meet suits. — If any suit be pending against the corporation or against the receivers, for any demand, the re- 268 STATUTES RELATING TO RECEIVERS. ceivers may retain the proportion which would belong to such demand if established, and the necessary costs and proceedings, in their hands, to be applied according to the event of such suit, or to be distributed in a second or other dividend. Id. §78- Order of payment of debts.— The receivers shall distribute the residue of the monies in their hands, among all those who shall have exhibited their claims as creditors, and whose debts shall have been ascertained, as follows : 1. All debts entitled to a preference under the laws of the United States : 2. Judgments actually obtained against such corporation, to the extent of the value of the real estate on which they shall respectively be liens : 3. All other creditors of such corporation in proportion to their respective demands, without giving any preference to debts due on specialties. Id. § 79. Second and final dividend. — If the whole of the estate of such corporation be not distributed on the first dividend, the receivers shall, within one year thereafter, and within sixteen months after their appointment, make a second dividend of all the moneys in their hands, among the creditors entitled there- to ; of which, and that the same will be a final dividend, three weeks' notice shall be inserted once in each week, in the state paper and in a newspaper printed in the county where the prin- cipal place of business of such corporation was situated. 2 R. S. 471, § 80. Proceedings on second dividend. — Such second dividend shall be made in all respects in the same manner as herein pre- scribed in relation to the first dividend, and no other shall be made thereafter among the creditors of such corporation, ex- cept to the creditors having suits against it, or against the re- ceivers, pending at the time of such second dividend, and ex- cept of the moneys which may be retained to pay such creditors, as herein provided ; but every creditor who shall have neglected to exhibit his demand before the first dividend, and who shall deliver his account to the receivers before such second divi- dend, shall receive the sum he would have been entitled to on STATUTES RELATING TO RECEIVERS. 269 the first dividend, before any distribution be made to the other creditors. Id. § 81. Debts not exhibited. — After such second dividend shall have been made, the receivers shall not be answerable to any credit- or of such corporation, or to any person having claims against such corporation, by virtue of any open or subsisting engage- ment, unless the demands of such creditors shall have been ex- hibited, and the engagements upon which such claims are founded, shall have been presented to the said receivers, in detail and in writing, before or at the time specified by them in their notice of a second dividend. Id. § 82. Surplus to stockholders. — If after the second dividend is made, there shall remain any surplus in the hands of the re- ceivers, they shall distribute the same among the stockholders of such corporation, in proportion to the respective amounts paid in by them, severally, on their shares of stock. Id. § 83. Money retained. — When any suit pending at the time of the second dividend,* shall be terminated, they shall apply the monies retained in their hands for that purpose, to the pay- ment of the amount recovered, and their necessary charges and expenses ; and if nothing shall have been recovered, they shall distribute such moneys, after deducting their expenses and costs, among the creditors and stockholders of the corporation, in the same manner as herein directed in respect to a second dividend. Id. § 84. Control and removal of receivers. — The receivers shall be subject to the control of the court of chancery, and may be compelled to account at any time ; they may be removed by the court, and any vacancy created by such removal, by death or otherwise, may be supplied by the court. 2 R. S. 472, § 85. Accounting. — Within three months after the time herein pre- scribed for making a second dividend, the receivers shall render a full and accurate account of all their proceedings to the court of chancery, on oath, which shall be referred to a master to ex- amine and report thereon. Id. § 86. Notice. — Previous to rendering such account the receivers shall insert a notice of their intention to present the same, once 270 STATUTES RELATING TO RECEIVERS. in each week, for three weeks, in the state paper, and in a news- paper, of the county in which notices of dividends are herein required to be inserted, specifying the time and place at which such account will be rendered. Id. § 87. • Report on accounts. — The master to whom such account shall be referred, shall hear and examine the proofs, vouchers and documents offered for or against such account, and shall report thereon fully to the court. Id. § 88. Settling same ; further accounts. — Upon the coming in of such report, the court shall hear the allegations of all con- cerned therein, and shall allow or disallow such account, and decree the same to be final and conclusive upon all the credit- ors of such corporation, upon all persons who have claims against it, upon any open or subsisting engagement, and upon all the stockholders of such corporation. Such receivers shall also account from time to time in the same manner, and with the like effect, for all moneys which shall come to .their hands after the rendering of such account, and for all moneys which shall have been retained by them for any of the purposes herein before specified, and shall pay into court all unclaimed divi- dends. Id. § 89. Receivers' report. — All receivers of insolvent corporations who are now required by law to make and file reports of their proceedings shall hereafter, at the time of making and filing such reports, serve a copy thereof upon the attorney-general of this state, and receivers of such corporations as reported to, and were under the supervision of the banking department, prior to their appointment as such receivers, and who have not been discharged from their respective trusts, and all receivers of such corporations, that may hereafter be appointed, shall on the first day of January and* July of each year, during the continuance of their respective trusts, file with the superintendent of the banking department a report, verified by oath, in such form as the superintendent may prescribe, showing the condition of their respective trusts. L. 1880, c. 537, § i, as am'd L. 1881, c. 639. Compelling same. — In case any receiver of an insolvent cor- poration shall neglect to make and file a report of his proceedings STATUTES RELATING TO RECEIVERS. 27 1 for thirty days after the time he is now required by law to make and file such report, or shall neglect for the same length of time to serve a copy thereof on the attorney-general, as required by the first section of this act, the attorney-general may make a motion in the supreme court for an order to compel the making and filing and serving a copy on him of such report, or for the removal of such receiver from his office. Id. § 2. Motions by attorney-general.— The attorney-general may, at any time he deems that the interests of the stockholders, credit- ors, policy-holders, depositors or other beneficiaries interested in the proper and speedy distribution of the assets of any insolvent corporation will be subserved thereby, make a mo- tion in the supreme court at a special term thereof, in any judicial district, for an order removing the receiver of any insolvent corporation and appointing a receiver thereof in his stead, or to compel him to account, or for such other additional order or orders as to him may seem proper to facilitate the closing up of the affairs of such receivership, and any appeal from any order made upon any motion under this section shall be to the general term of said court of the department in which such motion is made. Id. § 3, as am'd L. 1882, c. 331, § i. Notices of motion, etc., to be served on same. — A copy of all notices of motion and of all motion papers, and a copy of any other application to the court, together with a copy of the order or judgment to be proposed thereon to the court, in every action or proceeding now pending for the dissolution of a cor- poration or a distribution of its assets, or which shall hereafter be commenced for such purpose, shall in all cases be served on the attorney-general, in the same manner as provided by law for the service of papers on attorneys who have appeared in actions, whether the application but for the law would be ex-parte or upon notice, and no order or judgment granted shall vary in any material respect from the relief specified in such copy, order or judgment, unless the attorney-general shall appear on the return day and have been heard in relation thereto ; and any order or judgment granted in any action or proceeding aforesaid without such service of such papers upon the attorney-general, shall be void, and no receiver of any such 272 STATUTES RELATING TO RECEIVERS. corporation shall pay to any person any money directed to be paid by any order or judgment made in any such action or pro- ceeding, until the expiration of eight days after a certified copy of such order or judgment shall have been served as aforesaid upon the attorney-general. Id. §4, as am'd L. 1882, c. 331, Application of act. — The provisions of this act shall only ap- ply to actions and special proceedings heretofore instituted by the attorney-general and to such as shall hereafter be insti- tuted by him for the purposes aforesaid. L. 1882, c. 331, § 3. Application for appointment of receiver, where made. — Every application hereafter made for the appointment of a re- ceiver of a corporation shall be made at a special term of the court held in and for the judicial district in which the principal business ofiSce of the corporation was located at the commence- ment of the action wherein such receiver is appointed or in and for a county adjoining such district ; and any order appointing a receiver, otherwise made, shall be void. L. 1883, c. 378, § i. Compensation of receiver. — Every receiver shall be allowed to receive, as compensation for his services as such receiver, five per centum for the first one hundred thousand dollars received and paid out, and two and one-half per centum on all sums re- ceived and paid out in excess of the said one hundred thousand dollars. But no receiver shall be allowed or shall receive, from such percentages or otherwise, for his said services for any one year, any greater sum or compensation than twelve thou- sand dollars, nor for any period less than one year more than at the rate of twelve thousand dollars per year, provided that where more than one receiver shall be appointed, the compensa- tion herein provided shall be divided between such receivers. Id. § 2, as am'd L.'iSS6, c. 275.* Deposit of funds. — All orders appointing receivers of corpora- tions shall designate therein one or more places of deposit, wherein all funds of the corporation not needed for immediate disbursement shall be deposited, and no deposits or investments of such trust funds shall be made elsewhere, except upon the order of the court upon due notice given to the attorney- general. Id. § 3. •.See § 3320 Code of Civil Procedure, as am'd by L. 1892, c. 465. STATUTES RELATING TO RECEIVERS. 273 Accounting ; attorneys' fees. — It shall be the duty of every receiver of an insurance, banking or railroad corporation, or trust company, to present every six months to the special term of the supreme court, held in the judicial district wherein the place of trial or venue of the action or special proceeding in which he was appointed may then be, on the first day of its first sitting, after the expiration of such six months, and to file a copy of the same, if a receiver of a bank or trust company, with the bank superintendent, if a receiver of an insurance com- pany, with the superintendent of insurance, and in each case with the attorney-general, an account exhibiting in detail the receipts of his trust, and the expenses paid and incurred therein during the preceding six months ; and it shall be unlawful for any receiver of the character specified in this section to pay to any attorney or counsel any costs, fees or allowances until the amounts thereof shall have been stated to the special term in this manner, as expenses incurred, and shall have been approved by that court, by an order of the court duly entered, and any such order shall be the subject of review by the general term and the court of appeals on an appeal taken therefrom by any party aggrieved thereby. Of the intention to present such ac- count, as aforesaid, the attorney-general shall be given eight days' notice in writing ; and the attorney-general shall examine the books and accounts of such receiver at least once every twelve months. Id. § 4, as am'd L. 1885, c. 40. Costs of parties intervening. — In case of the intervention of any policy-holder or depositor, by permission of the court, such policy-holder or depositor shall defray the legal expenses thereof, and no allowance shall be made for costs or fees to any attorney of such policy-holder or depositor. Id. § 5. Time within which affairs must be settled. — The affairs of every insolvent corporation now in the hands of any receiver shall be fully closed up by the receiver thereof within one year from the passage of this act, unless the court, upon application by said receiver and upon due notice to the attorney-general given additional time for that purpose. Id. § 6. Proceedings by attorney-general to remove receivers, etc, — The attorney-general may, at any time he deems that the: 18 2 74 STATUTES RELATING TO RECEIVERS. interests of the stockholders, creditors, policy-holders, deposit- ors or other beneficiaries interested in the proper and speedy distribution of the assets of any insolvent corporation will be subserved thereby, make a motion in the supreme court at a special term thereof, in any judicial district, for an order re- moving the receiver of any insolvent corporation and appoint- ing a receiver thereof in his stead, or to compel him to ac- count, or for such other and additional order or orders as to him may seem proper to facilitate the closing up of the affairs ■of such receivership, and any appeal from any order made upon any motion under this section shall be to the general term of said court of the department in which such motion is made. Id. § 7. Copies of motions, etc., to be served on attorney-general. — A copy of all motions and all motion papers, and a copy of any other application to the court, together with a copy of the order or judgment to be proposed thereon to the court, in every action or proceeding now pending for the dissolution of a cor- poration or a distribution of its assets, or which shall hereafter be commenced for such purpose, shall, in all cases, be served on the attorney-general, in the same manner as provided by law for the service of papers on attorneys who have appeared in actions, whether the applications but for this law would be ex parte or upon notice, and no order or judgment granted shall vary in any material respect from the relief specified in such copy or order, unless the attorney-general shall appear on the return day and have been heard in relation thereto ; and any order or judgment granted in any action or proceeding afore- said, without such service of such papers upon the attorney- general, shall be void, and no receiver of any such corporation shall pay to any ^rson any money directed to be paid by any order or judgment made in any such action or proceeding, until the expiration of eight days after a certified copy of such order or judgment shall have been served as aforesaid upon the attor- ney-general. Id. §8. Application to court, where to be made. — All applications to the court contemplated by this act shall be made in the judi- cial district where the principal office of the insolvent corpora- STATUTES RELATING TO RECEIVERS. 275 tion was located ; and the venue of all actions or proceedings now pending, not in the judicial district where the principal office of the insolvent corporation was located, are hereby changed and transferred to the county and judicial district where such principal office was located. Id. § 9. Actions, etc., by or against receiver preferred.— All actions or other legal proceedings and appeals therefrom or therein brought by or against a receiver of any of the insolvent corpo- rations referred to in this act, shall have a preference upon the calendars of all courts next in order to actions or proceedings brought by the people of the state of New York. Id. § 10. Vesting of property in receiver. — In all cases where receivers have been or shall be appointed for any corporation of this state other than an insurance company on application by the attorney-general, all property, real and personal, and all securi- ties of every kind and nature belonging to such corporation, no matter where located or by whom held, shall be transferred to, vested in and held by such receiver ; provided, however, that such transfer shall only be made when directed by an order of the supreme court, due notice of the application for such order having been made on the attorney-general and the custodian of the funds, securities or property. L. 1884, c. 285, § i. Appraisal of lands. — L. 1891, c. 34, provide as follows: §1. Whenever by reason of the provisions of any law .of this state it shall become necessary to appraise in whole or in part the estate of any deceased person, or of any insolvent estate in the hands of a receiver, or of any assignee for the benefit of credit- ors, or of any corporation in the hands of a receiver or other- wise, the persons whose duty it shall be to make such appraisal shall value the real estate at its full and true value, taking into consideration actual sales of neighboring real estate similarly situated during the year immediately preceding the date of such appraisal, if any ; and they shall value all such property, stocks, bonds, or securities as are customarily bought or sold in open markets in the city of New York or elsewhere, for the day on which such appraisal or report may be required, by as- certaining the range of the market and the average of prices as thus found, running through a reasonable period of time. 276 ACT TO PREVENT MONOPOLIES. An Act to prevent Monopolies in Articles of General Necessity. L. 1893,0. 716. §1. Every contract or combination in the form of trust or otherwise, made after the passage of this act, whereby competition in the state of New York in the supply or the price of any article or commodity of common use in said state for the support of life and health may be restrained or prevented, for the purpose of advancing prices, is hereby de- clared illegal. § 2. Every person who shall, after the passage of this act, make any such contract, or engage in any such combination, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars, or by imprisonment not longer than one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Weekly payment law. — L. 1890, c. 388; L. 1893, c. 717, as am'd L. 1895, c. 791. §1. Every manufacturing, mining, quar- rying, lumbering, mercantile, railroad other than a steam surface railroad, steamboat, telegraph, telephone and municipal cor- poration or joint-stock company, and every incorporated or joint-stock express or water company, shall pay once a week to each of its employes the wages earned by such employe to within six days of the date of such payment unless any such employe shall be absent from his regular place of labor at the usual time of payment, ih which case payment shall be made at any reasonable time .thereafter upon demand. Every person or corporation operating a steam surface railroad shall on or before the twentieth of each month pay the employes thereof the wages earned h^^ them during the preceding calendar month, unless any such employe shall be absent from his regular place of labor at the usual time of payment, in which case payment shall be made at any reasonable time thereafter upon demand. Whenever any such joint-stock company or corporation shall contract or lease its plant, works or business, to an agent or other person to conduct the same, and to turn over the product or receipts thereof to such joint-stock company or corporation, WEEKLY PAYMENT LAW. 277 it shall be and it is hereby made a condition of such contract or lease that the agent or person so contracting or leasing the plant, works or business of such corporation or joint-stock com- pany shall pay in cash weekly or monthly, or if a steam surface railway company, the wages earned by persons engaged by him to work in and about such plant, works or business, the same as if such persons were employed directly by such corporations or joint-stock company. § 2. Any joint-stock company or corporation violating any of the provisions of this act shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding fifty dollars and not less than ten dollars for each violation, to be paid to the people of the state, and which may be recovered in a civil action ; provided notice in writing shall have been given such company or corporation that such an action will be brought if such company or corporation, after service of such notice, shall at any time fail to comply with the provisions of this act. The factory inspector of this state, his assistant or deputies, may bring an action in the name of the people of the state as plaintiffs against any joint-stock company or corporation which neglects to comply with the provisions of this act within two weeks, after having been notified in writing by such inspector, assistant or deputies, that such action will be brought. On the trial of such action such joint-stock com- pany or corporation shall not be allowed to set up any defense for a failure to pay weekly, or monthly, if a steam surface rail- way company, any employe engaged in its business, the wages earned by such employe to within six days of the date of such payment, or for the preceding calendar month, if a steam surface railway company, other than a valid assignment of such wages or a valid set off against the same, or in the absence of such employe from his regular place of labor at the time of payment, or an actual tender to such employe at the time of payment of the wages so earned by him, or a breach of contract by such employe, or a denial of the employment. No assignment of future wages, payable weekly or monthly, if a steam surface railway company, under the provisions of this act shall be valid if made to the corporation or joint-stock company from which such wages are to become due, or to any person on behalf of 278 WEEKLY PAYMENT LAW. such joint-stock company or corporation, or if made or procured to be made to any person for the purpose of relieving such joint- stock company or corporation from the obligation to pay weekly or monthly, if a steam surface railway company, under the pro- visions of this act. Charges for groceries, provisions or clothing shall not be made a valid offset for wages, nor shall any such corporation or joint-stock company require as a condition of em- ployment any agreement from any employe to accept wages at other periods than as provided in section one of this act. Any person, acting as the agent or lessee of the corporation or joint- stock company, and operating its plant, works or business, and disposing of the products thereof chiefly or solely to such corpo- ration or joint-stock company, who shall violate the provisions of this act, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction there- of shall be fined not less than ten dollars or more than fifty dollars. Wages of employees, etc., preferred claims. — Where a re- ceiver of a corporation created or organized under the laws of this state and doing business therein, other than insurance and moneyed corporations, shall be appointed, the wages of the em- ployees, operatives and laborers thereof shall be preferred to every other debt or claim against such corporation, and shall be paid by the receiver from the moneys of such corporation which shall first come to his hands. L. 1885, c. 376, § i. Employees to be paid in cash. — Every manufacturing, min- ing or quarrying, mercantile, railroad, street railway, canal, steamboat, telegraph and telephone corporation, and every incor- porated express company, and water company not municipal, shall pay to each and every employee engaged in its business the wages earned by such employee in cash ; and it shall not be lawful for any of the above-named companies or corporations to pay their employees in their own scrip or that of others com- monly known as store money orders. L. 1889, c. 381, § i. Penalty. — Any corporation violating any of the provisions of this act shall be punished by a fine not exceeding fifty, and not less than ten dollars, on each complaint on which it is con- victed, provided complaint for such violation is made within thirty days from the date thereof. Id. § 2. When married woman may vote.— It shall be lawful for PROVISIONS OF CODE. 279 any married woman, being a stockholder or member of any bank, insurance company (other than mutual fire insurance com- panies), manufacturing company or other institution incorpo- rated under the laws of this state, to vote at any election for di- rectors or trustees, by proxy or otherwise, in such company of which she may be a stockholder or member. L. 185 1, c. 32i». §1. Provisions from Code of Civil Procedure.* Complaint in action by or against corporations. — In an action brought by or against a corporation, the complaint must aver that the plaintiff, or the defendant, as the case may be, is a • corporation; must state whether it is a domestic corporation or a foreign corporation ; and, if the latter, the state, country, or government, by or under whose laws it was created. But the plaintiff need not set forth, or specially refer to, any act or pro- ceeding, by or under which the corporation was created. Civ. Code of Pro. § 1775. See Birdseye's Ed., R. S., vol. i, p. 684. Proof of corporate existence. — In an action, brought by or against a corporation, the plaintiff need not prove, upon the trial, the existence of the corporation, unless the answer is veri- fied, and contains an affirmative allegation that the plaintiff, or the defendant, as the case may be, is not a corporation. § 1776. Misnomer, when waived. — In an action or special proceed- ing, brought by or against a corporation, the defendant is deemed to have waived any mistake in the statement of the corporate name, unless the misnomer is pleaded in the answer, or other pleading in the defendant's behalf. § I777- Action against a corporation upon a note, etc. — In an ac- tion against a foreign or domestic corporation, to recover dam- ages for the non-payment of a promissory note, or other evi- dence of debt, for the absolute payment of money, upon de- mand, or at a particular time, an order, extending the time to answer or demur, shall not be granted, except by the court, upon notice to the plaintiff's attorney. In such an action, un- less the defendant serves, with a copy of his answer or demur- rer, a copy of an order of a judge, directing that the issues pre- sented by the pleadings be tried, the plaintiff may take judg- ment, as in case of default in pleading, at the expiration of * Upon all matters of practice the code should be consulted. 28o PROVISIONS OF CODE. twenty days after service of a copy of the complaint, either per- sonally with the summons, or upon the defendant's attorney, pursuant to his demand therefor; or, if the service of the sum- mons was otherwise than personal, at the expiration of twenty days after the service is complete. § 1778. When foreign corporation may sue. — An action may be maintained by a foreign corporation, in like manner, and sub- ject to the same regulations, as where the action is brought by a domestic corporation, except as otherwise specially prescribed by law. But a foreign corporation cannot maintain an action founded upon an act, or upon a liability or obligation, expressed or implied, arising out of, or made and entered into in consider- ation of, an act, which the laws of the state forbid a corporation or association of individuals to do, without express authority of law. This section does not affect the validity of a meeting of the stockholders or directors of a foreign corporation held within the state, when such a meeting is authorized by the laws of the state, country, or government by or under which the cor- poration is created, or of an act, done at such a meeting, which is not in conflict with the same laws, or the laws of the state. § 1779- When foreign corporation may be sued. — An action against a foreign corporation may be maintained by a resident of the state, or by a domestic corporation, for any cause of action. An action against a foreign corporation may be maintained by another foreign corporation, or by a non-resident, in one of the following cases only : 1. Where the action is brought to recover damages for the breach of a contract made within the state, or relating to prop- erty situated within the state, at the time of the making thereof. 2. Where it is ibrought to recover real property situated within the state, or a chattel which is replevied within the state. 3. Where the cause of action arose within the state, except where the object of the action is to affect the title to real prop- erty situated without the state. § 1780. Action against directors, etc , of a corporation, for mis- conduct. — An action may be maintained against one or more PROVISIONS OF CODE, 28 1 trustees, directors, managers, or other ofificers of a corporation, to procure a judgment for the following purposes, or so much thereof as the case requires : 1. CompelHng the defendants to account for their official conduct, in the management and disposition of the funds and property, committed to their charge. 2. Compelling them to pay to the corporation, which they represent, or to its creditors, any money, and the value of any property, which they have acquired to themselves, or transfer- red to others, or lost, or wasted, by a violation of their duties. 3. Suspending a defendant from exercising his office, where it appears that he has abused his trust. 4. Removing a defendant from his office, upon proof or con- viction of misconduct, and directing a new election to be held by the body or board, duly authorized to hold the same, in order to supply the vacancy created by the removal ; or, where there is no such body or board, or where all the members thereof are removed, directing the removal to be reported to the governor, who may, with the advice and consent of the senate, fill the vacancies. 5. Setting aside an alienation of property, made by one or more trustees, directors, managers, or other officers of a corpo- ration, contrary to a provision of law, or for a purpose foreign to the lawful business and objects of the corporation, where the alienee knew the purpose of the alienation. 6. Restraining and preventing such an alienation, where it is threatened, or where there is good reason to apprehend that it will be made. § 1781. By whom action to be brought. — An action may • be brought, as prescribed in the last section, by the attorney- general in behalf of the people of the state ; or, except where the action is brought for the purpose specified in subdivision third or foui'th of that section, by a creditor of the corporation, or by a trustee, director, manager, or other officer of the cor- poration, having a general superintendence of its concerns. § 1782.' , This article, how construed.— This article does not divest or impair any visitatorial power over a corporation, which is ' See § 1948 Code of Civil Procedure. 282 EXTRACT FROM CONSTITUTION. vested by statute in a corporate body, or a public officer. § 1783. Action by judgment creditor for sequestration, etc. — Where final judgment for a sum of money has been rendered against a corporation created by or under the laws of the state, and an execution, issued thereupon to the sheriff of the county, where the corporation transacts its general business, or where its principal office is located, has been returned wholly or partly unsatisfied, the judgment creditor may maintain an action to procure a judgment, sequestrating the property of the corpora- tion, and providing for a distribution thereof, as prescribed in section 1793 of this act. § 1784. See §§431, 432, as to service of summons upon corporations. Extract from the Constitution of the State of New York : Article VIII. § I. Corporations may be formed under general laws; but shall not be created by special act, except for municipal pur- poses, and in cases where, in the judgment of the legislature, the objects of the corporation cannot be attained under general laws. Ail general laws and special acts passed pursuant to this section may be altered from time to time or repealed.' § 2. Dues from corporations shall be secured by such in- dividual liability of the corporators and other means as may be prescribed by law. § 3. The term corporations as used in this article shall be construed to include all associations and joint-stock companies having any of the powers or privileges of corporations not pos- sessed by individuals or partnerships. And all corporations shall have the right to sue and shall be subject to be sued in all courts in like cases as natural persons. See L. 1850, c. 172, prohibiting corporations from setting up the defense of usury, and see L. 1893, c. 173, in reference to the employment of women and children in manufacturing establishments, and L. 1895, c. 765, in reference to the safety of workmen in mines. See L. 1893, c. 693, in reference to hours of work in brick yards owned by corporations. ' The provisions of the Revised Stat- i, ch. 18, title 3, § 8), were repealed by utes allowing the alteration, suspen- L. 1890, c. 563, and L. 1892, c. 687. sion, and repeal of charters (R. S., pt. See People v. O'Brien, iii N. Y., p. 45. FORMS, FORMS. Certificate of Incorporation of a Business Corporation. Certificate of Incorporatiox of the Company. State of New York, ) County of f ^^- ' We, the undersigned, desiring to form a corporation pursuant to the provisions of The Business Corporations Law, all being of full age and two-thirds being citizens of the United States and one of us a resident of the state of New York, do hereby certify : 1. The name of the proposed corporation is : 2. The purpose (or purposes) for which it is to be formed is (are) {here describe nature of business). 3. The amount of the capital stock is ' doU^s, of which dollars is common stock and dollars is preferred stock, 4. The number of shares of which the capital stock shall consist is {shares must not be less than five dollars nor more than one hundred dollars each), and the amount of capital with which said corporation will begin business ■ is dollars. 5. The location of its principal business office is to be in the of , in the county of , state of New York. 6. Its duration is to be years. 7. The number of its directors is to be {not less than three nor more than 8. The names and post-office addresses of the directors for the first year are as follows : Names. Post-Office Addresses. 9. The post-office addresses of the subscribers and the number of shares of stock which each agrees to take in the corporation, are as follows : Names. Post-Office Addresses. I No. Shares Subscribed. {The certificate may also contaift, ^any other provision for the regulation of the business and the conduct M the affairs of the corporation and any 286 FORMS. limitation upon its powers, and upon the powers of its directors and stock- holders, which does not exempt them from any obligation or from the per- formance of any duty imposed by law.") In witness whereof, we have made, signed and acknowledged this certificate this day of , 189 . (^Signatures of Corporators, who must be at least three in number^ State of New York, \ . County of ) ' ' On the day of , 189 , before me personally came {insert names of corporators), to me personally known to be the indi- viduals described in and who executed the foregoing certificate and severally acknowledged that they executed the same. {Signature of Notary^ In case it is desired to form a full liability corporation, the words "full liability " may be inserted in the first paragraph of the above form before the word corporation. The certificate of incorporation must be filed and recorded in the office of the secretary of state, and a certified copy or duplicate original thereof must be filed and recorded in the office of the clerk of the county where the principal place of business of the cor- poration is to be located. If the certificate is to be recorded elsewhere than in the county where it is executed, the county clerk's certificate of the authority of the notary taking the acknowledgment should be attached to it. See ante, pp. 1-6, 9. II. Certificate that one-half of Capital Stock is Subscribed.* State of New York, ( County of \ ®^' ' We, the president {or vice-president) and treasurer {or secretary) of the Company, do hereby certify pursuant to section 3 of The Business Corporations Law : That one-half of the capital stock of the Company has been in good faith subscribed.* In witness whereof, we have executed this certificate this day of , 189 , Signature of President {or Vice-President). Signature of Treasurer {or Secretary). State of New York, \ County of ( ^^* " On this day of , 189 , before me personally came {fnsert names of officers executing certificate), to me personally known to * This form Is now obsolete, owing to the alterations in § 3 of the Business Corporations Law. See ante, p. 6. FORMS. 287 be the individuals described in and who executed the foregoing certifi- cate and severally acknowledged that they executed the same. (Signature of Notary.) State of New York, { County of \ ^^- ' {Insert names of officers executiug certificate), being severally duly sworn, each for himself deposes and says, that he, the said , is of the Company, and that he, the said , is thereof, and that the statements contained in the foregoing certificate are true. (Signatures of officers.) Severally sworn to before me, ) this day of , 189 . i (Signature of Notary^ See ante, pp. 6, 7. III. Certificate for Reorganization of Corporation. State of New York, ) . County of ( ' We, , chairman, and , secretary, of a special meeting of the Company, held in the manner and for the purposes herein- after set forth, do hereby certify : That the Company is a stock corporation formed under the laws of the state of New York for the purpose of That the directors of the said corporation called a meeting of the stockholders thereof for the purpose of voting upon the proposition to reincorporate the said corporation under the Business Corporations Law of the state of New York, by publishing a notice stating the time, place, and object of the meeting, signed by at least a majority of the directors thereof, in a newspaper of the county of , the county in which the principal business office of the said corporation is situated, once a week for at least three successive weeks, and by serving upon each stockholder at least three weeks before the meeting a copy of such notice by deposit- ing it in the post-office, postage prepaid, addressed to him at his last known post-office address. That the said notice was as follows : A special meeting of the stockholders of the Company will be held at the office of said Company at No. street, in the city of , on the day of , 189 , at o'clock .m., to vote upon a proposition to reincorporate the said Company under The Business Corporations Law of this state. That at the time and place specified in the notice published and mailed as aforesaid there appeared in person or by proxy stockholders 288 FORMS, representing more than a majority of all the stock of the corporation, and that the meeting organized by choosing , one of the directors of the corporation, chairman, and , secretary. That the notice of the meeting having been read and proof of the pub- lishing and mailing thereof having been presented, the following resolu- tion was proposed : Resolved, That the Company be reincorporated under the pro- visions of The Business Corporations Law of this state, and that the officers of this meeting are directed to execute the certificate called for by the said law. That a vote of those present or by proxy was then taken upon the said resolution, and that shares of the capital stock of the said Com- pany, being more than a majority of all the stock thereof, voted in favor of said resolution, which was thereupon declared carried. And we do further certify as follows : {Here insert provisions called for by section i of The Business Corporations Law, see ante. Form I.) In witness whereof, we have executed this certificate this day of , 189 . , Chairman. , Secretary. State of New York, ) . County of ( ®®' • , chairman, and , secretary, being severally duly sworn, each for himself deposes and says, that he has read the foregoing certifi- cate subscribed by him, and that the same is true. Sworn to before me this ) , Chairman. day of 189 .\ , Secretary. State of New York, ( County of \ ^^- ' On this day of 189 , before me personally came , to me personally known to be the individuals described in and who exe- cuted the foregoing certificate and severally acknowledged that they ex- ecuted the same. (Signature of Notary^ See ante, p. 7. IV. Certificate of Payment of one-half Capital Stock. State of New York, > County of » ®*- • We, the undersigned, a majority of the directors of the Com- pany, do hereby certify : FORMS. 289 That the amount of the capital stock of said corporation is dollars, and that one-half thereof has been paid in. In witness whereof, we have executed this certificate this day of , 189 . f Majority of t Directors. State of New York, ) County of ( ®^- • On this day of , 189 , before me personally came (insert names of directors signing certificate)^ to me personally known to be the individuals described in and who executed the foregoing certificate and severally acknowledged that they executed the same. (Signature of Notary.) State of New York, ) . County of C '" (Insert names of president [or vice-president] and secretary [or treasurer]), being severally duly sworn, each for himself deposes and says that he, the said^ , is the of the Company, and that he, the said is the thereof, and that the statements contained in the foregoing certificates are true. Severally sworn to before me,) (Signatures of officers.) this day of , 1 89 . ( (Signature of Notary^ See ante., p. 8. Certificate of Extension (or alteration) of Business. State of New York, ) . Cou-nty of ( ' ' We, , a majority of the directors of the Company, a stock corporation organized under chapter of the laws of of the State of New York, desiring to extend (or alter) the busi- ness and powers of the said corporation in accordance with section 32 of The Stock Corporation Law, do hereby make the following amended cer- tificate of incorporation and do certify as follows : 1. The name of the corporation whose business is to be hereby extended (or altered) is : 2. The objects for which it was formed including the nature of its busi- ness were and the location of its business was and is to continue to be in the of , in the county of , state of , and the extension (or alteration) of business, and powers, and rights, which the said corporation desires to effect by the execution of this certificate and which have been authorized by its stockholders as is hereinafter set forth, are as follows : (Here describe the alteration or extension of business authorized. A cor- 19 290 FORMS. poratton may include any purposes and pmvers which at the time of the ex- tension have been conferred by law upon corporations engaged in a business of the same general character, or which might be included in the certificate of incorporation of a corporation organizing under any general law of the State for a business of the same general character .) 3. The amount and description of the capital stock of said corporation are as follows : {Here specify the amount of common and preferred stock.) 4. The number of shares of which its capital stock consists is as fol- lows: 5. The location of its principal business office is in the of , in the county of , state of New York. 6. Its duration is years from the day of , 18 7. The number of its directors is : 8. The names and post-office addresses of the directors for the first year next following are as follows : Names. I Post-Office Addresses. And we do further certify that the extension {or alteration) of business and powers and rights above set forth in paragraph number two were duly authorized by a vote of stockholders, representing at least three- fifths of the capital stock of said corporation, at a meeting of the stock- holders, held for the purpose of voting upon the proposition to so extend or alter the same, and called in the manner provided for by section 45 of the Stock Corporation Law, as is more particularly set forth in the copy of the proceedings of said meeting filed with this amended certificate. In witness whereof, we have made and signed this certificate on this day of , 189 . {Signatures of a majority of the directors.) State of New York, / . County of ^ s . . On this day of , 189 , before me personally appeared {insert names), Xo me personally known to be the individuals described in and who executed the foregoing certificate and severally acknowledge that they executed tile same. {Signature of Notary.) Copy of Proceedings of Meeting authorizing Extension or Alteration of Business. State of New York, ) County of \ ^®- • We, , one of the directors of the Company, a corpora- tion of the state of New York, and , the secretary of the same, -do hereby certify, that the said corporation desiring to extend {or alter) FORMS. 291. its business and purposes and rights pursuant to the provisions of the Stock Corporation Law, a notice of a meeting of the stockholders of the said corporation stating the time, place and object thereof, and the ex- tension {or alteration) of business and powers and rights of the corpora- tion was published once a week for at least two successive weeks in a newspaper in the county of , the county where its principal busi- ness office is located, and that a copy of such notice was duly mailed to each stockholder at his last known post-office address at least three ■weeks before said meeting, and that at the time and place specified in said notice, that is to say, at the city of , county of , on the day of , 189 , stockholders appeared in person or by proxy in numbers representing at least three-fifths of the capital stock of said Company, and organized by choosing , one of the directors of the corporation, chairman, and secretary. And that the notice of the meeting and the proof of the publishing and mailing thereof having been read, the following resolution was pro- posed : Resolved, That the Company, heretofore organized under chap- ter of the laws of of this state, for the purpose of , does hereby extend {or alter) its business and powers and rights pursuant to section 32 of the Stock Corporation Law, as follows : And resolved, That the directors of the corporation be authorized and instructed to execute the necessary certificates to effect the same. That the vote of those present in person or by proxy upon said reso- lution being duly canvassed, it appeared that shares of the capital stock of said Company, being at least three-fifths thereof, voted in favor of said resolution, which was thereupon declared carried, and the meet- ing adjourned. ~ In witness vs^hereof, we have hereunto set our hands and affixed the seal of the said corporation. [CORPORATE , Director. SEAL.] , Secretary. State of New York, ) ^^ . County of i " On this day of , 189 , before me personally appeared and , to me personally known to be the individuals de- scribed in and who executed the above certificate and severally acknowledged that they executed the same ; and the said , one of the directors of the said Company, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that the foregoing copy of the proceedings of the meeting of the Company, held on the day of , 189 , is a true and correct copy thereof in all respects. {Signature of Notary) See ante, pp. ii, 55. 292 FORMS. VI. Agreement for Consolidation. This Agreement, made the day of ' , 189 , between the board of directors of the Company, party of the first part, and the board of directors of the Company, party of the second part: WITNESSETH, that whereas the party of the first part is a corporation organized under the laws of the state of New York for the purpose of carrying on the business of And whereas, the party of the second part is a corporation organized under the laws of the said state for the purpose of carrymg on the busi- ness of ; and whereas, it is proposed to consolidate such corpo- rations into a single corporation ; Now, therefore, in consideration of the mutual agreement and conces- sions herein contained, it is agreed by the parties hereto that the said corporation shall be merged and consolidated into a single corporation, pursuant to the provisions of the Business Corporations Law of the state of New York, and the parties hereto do hereby agree that the terms and conditions of said consolidation and the mode of carrying the same into effect shall be as follows : First. — The name of the new corporation formed by said consolidation shall be the Company. Second.— The number of directors who shall manage the affairs of said corporation shall be {insert number, not less than three nor more than thirteen). Third.— The names and post-office addresses of the directors of said corporation for the first year are as follows : Names. Post-Office Addresses. Fourth.— The term of existence of said corporation shall be {not to ex- ceed fifty years). Fifth. — The nam|s oi the town {or towns) and county {or counties) in which the operations of said corporation are to be carried on are {insert names). Sixth.— That the names of the town {or city) and county in this state in which the principal place of business of said corporation is to be situated are the town {or city) of , county of Seventh.— The amount of the capital stock of said new corporation shall be {insert amount, which shall not be larger in amount than the fair "ggreg'ite "value of the property, franchises and rights of the corporations agreeing to consolidate). t FORMS. 293 Eighth. — The number of shares into which the capital stock of said corporation shall be divided is shares. Ninth. — The manner of distributing the capital stock of said new cor- poration among the holders thereof shall be as follows : Tenth. — The business of said new corporation shall be carried on in such places out of this state as the busmess of the parties to this agree- ment has been heretofore carried on, that is to say, in the following places : In witness whereof, the parties hereto have executed this agree- meet in duplicate, and have caused to be hereto affixed the corporate seals of their respective companies. (Signatures 0/ directors and seals of both corporations.) State of New York, ; County of \ ^*- ■ On this day of ,189 , before me personally came (/«wr/ names of directors of the consolid xting corporations), to me known to be the individuals described in and who executed the foregoing agreement and severally acknowledged that they executed the same. {Signature of Notary.) State of New York, County of (Insert name of president or secretary of one of the corporations) being duly sworn, deposes and says that he is the of said Com- pany mentioned in the foregoing agreement ; that he knows the corpo- rate seal of said Company, that the corporate seal affixed to said agree- ment is such corporate seal and was so affixed by order of the board of directors of said Company, and that he executed the above instrument as by the like authority.* [Signature of Notary^ Certificate of Secretary of Meeting for Consolidation. State of New York. ) . County of \ " I, , secretary of the meeting of the Company, one of the corporations described in the annexed agreement, bearing date the day of , 189 , for the consolidation of the said corporation with the Company into a single corporation, to be known as the Company, do hereby certify that a meeting of the Com- pany was called upon a notice of at least two weeks, specifying the time, place and object thereof, and addressed to each stockholder at his last known post-office address, and deposited in the post-office, postage pre- paid, and published for at least two successive weeks in one of the news* * This form should be repeated for each of the consolidating corporations. 294 FORMS. papers in each of the counties of this state in which each of such corpo- rations had its place of business, and that the said notice was as follows,: A special meeting of the stockholders of the Company will be held at the office of the said Company, at No. street, in the city of , on the day of , 189 , at o'clock .m., to vote upon an agreement for the consolidation of this corporation with the Company, made by the directors of the said corporations. That at the time and place specified in the notice published and mailed, as aforesaid, the agreement for consolidation referred to therein and hereto annexed was submitted to the stockholders for their approval. And that a vote by ballot of the stockholders so assembled having been taken, it appeared that shares of the stock of the corporation, being the vote of stockholders owning at least two-thirds of the stock of the corporation, voted in favor of the approval of the said agreement for consolidation, and that thereupon such agreement was declared adopted. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the corporate seal of said Company, this day of ,189 .* (Signature of Secretary.) State of New York, ) . County of ( ®®' • On this day of , 189 , before me personally appeared . to me personally known to be the individual described in and who executed the foregoing certificate, and who being by me duly sworn did depose and say that he resides in the of , in the state of , that he was the secretary of said Company, that the foregoing certificate contains a true copy of the proceedings of the meet- ing of the said corporation called and held as therein set forth, that he knows the corporate seal of said corporation, that the seal affixed to the above certificate is such seal, and was affixed thereto by order of the board of directors of said corporation. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand the day and year above set forth. (Signature of Notary^ See ante, p. 12. VII. Certificate of*Consent of Stockholders to Mortgage. State of New York, \ County of \ ®^- • We, . chairman, and , secretary, of a special meeting of the stockholders of the Company, held for the purpose of voting upon a proposition to mortgage the property and franchises of the said Company, do hereby certify ; That the Company is a stock corporation formed under the * This form should be repeated for each of the consolidating corporations. FORMS. 295 laws of this state, and that a special meeting of the stockholders of the said Company was called in accordance with the provisions of its by- laws, to be held at the office of the said Company, at No. street, in the city of , on the day of , 189 , at o'clock .M., and that the purpose of the said meeting was stated in the call thereof to be the obtaining of the consent of the stockholders own- ing two-thirds of the stock of the said Company to the mortgaging of its property and franchises in a sum not exceeding dollars, and to the issuing of its bonds or other evidences of debt to be secured by said mortgage in a like amount. That notice oi the time and place of holding the said meeting wa? given in accordance with the by-laws of the said Company as follows : {Here specify mode in which notice was given and showing compliance with the by-laws, and in case a corporation has no by law governing the subject, follow the requirement of the Stock Corporation Law in regard to the an- nual meeting, and state that notice was given by publication at least once in each week for two successive weeks immediately preceding the date of said meeting in a newspaper published in the county where the said meeting was held.) That at the time and place specified in the said notice there ap- peared in person and by proxy stockholders representing at least two- thirds of all the shares cf stock of said Company, and that the meeting organized by choosing as chairman and as secretary. That the notice of the meeting having been read, the following resolu- tion was proposed : Resolved, That consent is hereby given to the Company to mortgage its property and franchises to the extent of dollars, and to issue its bonds or other evidences of debt to be secured by such mort- gage in a like amount. That the vote of those present in person or by proxy being duly canvassed, it appeared that shares of the capital stock of said Company, being at least two-thirds thereof, voted in favor of said resolution, which was thereupon declared carried and the meeting adjourned. In witness whereoe, we have made and signed this certificate this day of , 189 . , Chairman. State of New York, | . , Secretary. County of \ ^®' ' , chairman, and , secretary, being severally duly sworn, each for himself deposes and says that he has read the foregoing certifi- cate subscribed by him and knows its contents, and that the same is true. , Chairman. Sworn to before me this ) , Secretary. day of ,189 . ( [Signature of Notary.) 296 FORMS. State of New York, I ^^ . County of f ' ' On this day of , 189 , before me personally came and , to me personally known to be the individuals de- cribed in and who executed the foregoing certificate and severally acknowledged that they excuted the same. {Signature of Notary.) Consent of Stockholders to Mortgage. We, the undersigned stockholders of the Company, owning and holding the number of shares of the capital stock in the said Company set opposite our respective names, being at least two-thirds of the capi- tal stock thereof, do hereby consent to the mortgaging by the said Com- pany of its property and franchises pursuant to § 2 of the Stock Corpora- tion Law and to the issuing by the said Company of its bonds, promis- sory notes or other evidences of such debt, provided that the said mortgage shall not exceed the sum of dollars. Dated ,189 . {Signatures of stockholders.) {No. of shares^ {Acknowledgment as above, or by subscribing witness^ The foregoing certificate or consent must be filed in the office of the clerk or register of the county where the corporation has its principal place of business. See ante, pp. 22, 23. VIII. Reorganization upon Sale of Property and Franchise. State of New York, ) . County of ( ' " We, the undersigned purchasers and associates, a majority of whom are citizens and residents of this state, desiring to become a corporation pursuant to section three of the Stock Corporation Law, do hereby certify : That the corporation whose property and franchises they have acquired was the Company, a corporation organized under chapter of the laws of of the state of New York, and that the court by whose authority the sale of the property and franchises of the said cor- poration was made was the court of this state, and that the date of the judgment authorizing the same was the day of 189 , and that the property sold at the said sale is briefly described as follows : That at the said sale and became the purchasers of the property and franchises thus sold, and have associated with themselves (the undersigned, who do further certify as follows : FORMS. 297 1. The name of the new corporation intended to be formed by the filing of this certificate is the Company. 2. The maximum amount of its capital stoclc shall be and the number of shares into which the said capital stock is to be divided is , of which shares shall be common stock and shares shall be preferred stock, and that the rights pertaining to each class shall be as follows : 3. The number of directors who shall manage the affairs of the new corporation shall be (not less nor more than the mtmber required by law for the old corporation), and the names and the post-ofiice addresses of the directors for the first year are as follows : Names. Post-Office Addresses. 4. The plan or agreement which was entered into at or previous to the time of the sale herein described in anticipation of ths formation of the new corporation and pursuant to which such purchase was made is as follows : In witness whereof, we have made and acknowledged this certifi- cate on this day of ,189 . {Signature of associates.) State of New York, | . County of ( ' ' On this day of ,189 , before me personally came , to me personally known to be the individuals described in and who executed the foregoing certificate, and severally acknowledged that they executed the same. See ante, p. 26. {Signature of Notary.) IX. Notice of Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Company for the election of directors for the ensuing year and for the transac- tion of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, will be held at the office of the Company, No. street in the city of , on the day of , 189 , at o'clock in the noon. Transfer books will close on the day of and will open on the day of Dated , 189 . , Secretary. See ante, p. 32. 298 FORMS. X. Certificate to Increase (or Reduce) Number of Directors. State of New York, ( . County of ) " We, , president, and , secretary, of a meeting of the stockholders of the Company held for the purpose of increas- ing {or reducing) its number of directors, do hereby certify ; That the Company is a stoclc corporation formed under the laws of the state of New York, and that the present number of its di- rectors as fixed by its certificate of incorporation is , and that the said corporation desiring to increase (or reduce) its number of directors from to {not above thirteen nor below three), the directors of the said corporation called a meeting of the stockholders thereof to be held at the usual place of meeting of the directors on two weeks' no- tice in writing to each stockholder of record, and that such notice was served by mail by depositing the same, postage prepaid, directed to each stockholder at his last known post-office address and that the said notice was as follows : A special meeting of the stockholders of the Company will be held at the office of the Company at No. street, in the city of , on the day of , at o'clock, .M., to de- termine whether the number of directors shall be increased {or reduced) from to . That at the time and place specified in the no- tice there appeared stockholders owning a majority of the stock of the corporation and that the meeting organized by choosing as president and as secretary thereof. That the notice of the meeting having been read and proof of the ser- vice of such notice upon each stockholder having been filed in the office of the corporation at the time of the meeting and having been presented thereto, the following resolution was proposed : Resolved, That the number of directors of the Company be in- creased (or reduced) from , the present number thereof, to ; that the vote of those present being duly canvassed, it appeared that shares of the capital stock of said corporation, being a majority of the stock thereof, woted in favor of said resolution, which was there- upon declared adopted, and the meeting adjourned. In witness whereof, we have made and signed this certificate in duplicate this day ,189 . (Signatures of President and Secretary of meeting.) State of New York, > County of \ " (Insert names of persons making certificate') being severally duly sworn, the said deposes and says that he was the president, and the said FORMS. 299 , that he was the secretary of the meeting of stockholders of the Company, described in the foregoing certificate, and each for himself deposes and says that the said meeting was this day held as is set forth in the said certificate, and that the foregoing record is a correct transcript of the proceedings of such meeting entered in the minutes of the corporation. Sworn to before me this \ , t:j„„„,,.„„, „f „^.^^, \ day of 189 . \ {Signatures of officers.) {Signature of Notary^ See ante, p. 36. XI. Certificate of Inspectors. State of New York, ) . County of ) " We, the undersigned inspectors of election of Company duly appointed to act at the annual meeting of the stockholders of the said corporation for the year 189 , hereby certify : That such meeting was held on the day of ,189 , at the office of the Company in the city of , at o'clock in the noon. That before entering upon the discharge of our duties, we took and subscribed the oath hereto annexed. That the result of the vote at the said election was as follows : votes, representing shares of the capital stock of the Company, were cast, of which, votes representing shares were cast for the following named persons, who were accordingly elected di- rectors for the ensuing year : {Insert names of directors elected^ In witness whereof, we have executed this certificate, this day of , 189 . State of New York, ( ^^ . County of ( On this day of , 189 , before me personally came , to me personally known to be the individuals described in and who executed the foregoing certificate and severally acknowledged that they executed the same. {Signature of Notary^ Oath of Inspectors. State of New York, ) ^^ . County of \ We, , the inspectors duly appointed to act at the annual meet- ing of the stockholders of the Company, for the election of di- 300 FORMS. rectors, held on the day of ,189 , being severally sworn, each for himself deposes and says, that he will faithfully execute the du- ties of inspector at such meeting with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability. » {Signatures of Inspectors^ Severally sworn to before me ( this day of ,189 . j This certificate must be filed in the office of the clerk of the county in which the election or meeting is held. See ante, p. 44. XII. Annual Report. Annual report of Company : We, the undersigned, a majority of the directors of the Com- pany, do hereby make the following report ; The capital stock of this Company is dollars, and the proportion of its capital stock actually issued is dollars thereof. The existing debts of the Company do not now exceed dollars. The assets of the Company at least equal the sum of dollars. Dated ,189 . ( Majority of I Directors. State of New York, ) . County of j ^*' ' (Insert names of president [or vice-president] and treasurer [or secretary]), being duly severally sworn, each for himself deposes and says, that he the said is the of the Company, and that he the said is the thereof; and that the statements contained in the said report are true to the best of his knowledge, information and belief. Severally sworn to before me this ' , cv„^-,/„„^^ „/■ ^«,™.\ day of January, 189 . \ (.Signatures of officers.) (Signature of Notary.) See ante, p. 47. This report must be filed in the office of the secretary of state and in the office of the county clerk of the county where the principal office of the corporation is located.— '5^.? ante., pp. 48, 49. FORMS. 301 XIII. Stock Certificate. Number Shares . . s . o THE COMPANY. Incorporated under The Business Corporations Law of New York. : This is to Certify, That i is entitled to shares of the I 5 Capital Stock of the Company, : "■ transferable only on the books of the Company, in person or by : attorney, on surrender of this Certificate. \ SEAL, i New York 189 r"^ President {or Vice-President). ■ u : ? Secretary [or Treasurer). ' ^ ." A power of attorney to transfer should be printed on the back of \ the certificate^ as follows : For value received, I herely sell, assign, and transfer to shares of the within mentioned S X stock, and do hereby appoint my attorney to transfer the same on the books of the Company. Witness my hand and seal, this day of , 189 . In presence of [SEAL.] See ante, p. 59, and Stock Corporation Law, % 26, ante, p. 42. XIV. Form of Subscription to Stock. We, the undersigned, do hereby agree, one with another, that we will take the number of shares in the Company, proposed to be organ- ized under the Business Corporations Law of the state of New York, herein set opposite our respective names, and that we will pay the bal- ance due upon the said shares, over and above the ten per cent now paid upon our cash subscriptions, as called for by the said Company. It is agreed between all the subscribers hereto that the capital of the said Company shall be dollars, to be divided into shares of dollars each, common stock. Dated ,189 . Names. Number of Shares Subscribed. See ante, p. 65. 302 FORMS. XV. Certificate Increasing (or reducing) Capital Stock. State of New York, j . County of ( ■ ■ We , chairman, and , secretary, of a special meeting of the stockholders of the Company held for the purpose of increas- ing (or reducing) its capital stock, do hereby certify : That the Company is a stock corporation formed under the laws of the state of New York, and that the capital stock of the said cor- poration was fixed by its certificate of incorporation at dollars, and was divided into shares of the par value of dollars. That the said Company desiring to increase {or reduce) its capital stock, the directors thereof did publish a notice, signed by a majority of them, in a newspaper published in the county of (insert name of county), the county in which the principal business office of said corporation is situ- ated, once a week for at least two successive weeks prior to the date of the meeting called thereby, which said notice was as follows : A special meeting of the stockholders of the Company will be held at the office of the said Company, at No. street, in the city of , on the day of at 12 o'clock noon, to determine whether the capital stock of said Company shall be increased (or reduced) to the amount of dollars, to consist of shares of the par value of dollars per share. That at least three weeks before said meeting, a copy of said notice, inclosed in a post-paid wrapper, was mailed to each stockholder at his last known post-office address : That at the time and place specified in the notice published and mailed as aforesaid, there appeared in person or by proxy stockholders repre- senting at least a majority of all the shares of stock of the said Company, and that the meeting organized by choosing from among their number the said , as chairman, and the said , as secretary thereof. That the notice of the meeting having been read, and proof of the proper publishing and mailing thereof having been presented, the follow- ing resolution was proposed : Resolved, That the Company does increase (or reduce) its capi- tal stock from the present amount thereof, namely, the sum of dollars, consisting of shares of the par value of dollars per share, to the amount of dollars, to consist of shares of the par value of dollars per share. That the vote of those present in person or by proxy being duly can- vassed, it appeared that shares of the capital stock of said com- pany, being at least a majority of all the stock thereof, voted in favor of said resolution, which was thereupon declared carried. FORMS. 303 And we do further certify: That the amount of the capital of said corporation actually paid in is dollars, and that the whole amount of the debts and liabilities of the corporation is dollars ; and that the amount to which the capital stock of said corporation is increased {or reduced) is dol- lars.' See ante, p. 68 . In witness whereof, we have made and signed this certificate this day of , 189 . , Chairman. , Secretary. State of New York, | County of P®' " , chairman, and , secretary, being severally duly sworn each for himself deposes and says that he has read the foregoing certifi- cate subscribed by him, and that the same is in all respects true. , Chairman. , Secretary. Sworn to before me this ) day of ,18 .5 (Signature of Notary.) State of New York, )^ . County of \ " On this day of , 189 , before me personally came and who executed the foregoing certificate, and severally acknowledged to me that they executed the same. (Signature of Notary?) ' Note:— In reducing the capital stock the following statements should be added: That the reduced capital is sufficient for the proper purposes of the corporation and is in excess of its debts and liabilities, and that the actual market value of the stock before reduction was less than its par value. Duplicate copies of this certificate should be filed in the office of the clerk of the county where the corporation's principal place of business is located and in the office of the secretary of state. 304 FORMS. XVI. Certificate of Preferrfed Stock. Number Shares . THE COMPANY. Incorporated under The Business Corporations Law of New York. a This is to Certify, That is entitled to shares of the Preferred n Capital Stock of the Company, transferable only on the books of the Company, in person or by attorney, on surrender of this certificate. ^ This stock is part of an issue not exceeding • S dollars authorized by the certificate of incorporation of this " Company (or by the unanimous consent of its stockholders), § « and the holders thereof are entitled to receive a fixed yearly h m and cumulative dividend of per cent, on the par S value thereof before any dividend shall be set apart or paid f* 3 M upon the common stock of the Company. This preferred ; «t-' stock may be redeemed at par on the first day of January, ! 19 • i Dated New York 189 . President (or Vice-President). Secretary (or Treasurer). The certificate should be endorsed as is shown in Form XIII. See ante^ p. 71. XVII. Certificate Increasing (or Reducing) Number of Shares. State of -New York, \ . County of \ ' ' We, , chairifan, and , secretary, of a special meeting of the stockholders of the Company held for the purpose of increasing (or reducing) the number of shares into which the capital stock of the said corporation is divided, do hereby certify : That the Company is a stock corporation formed under the laws of the state of New York, and that the capital stock of the said cor- poration was fixed by its certificate of incorporation at dollars, and was divided into shares of the par value of dollars. That the said Company desiring to increase (or reduce) the number of FORMS. 305 shares into which said capital stock was divided, the directors thereof did publish a notice, signed by a majority of them, in a newspaper pub- lished in the county of ' , the county in which the principal busi- ness office of said corporation is situated, once a week for at least two successive weeks prior to the date of the meeting called thereby, which said notice was as follows : A special meeting of the stockholders of the Company will be held at the office of the said Company at number street, in the of , on the day of , at o'clock .M., to determine whether the number of shares of the capital stock of the said Company shall be mcreased (or reduced), so that the said capital stock shall be hereafter represented by shares of the par value of dollars per share. That at least three weeks before said meeting a copy of said notice, inclosed in a post-paid wrapper, was mailed to each stockholder at his last known post-office address ; that at the time and place specified in the notice published and mailed as aforesaid there appeared in person or by proxy stockholders, representing at least two-thirds of all the said stock of the Company, and that the meeting organized by choosing from among their number the said as chairman, and the said as secretary ; that the notice of the meeting having been read and the proof of the printing and publishing and mailing thereof having been presented the following resolution was proposed : Resolved, That the Company does increase (or reduce) the num- ber of shares into which its capital stock is divided from the present number thereof, namely, sharesof the par value of dollars,to the following number, namely, shares, of the par value of dollars per share ; that a vote of those present in person or by proxy upon said resolution being duly canvassed, it appeared that shares of the capital stock of said Company, being at least two-thirds thereof, voted in favor of said resolution, which was thereupon declared carried and the meeting adjourned. In witness whereof, we have made and signed this certificate this day of , 189 . , Chairman. , Secretary. State of New York,* . County of \ ' ' , chairman, and , secretary, being severally duly sworn, each for himself deposes and says, that he has read the foregoing certifi- cate and knows its contents, and that the same is true. (Signatures of officers.) Severally sworn to before me ( this day of . 189 . J (Signature of Notary^ 20 306 FORMS. State of New York, ) >■ ss. : County of On this day of , 189 , before' me personally came and , to me personally known to be tlje individuals described in and who executed the foregoing certificate, and severally acknowledged that they executed the same. See ante, p. 84. {Signature of Notary.) XVIII. Petition for Change of Name. Supreme Court, State of New York, County of In the Matter of the Application ^ of the Company, for leave [• to change its name. ) To the Supreme Court of the State of New York : The petition of the Company respectfully shows to this court, as, follows : I That it is a corporation created by and existing under the laws of the state of New York, and having its principal place of business in the of , county of and state of New York. II. That it has been existing and doing business since the year one thousand eight hundred and , and that the objects for which it was formed and the nature of its busmess are : {here describe character of business). III. That your petitioner desires to change its name from the Company to the Company, for the following reasons : {here set out reasons bringing case within §§ 2411-2414 of the Code of Civ. Pro.) IV. That the application to so change the name of the said Company is made in pursuance of a resolution of its board of directors, duly adopted at a meeting thereof held on the day of ,189 . V. That your petitioner has attached hereto the certificate of the sec- retary of state tha# the name proposed to be assumed by it is not the name of any other domestic corporation, or so nearly resembling it as to be calCLilated to deceive, and that the said certificate is made a part of this petition. Whereof your petitioner prays for an order permitting it to change its name from the Company to the Company. Dated , 189 . (Name of corporation, by its President.) [CORPORATE SEAL.] FORMS, 307 State of New York, ) County of j ^^- " (Insert name of president), being duly sworn, says, that he is the presi- dent and chief officer of the Company, and that the foregoing petition is true. {Signature of President^ Sworn to before me this ) day of , 189 . ( (Signature of Notary^ Notice of Application for Order. Supreme Court, (City and) County of In the Matter of the Application of the Company for leave TO change its name. Notice is hereby given that the Company, a corporation organ- ized under the laws of the state of New York, and having its principal business office in the of and county of , will apply at a special term of the supreme court of the state of New York, county of , to be held at the , in the county court house, in the of , on the day of , 189 , at o'clock in the forenoon of that day, or as soon thereafter as counsel can be heard, for an order changing its name from the Company to Company. That said application will be made upon the petition of the said Com- pany, dated and verified the of , and filed in the office of the clerk of the , county of , on the day of Dated New York, ,189 . {Name of corporation, by President^ Order Changing Name. At a Special Term of the New York Supreme Court, held at the County Court House in the of , on the day of , 189 . Present : Hon. 'justice. In the Matter of the Applica- ) TioN OF the Company to > change its Name. ) Upon reading and filing the petition of the Company of the of , county of , state of New York, for leave to change its name and to assume the name of the Company, and upon filing the certificate of the secretary of state thereto attached, showing that the name to be assumed by the said Company is not the 308 FORMS. name of any other domestic corporation of the state, or so nearly resembling it as to be calculated to deceive, and upon filing the affidavits of and , showing that notice of this application has been published in the New York Law Journal* and in two daily newspapers published in the city of New York or {in the paper at Albany in which notices by state officers are authorized by law to be published, and in a newspaper of every county in which said corporation has a business office) for six weeks prior thereto, and the court being satisfied that this application has been made in pursuance of aresolution of the board of directors of the said Company, and that the petition is true, and that there is no reasonable objection to the granting thereof. Now, on motion of , attorney for the petitioner, it is : Ordered, that the said petition be granted, and that the Com- pany be authorized to assume the name of the. Company, on and after the day of , 189 , upon filing a copy of this order and the papers upon which it is granted with the clerk of the county of , the county in which the certificate of incorporation of the said Company is filed, within ten days from the date hereof, and upon filing a certified copy of this order within ten days from the entry thereof in the office of the secretary of state, and upon publishing this order in the , a daily newspaper printed in the county of , once a week for four successive weeks. See ante, p. 92. XIX. Amended Certificate of Incorporation, State of New York, ) County of \ ^^- ' We, the undersigned corporators {or directors) of the Company, for the purpose of correcting the following described informality {or de- fect) in the certificate of incorporation of the said Company {here state the nature of the informality or defect), or for the purpose of striking out the following unauthorized matter inserted therein {here state matter to be stricken out), pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law, do hereby make tMis amended certificate of incorporation, and do further certify : {to complete this form, if the corporation is a business corporation^ repeat statements contained in Form I., ante, p. 285, and if it is a transporta- tion corporation, repeat the statements contained in the form for the organ- ization of a corporation of the particular kind desiring to amend its certifi- cate. See Forms, post, XXIX. to XXXVII.). See ante, p. 97. » See decisions of Lawrence, J., in N. Y. L. J., Sept. 18 and 25, 1894. FORMS. 309 XX. By-Laws. BY-LAWS OF THE COMPANY. Article I. — Directors. § I. The number ot directors of this Company shall be , all of whom shall be elected by ballot by the stockholders who shall attend in person or by proxy, at the annual meeting of the Company, and each director shall be elected^ to serve for the^erm of one year. Erratum. After the sixth word ("in ") on page 308, line 4, there should be a blank space for the insertion of the name of the other newspaper in which the notice was published. Two papers, one of which is the New York Law Journal, are sufficient. request of any director the secretary shall call a special meeting of the board. A majority of the board shall constitute a quorum for the trans- action of business. Article II. — Officers. § I. The board of directors, immediately after each annual meeting, shall elect by ballot the oflficers of the Company for the ensuing year, and a majority vote of the whole number of directors shall be necessary for the election of each of said officers. § 2. The officers of the Company shall be a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer. § 3. The president shall preside at all meetings of the board of direct- ors, and shall act as temporary chairman at, and call to order all meet- ings of the stockholders ; and he shall, under the control of the directors of the Company, have the general management of its affairs and shall per- form all the duties incidental to his office. § 4. The vice-president shall, in the absence or incapacity of the presi- dent, perform the duties of that officer. § 5. The treasurer shall have the custody of, and be responsible for, all moneys, papers, books and accounts of the corporation, save only such papers, books and records as are hereinafter directed to be kept by the sec- retary ; subject always to the control of the board of directors. He shall deposit all funds of the Company in such bank or banks as the directors may designate ; he shall keep his bank account in the name of the Com- pany, and shall exhibit his books and accounts to any director upon ap- plication at the office of the Company at any time during ordinary busi- 3IO FORMS. ness hours ; he shall record all transfers of stock, and cancel and preserve all certificates of stock transferred , and at each annual meeting of stock- holders shall present a full statement of the affairs of the Company. He shall also keep a book containing the names, alphabetically arranged, of all persons who are stockholders of this Company, showing their places of residence, the number of shares of stock held by them respectively, and the time when they became the owners of such shares, and the amount of money paid thereon ; and shall generally perform all the duties appertaining to his office. (Provisions requiring a bond from the treasurer should be here inserted if desired.) § 6. The secretary shall keep a record, in proper books provided for that purpose, of all the meetings and proceedmgs of the board of direct- ors ; and also the minutes of the stockholders' meetings; he shall record all the votes of the corporation, and shall keep such other records, and shall attend to such correspndence ol the Company as the board of direct- ors shall direct ; he shall notify the directors and stockholders of their respective meetings; he shall attend to the givmg and serving of all notices of the Company, and shall m general do and perform all the duties appertaining to his office. § 7. Vacancies among the officers of the Company during the year may be filled by a majority vote of the directors at any regular meeting of the board, or at any special meeting called for the purpose of filling such vacancy. Article III.— Meetings. § I. The annual meeting of the Company shall be held at the office of the Company on the first Thursday of January of each year, at twelve o'clock, noon, and the secretary shall send through the post-office, at least ten days before such meeting, a notice thereof, addressed to each stockholder at his last known post-office address. § 2. Special meetings of stockholders, other than those regulated by statute, may be called by the board of directors upon ten days' notice to each stockholder of record, such notice to contain a statement of the business to be transacted at such meeting, and to be served personally or sent through the p(^t-office, addressed to each stockholder at his last known post-office address. The directors shall also call upon like notice a special meeting of stockholders whenever stockholders representing one-third of the capital stock of the Company require it No business other than that specified in the call for the meeting shall be transacted at a special meeting of stockholders. § 3. At all meetings of stockholders, except where it is otherwise pro- vided by law, It shall be necessary that stockholders representing in per- son or by proxy, a majority of the capital stock shall be present to con- stitute a quorum. FORMS. 311 Article IV. — Inspectors of Election. § I. Two inspectors of election shall be chosen at each annual meet- ing of the Company to serve for one year, and if any inspector shall re- fuse to serve or shall not be present at the time of election, the meeting may appoint an inspector in his place. Article V. — Seal. § I. The seal of the corporation shall be circular in form, with the words (here insert corporate name) on the circumference, and the figures (here insert year of incorporation) in the center. It shall be kept in the charge and custody of the treasurer, and must be affixed to all instru- ments requiring a seal, together with the signatures of the treasurer and president, or, in.their absence or incapacity to act, of the vice-president and secretary. Article VI.— Dividends. Dividends, payable from the net profits in hand, shall be declared and paid, at such times and to such amounts as the board of directors may from time to time designate. Article VII. — Amendments. § I. These by-laws maybe altered or amended at any annual or special meeting of stockholders called in conformity with Article III. upon a majority vote of the stockholders present at such meeting. Additional provisions should be inserted when desired, and alterations to correspond with particular needs should be made in the foregoing form. See ante, pages loi, 103. XXI. Acknowledgment by Corporation. State of New York, / ^^ . County of f ' ' On this day of , in the year one thousand eight hun- dred and ninety- , before me personally came , the president of the Company, to me personally known, who being by me duly sworn, said that he resides in the city of , state of ; that he is president of the Company , that he knows the corporate seal of said Company , that the seal affi.Ked to the above instrument is such cor- porate seal, and was affixed thereto by the authority of the board of directors of said Company, and that he executed the above instru- ment as president of the said Company, by the like authority. (Signature of Notary. See ante, p. 104. 312 FORMS. XXII. Certificate to be Filed by Foreign Corporation. State of New York, ( County of P^- • The Company, a corporation organized under tiie laws of the ' state (or territory) of , does hereby certify, pursuant to the pro- visions of the General Corporation Law, as follows : 1. That the business which the said corporation is engaged in carrying on (or proposes to carry on) in this state, is as follows : (here describe the business or objects of the corporation). 2. That the principal place of business of the said corporation in this state is to be in the of , county of 3. That (insert name and occupation) residing at ' , is hereby designated as the person upon whom all process against the said corpo- ration may be served within this state, and that the said has an office or place of business at No. street, in the city of , the place where this corporation is to have its principal place of busi- ness in this state. 4. That annexed hereto is a sworn copy of the charter of the said Company and the consent of the person above designated. In witness whereof, the said Company has caused this cer- tificate to be executed by its president (or vice-president), and its cor- porate seal to be hereto affixed on this day of , 189 . [CORPORATE SEAL. J Signature of President (or Vice-President^ State of New York, ( . County of ( ^''' ' On this day of , in the year one thousand eight hun- dred and ninety- , before me personally came , the presi- ■ dent of the Company, to me personally known, who being by me duly sworn, said that he resides in the city of , state of ; that he is president of the Company ; that he knows the cor- porate seal of said Company ; that the seal affixed to the above instru- ment is such corporate seal, and was affixed thereto by the authority of the board of directors of said Company, and that he executed the above mstrument as president of the said Company, by the like authority. (Signature of Notary.) Consent of Person designated. To be attached to foregoing Certificate. State of New York, ) . County of \ ' I, f residing at , and having an office at No. street, in the city of , do hereby consent to the designation set forth in the foregoing certificate, bearing even date herewith. Dated ,189 . (Signature.) FORMS. 313 State of New York, ) County of ( ^®' '• On the day of , 189 , before me personally came , to me personally known to be the individual described in and who executed the foregoing certificate, and acknowl- edged to me that he executed the same. (Signature of Notary^ Verification of Copy of Charter. State of New York, ) . County of \ ' ' , being duly sworn, says that he is the secretary (or other offi- cer) of the Company, and that the copy of the charter or certifi- cate of incorporation of the said Company hereto annexed is a true copy thereof. Sworn to before me this j , cj„„„j„^, „f „/jr,™ \ day of 189 .[ {Signature of officer.) {Signatiire of Notary.) See ante, p. 105. XXIII. Proxy to Vote at Annual Meeting. I, , of , do hereby appoint , of , to vote as my proxy at the annual meeting of stockholders of Company, to be held on the day of , 189 , and at any adjourned meeting thereof. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this day of , 189 . In presence of [SEAL.] See ante, p. 118. XXIV. Notice for Special Election of Directors. A special meeting of the stockholders of the Company for the election of a board of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, will be held at the office of the Company, No. street, in the of , (or if access to the office of the Company is denied, at some other office in the same locality), on the day of , 189 , at o'clock, .m. Dated, ,189 . (Signatures of one or more stockholders^ See ante, p. 121. ;I4 FORMS. XXV. Petition for Voluntary Dissolution. Ti the Supreme Court of the State of New York : The petition of and , directors of the Company, jspectfully shows to the court : 1. That the Company is a domestic corporation incorporated nder the provisions of chapter of the laws of , and that ;s principal business office is located at No. street in the f , county of 2. That your petitioners are a majority of all the directors of the said orporation, and that the names and residences of all the directors lereof are as fpllows : Names. Residences. 3. That the nature of the business carried on by the said corporation is s follows : (here describe nature of business). And that the reasons why our petitioners desire a dissolution are as follows : {here state some one of \e reasons for dissolution specified by \i\\<} of the Code of Civ. Pro^ See ante, p. 127. 4. That your petitioners have annexed hereto, and do make a part ereof, a schedule setting forth the matters required to be stated by 2421 of the Code of Civil Procedure, so far as your petitioners know or ave the means of knowing the same. Wherefore your petitioners pray for a final order, dissolving said cor- oration and appointing a receiver of its property and for such ther relief as may be just. Dated ,189 . (Signatures of Directors.) Schedule to be annexed to Petition. Subdivision 1. A full and true account of all the creditors of the corporation and of II unsatisfied engagements entered into by and subsisting against the Drporation. Subdivision 2. A statement of the name and place of residence of each creditor, and f each person with whom such an engagement was made and to whom is to be performed, if known ; or if either is not known, a statement of lat fact. FORMS. 315 Subdivision 3. A statement of the sum owing to each creditor, or other person speci- fied in the last subdivision, and the nature of e.ach debt, demand or other engagement. Subdivision 4. A statement of the true cause and consideration of the indebtedness of each creditor. Subdivision 5. A full, just, and true inventory of all property of the corporation, and of the books, vouchers, and securities relating thereto. Subdivision 6. A statement of each incumbrance upon the property of the corpora- tion, by judgment, mortgage, pledge, or otherwise. Subdivision 7. A full, just, and true account of the capital stock of the corporation, specifying the name of each stockholder, his residence if it is known, or, if it is not known, stating that fact, the number of shares belonging to each, the amount paid in by each upon his shares and the amount still due from each. {If any stock is owned by the corporation itself, this fact should be stated^ (Signatures of Petitioners^ State of New York,) . County of ( ' " (Insert names of petitioners)^ being duly sworn, each for himself says that the matters of fact stated in the foregoing petition and schedule are just and true, so far as he knows, or has the means of knowing the same. (Signatures of Petitioners.) Sworn to before me this ) day of ,189 .\ (Signature of Notary^ Notice of Application for Order. At a Special Term of the Supreme Court, held at , the in the of , on the day of , 189 . Present : The Hon. , Justice. In the Matter of the Disso- lution of the Corporation, The Company. The petition of and , trustees of the corporation , Company, and the schedule thereto annexed having this day been pre- sented to the court, audit appearingthereby that the case is one of those specified in section 2419 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and a copy of •■( 2i6 FORMS. said petition and schedule and due notice of this application having been duly served on the attorney-general, now, on motion of , attor- neys for petitioners. It is ordered, that all persons interested in said corporation show cause before this court, at a Special Term thereof, to be held at chambers, at the , in the , on the day of , 189 , at the opening of court on that day, or as soon thereafter as counsel can be heard (or before , Esq., hereby appointed referee for that purpose, at his office. No. street in the city of , at jfdock . M., why said corporation should not be dissolved.) And it is further ordered, that a copy of this order be published at least once in each of the three weeks immediately preceding the time so fixed for showing cause, in the newspaper printed at Albany in which legal notices are required to be published, and also in the , pub- lished in the city of (or county of )• Notice of Appointment of Receiver. Supreme Court, County. In the Matter of the Ap- plication of the Directors of the Company for a Voluntary Dissolution of said Company. Notice is hereby given that by an order of this court, duly made and entered in the office of the clerk of the , county of , on the day of , 189 , I was appointed receiver of all the property, assets and effects of the above-named Company, and that I have duly qualified as such. I do hereby require : I. All persons indebted to said corporation to render an account, on or before the day of , 189 , to me, as such receiver, at my office, No. , of all debts and sums of money owing by them re- spectively, and to pay the same. II. All persons having in their custody or possession any property or effects of the said Company to deliver the same to me, at the same place, on or before the day named. III. All creditors 01 the said Company to deliver their respect- ive accounts and demands to me, at the same place and on or before the same day. . V. And all persons holding any open or subsisting contracts of the said Company to present the same to me, in writing and in de- tail, at the place and within the time already hereinbefore specified. Dated ,189 . Receiver of the Company. See ante, p. 127. FORMS. 3 1 7 XXVI. Certificate Extending Corporate Existence. Stat'e of New York, ) County of \ ®®' " We, the undersigned stockholders of the Company, desiring to extend the existence of the said corporation pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law, do hereby certify : First. — That the Company was organized on the day of , in the year , under chapter of the laws of of the state of New York, and that its period of existence was fixed at the period of years. Second. — That we own two-thirds in amount of the capital stock of the said corporation, and are desirous of extending the period of existence of the said corporation for years from the date hereof, and that we do hereby consent to the extension of the existence of the said corpora- tion as is herein set forth. In witness whereok, we have signed this certificate, in duplicate, on this day of ,189 , Names. State of New York, , „„ Number of Shares. County of ( ' On this day of , 189 , before me personally appeared (z«- sert names of stockholders signing consent), to me personally known to be the individuals described in and who executed the foregoing certificate and severally acknowledged that they executed the same. See ante, p. 143. XXVII. Report of Corporation to State Comptroller. Report of the for the year ending the first day of November, A.D. 189 , made pursuant to provisions of chap. 542, laws of 1880, and the subsequent acts amendatory thereof. ,189 . To the Comptroller of the State of New York : Agreeably to law, as treasurer of the above Company, I make the fol- lowing report, viz. : 1. This Company began business in the state of New York in the month of 2. The last report made by this Company to the comptroller of the state of New York under the provisions of the above act was made for the year ending November ist. 3l8 FORMS. 3. Value of real estate and of interest or interests in real property in New York state, and where situated, 4. Organized under the laws of the 5. Date of organization of the Company, 18 . 6. Total authorized capital of Company, $ 7. Whole number of shares of stock authorized, 8. Number of shares of stock issued, 9. Par value of each share, 10. Amount paid into the treasury of the Company on each share. 11. Amount of capital paid in, 12. Amount of capital upon which dividends were declared, 13. Date of each dividend declared, 14. Amount of each dividend declared, 15. Rate per cent, per annum of dividends, 16. The business transacted by this Company in the state of New York for the year ending November ist, 189 , was as follows, viz. : 17. And such business was carried on at the following named place or places : 18. Capital stock employed in New York state, 19. If not in New York state where and how employed ? State of New York, ( ^^ . County of ( ■ ■ On this day of , a.d. i 89 , personally appeared before me, a notary public in and for the county of , , treasurer of the above-named Company, who, being duly sworn according to law, did depose and say, that the foregoing report is just, true and correct according as the accounts stand in the books of the Company, and that it includes all dividends, whether cash, stock, scrip, or of any other char- acter or description, declared by said Company during the year ending on the first day of November, a.d. 189 . , Treasurer. Sworn to and subscribed before me, ) the day and year aforesaid, ( , Notary Public. See ante, p. 165. Blanks are sent from the comptroller's office. XXVIII. Report of Domestic Corporation to New York City Tax Commissioners- Department of Taxes and Assessments, Commissioners' Office, Stewart Building. Statement made and delivered to the commissioners of taxes and assessments of the city and county of New York for and in behalf of FORMS. 319 the , showing its condition for the purpose of assessment on the second Monday of January, Total gross assets. Capital stock actually paid in, or secured to be paid in. Amount of surplus earnings, Rate of dividend for last year, or last annual dividend, Indebtedness in detail as follows ; Has any portion of above indebtedness been contracted or incurred in the purchase of non-taxable property or securities, or for the purpose of evading taxation ? Assessed value of real estate, describing particularly by ward and ward map numbers. Amounts invested in the stocks of other corporations which are taxed upon their capital, $ Amount invested in U. S. securities, $ (If the stock of the Company is worth less than par, state the actual value, and give the facts under oath which w^ill justify such estimate of its value.) The principal office or the place of transactmg the financial business of the said corporation is situated in the ward of the city of New York, at No. st. City of New York, ss. : I, , the treasurer of the said corporation, being duly sworn, do hereby certify and declare that the foregoing statement is in all respects just and true. Sworn to before me this ) day of , 189 . \ Note. — ^The commissioners are empowered to examine, under oath, the per- son representing the corporation, if they deem it necessary to obtain any fuller or further particulars as to its property or condition. See ante, p. 185. XXIX. Certificate of Incorporation of a Ferry Corporation. Certificate of Incorporation of the Company. State of New York, \ . County of ( " ' We, the undersigned, desiring to form a corporation for conducting and managing a ferry pursuant to the provisions of the Transportation Corporations Law, all being of full age and twO-thirds being citizens of the United States and one of us a resident of the state of New York, do hereby certify : I. The name of the proposed corporation is 320 FORMS. 2. The places from and to which the ferry is to be established shall run are : 3. The term for which the corporation is to exist is (not to exceed fifty) years. 4. The amount of its capital stock is dollars, which shall be divided into shares of the par value of dollars. 5. The number of its directors shall be 6. The names of the directors for the first year are ; Names. In witness whereof, we have executed this certificate this day of , 189 . {Signatures of corporators, who must be at least three in number^ (Acknowledgment as in Form /., ante, p. 286.) See ante, p. 195. XXX. Certificate of Incorporation of a Navigation Corporation. Certificate of Incorporation of the Company. State of New York, \ County of P®-" We, the undersigned, desiring to form a navigation corporation pursu- ant to the provisions of the Transportation Corporations Law, all being of full age and two-thirds being citizens of the United States and one of us a resident of the state of New York, do hereby certify : 1. The name of the proposed corporation is: 2. The specific objects for which it Is to be formed are : (see § 10, Trans- portation Corporations Law.) 3. The waters to b^navigated are : (If ocean steamers are to be used, the ports between which such vessels are intended to be navigated must also be stated.) 4. The amount of its capital stock is (not less than twenty thousand dollars nor more than four million dollars). 5. The term of its existence shall be (not to exceed fifty) years. 6. The number of shares of which the capital stock shall consist is : 7. The number of directors shall be (not less than five nor more than thirteen). FORMS. 321 8. The names of the directors for the first year are : 9. The name of the city {or town) and county in which its principal office is to be situated are : 10. The number of shares of stock which each subscriber of this certifi- cate agrees to take, which in the aggregate equal ten per cent of its capi- tal, and ten per cent of which has been paid in cash, is as follows : Names. Number of Shares Subscribed. In witness whereof, we have made and signed this certificate this, day of , 189 . (Signatures of corporators, who must he at least seven in number.) (Acknowledgment as in Form /.) State of New York, ) County of ( ^^' ' (Insert names of three directors), being severally duly sworn, each de- poses and says, that he is one of the directors named in the foregoing certificate, and that shares (not less than one-tenth of the whole) of the capital of said corporation has been subscribed and that ten per cent, of such subscriptions have been paid in cash to the directors above named. (Signatures of Directors.) Severally sworn to before me / this day of , 189 . ( (Signature of Notary^ See ante, p. 197. XXXI. Certificate of Incorporation of a Stage-Coach Corpora- tion. Certificate of Incorporation of the Company. State of New York, ) ^^^ . County of S " We, the undersigned, desiring to form a stage-coach corporation for the purpose of establishing (or maintaining) and operating a stage or om- nibus route for public use in the conveyance of persons and property else- where than in the city of New York, pursuant to the provisions of the Transportation Corporations Law, all being of full age and two-thirds be- 21 ;22 FORMS. ig citizens of the United States and one of us a resident of the state of Tew York, do hereby certify : 1. The name of the proposed corporation is: 2. The number of years it is to continue is : 3. The route or routes upon which it is to run is, or are : 4. The number of its directors is {not less than three nor more than ve), 5. The names of the directors for the first year are : 6. The amount of its capital stock is dollars, divided into shares of the par value of dollars per share. 7. The place of residence of each subscriber hereto and the number of lares of stock he agrees to take in the corporation are as follows : Names. Place of Residence. No. of Shares Subscribed. In witness whereof, we have made and signed this certificate this day of , 189 . (Signatures of corporators, who must be at least five in number.) {Acknowledgment as in Form I.) See ante, p. 198. XXXII. ertificate of Incorporation of a Tramway Corporation. Certificate of Incorporation of the Company. TATE of New York, ) . ounty of ) " We, the undersigned, desiring to form a tramway corporation for the jrpose of constructing, maintaining and operating an elevated tramway )nstructed of poles, piers, wires, rods, ropes, bars or chains, for the ansportation of freight in suspended buckets, cars or other receptacles r hire, pursuant to the provisions of the Transportation Corporations aw, all being of full age and two-thirds being citizens of the United ates and one of us a resident of the state of New York, do hereby irtify : 1. The name of the proposed corporation is : 2. The number of years it is to continue is: 3. The place from and to which such tramway is to be constructed, aintained and operated are • 4. The length of such tramway as near as may be is ; FORMS. 323 5. The name of each county through or in which it is made. of intended to be made is as follows : 6. The amount of its capital stock is : 7. The number of shares into which its capital stock is to be divided is , of the par value of dollars per share. 8. The number of its directors is (not less than three). 9. The names and places of residence of the directors for the first year are as follows : Names. Place of Residence. 10. The place of residence of each subscriber hereto and the number of shares he agress to take in such corporation are as follows : Names. Place of Residence No. OF Shares Subscribed. In. witness whereof, we have made and signed this certificate this day of , 189 . (Signatures of corporators, who must be at least thirteen in number^ (Acknowledgment as in Form /.) See ante, p. 199. XXXIII. Certificate of Incorporation of a Pipe Line Corporation. Certificate of Incorporation of the Company. State of New -York, » , County of ( ' We, the undersigned, desiring to form a pipe line corporation for the purpose of constructing and operating (or for maintaining and operating any line, of pipe already constructed) for public use outside the city of New York, lines of pipe for conveying and transporting therein (petro- leum, gas, liquids or any products or property), pursuant to the provisions of the Transportation Corporations Law, all being of full age and two- thirds being citizens of the United States and one of us a resident of the state of New York, do hereby certify : 1. The name of the proposed corporation is : 2. The number of years it is to continue is : 3. The places from and to which it is to be constructed (or maintained) and operated are : 24 FORMS, 4. The length of said pipe line is as near as may be : 5. The name of each county through or into which it is to be con- ructed is : 6. The amount of its capital stock is {not to be less than fifteen hundred Mars for every mile of pipe constructed or proposed to be constructed. 7. The number of shares of which its capital consists is shares, [ the par value of dollars per share. 8. The number of its directors shall be (not less than seven). 9. The names and places of residence of the directors for the first year re : Names. Place of Residence. 10. The place of residence of each subscriber and the number of shares e agrees to take in such corporation, which in the aggregate equal ten undred and fifty dollars for every mile of pipe constructed or proposed ) be constructed, and twenty-five per cent of which has been paid in ish, are as follows : Names. I Place of Residence. No. OF Shares Subscribed. In witness whereof, we have made and signed this certificate this day of , 189 . (Nantes of corporators, who must be at least twelve in number^ (Acknowledgment as in Form /.) See ante, p. 201. TATE of New York, ) . bunty of ( ' " We (insert names of three of the above named directors), being sever- ily duly sworn, each deposes ana says, that he is one of the directors amed in the above certificate; that at least ten hundred and fifty dollars f stock for every mile of line proposed to be constructed (or maintained) nd operated has been in good faith subscribed, and twenty-five per ent paid in money thereon, and that it is intended in good faith to con- truct (or to maintair^ and operate the line of pipe mentioned in such ertificate, and that such corporation was not projected or formed with he intent or for the purpose of injuring any person or corporation, nor ar the purpose of selling or conveying its franchise to any person or orporation, or for any fraudulent purpose. (Names of directors making affidavit.) ieverally sworn to before me \ this day of , 189 . ^ (Signature of Notary.) See ante, p. 201. FORMS. 325 XXXIV. Certificate of Incorporation of a Gas or an Electric Light Corporation. Certificate of Incorporation of the Company. State of New York, ; County of f ®®- • We, the undersigned, desiring to form a gas (or an electric light) cor- poration, pursuant to the provisions of the Transportation Corporations Law, all being of full age and two-thirds being citizens of the United States, and one of us a resident of the state of New York, do hereby certify : 1. The name of the proposed corporation is : 2. Its objects are {the manufacturing and supplying gas for lighting the streets and public and private buildings of any city, village or town, or two or more villages or towns not over five miles distant from each other in this state), or in the case of an electric light corporation the manufacturing and using electricity for producing light, heat or power, and in lighting streets, avenues, public parks and places, and public and private build- ings of cities, villages and towns within this state. 3. The amount of its capital stock is : 4. The term of its existence is {not to exceed fifty years). 5. The number of shares of which the stock shall consist is , of the par value of dollars per share. 6. The number of directors is (not less than three nor more than thirteen^ 7. The names and places of residence of the directors for the first year are : Names. Place of Residence. 8. The names of the town and county in which the operations of the corporation are to be carried on and its principal business office is to be located are, town of , county of In witness whereof, we have made and signed this certificate this day of , 189 . (Signatures of corporators, who must be at least three in number^ (Acknowledgment as in Form I.) See ante, p. 210. ;26 FORMS. XXXV. Certificate of Incorporation of a Water Works Cor- poration. Certificate of Incorporation of the Company. ITATE OF New York, ) . bounty of ) " We, the undersigned, desiring to form a water-works corporation pur- uant to the provisions of the Transportation Corporations Law, for the urpose of supplying water to the cities, towns or villages and the in- abitants thereof in this state, as is hereinafter set forth, and all being of ill age and two-thirds being citizens of the United States and one of us a 5sident of the state of New York, do hereby certify : 1. The name of the proposed corporation is 2. The amount of its capital stock is 3. The number of shares into which its capital stock is to be divided ; . shares, of the par value of dollars per share. 4. The location of its principal office is to be in the of , ounty of 5. The number of its directors is {not less than seven). 6. The names and places of residence of the directors for the first year re : Names. Place of Residence. 7. The names of the cities, towns and villages which it is proposed to ipply with water are : 8. The permit of the authorities of such cities, towns and villages re- uired by section 80 of the Transportation Corporations Law has been uly granted, as more fully appears from such permit, which is annexed ) this certificate and is made a part thereof. 9. The post-office address of each subscriber and the number of shares e agrees to take in such corporation, the aggregate of which at least :jual one-tenth of the capital stock, and ten per centum of which has sen paid in cash to the directors, are : Names. Post-office Address. No. OF Shares Subscribed. In witness whereof, we have executed this certificate this day f , 189 . {Signatures of corporators, who must be at least seven in number.) {Acknowledgment as in Form I.) Affidavit as in form for the organization of a Navigation Corporation, nte, Form XXX., p. 321. See ante, p. 216. FORMS. 327 XXXVI. Certificate of Incorporation of a Telegraph or Telephone Corporation. Certificate of the Incorporation of the Company. State of New York, ) County of ^ ss. : We, the undersigned, desiring to form a corporation for the purpose of constructing, owning and using and maintaining a line (or lines) of electric telegraph {or telephone), pursuant to the provisions of the Trans- portation Corporations Law, all of whom being of full age and two-thirds being citizens of the United States and one of us a resident of the state of New York, do hereby certify : 1. The name of the proposed corporation is 2. The general route and the points to be connected are as follows : 3. The amount of its capital stock is 4. The number of shares into which the capital stock is to be divided is shares, of the par value of dollars per share. 5. The term of its existence is to be 6. The number of its directors is {not less than seven). 7. The names and residence of the directors for the first year are : Names. Place of Residence. 8. The post-office addresses of the subscribers and the number of shares which each agrees to take in such corporation are as follows : Names. Post-Office Addresses. No. OF Shares Subscribed. In witness whereof, we have executed this certificate this day of , 189 . {Signatures of corporators, who must not be less than seven in number^ ■{Acknowledgment as in Form I.) See ante, p. 220. 328 FORMS. XXXVII. Certificate of Incorporation of Turnpike, Plank-Road or Bridge Corporation. Certificate of Incorporation of the Company. State of New York, i County of f ®®' ' We, the undersigned, desiring to form a corporation for the purpose of constructing or maintaining and owning a turnpike {or plank-road or iridge or causeway across any stream or channel of water or adjoining iay, swamp, marsh, or waters to fortn in connection with such bridge or rauseway a continuous roadway across the same), pursuant to the pro- visions of the Transportation Corporations Law, all being of full age and two-thirds being citizens of the United States and one of us a resident of the state of New York, do hereby certify : 1. The name of the proposed corporation is 2. Its duration is to be {not to exceed ffty years^ 3. The amount of its capital stock is 4. The number of shares of its capital stock is , of the par value of dollars per share. 5. The number of its directors is 6. The names and post-office addresses of the directors for the first year are : Names. Post-Office Addresses. ''. The termini of the proposed road, its length, and each town, city or village into or through which it is to pass {or the location and plan of said bridge), are as follows : 8. The post-office address of each subscriber, and the number of shares which he agrees to take, the aggregate of which subscriptions is not less than five hundred dollars for every mile of road {or for a bridge not less than one-fourth of the amount of the capital stock), and five per cent, of which has been actually paid in cash. No. OF Shares Subscribed. Names. Post-Office Address. • In witness whereof, we have made and signed this certificate this day of , 189 . {Signatures of corporators, who must be not less than five in number.) i/lcknowledgment as in Form I., p. 286.) [ss. : FORM& 329 State of New York, County of We (insert the names of three of the above named director^, being sev- erally duly sworn, each deposes and says, that he is one of the directors named in the above certificate ; that at least five hundred dollars for every mile of the said plank-road (pr if a bridge corporation, that not less than one-fourth of the whole amount of the capital stock) has been sub- scribed, and that five per centum of said amount has been actually paid in cash. (Signatures of directors making affidavit^ Severally sworn to before me \ this day of ,189 .\ (Signature of Notary.) See ante, p. 223. XXXVIII. Certificate to Form a Limited Partnership. State of New York, > County of ( ®®" ' (Insert partnership name.) We (insert individual names of partners), the subscribers, having formed a limited copartnership pursuant to the provisions of the statute of the state of New York, do hereby certify : 1. That the name of the firm under which said copartnership is to be conducted is : 2. That the general nature of the business to be transacted by such co- partnership is (here describe nature of business). 3. That the names of all the general and special partners interested therein, and their respective places of residence, are as follows : , residing in the of , state of , and , residing in the of , state of , are the general partners ; and , residing in the of , state of , is the special partner. 4. That the amount of capital which the said special partner, , has contributed to the common stock in cash is dollars. 5. That the period at which the partnership is to commence is the day of , 189 , and the period at which it is to terminate is the day of , 189 . 6. That the principal place of business of the said partnership is to be situated in the of , state of New York. Dated , 189 . (Signatures of Partners.) 330 FORMS. State of New York, 1 County of J ®^' On this day of , 189 , before me personally came , to me personally known to be the individuals described in, and who executed the foregoing certificate and severally acknowledged that they executed the same. (Signature of Notary^ See ante, p. 248^ XXXIX. Petition for Writ of Certiorari under L. 1880, c, 269. Supreme Court, New York County. The People of the State of New York, on the Relation of the Company, against , AS Commissioners of Taxes and Assessments for the City AND County of New York. To the Supreme Court : The petition of the Company, of , respectfully shows : That your petitioner is a corporation incorporated under and pursuant to the laws of the state of New York ; that on the second Monday of January, 1895, the total gross assets of your petitioner did not exceed in value the sum of That on said second Monday of January, 1895 (^ere set forth the facts which show error complained of, as, for instance, that the assessed value of the real estate of the Company, its debts and its stocks in other companies, exceed its gross assets. Your petitioner further shows that it duly submitted to the tax commis- sioners in the city of New York a verified statement of its condition on said second Monday in January, substantially showing the facts above set forth, but that one of the deputy tax commissioners in the said city, under the directions of the said commissioners of taxes and assessments, between the first Monday of September, 1894, and the second Monday of January, 1895, assessed your petitioner on the value of its personal property in the sum of , and set down and included the same in the assessment rolls or lists for the year 1895 as the valuation of the personal property of your peti- tioner ; that thsreafter, and during the time that said assessment lists or rolls were open to public inspection, your petitioner, considering itself aggrieved by such assessment and valuation, attended before said commissioners and duly made application to said commissioners to have such assessment and valuation corrected and cancelled, and presented, pursuant to the request of FORMS. 331 said commissioners, a further statement, under oath, setting forth additional facts asljed for by said commissioners, but that the said commissioners refused to correct or cancel said assessment, but have included the same in the assessment rolls prepared by said commissioners and delivered to the supervisors of the county of New York. Your petitioner further shows, upon information and belief, that no evi- dence or information, other than the said statement, under oath, of your petitioner, was presented to or considered by said commissioners of taxes and assessments in maliing their determination ; that said evidence is entirely uncontradicted ; that no notice was ever given by said commissioners to your petitioner that further or other evidence was required or desired by them ; that on or about the 2d day of July, 1895, said assessment roll was completed and delivered by said commissioners to the board of aldermen in the city of New York, and thereafter said commissioners gave public notice, as required by law, setting forth that said assessment roll had been finally completed, the officers to whom the same had been delivered, and the place where the same is open to public inspection. Your petitioner further shows that it was not competent for said commis- sioners to assess your petitioner for personal property in any sura whatever. Wherefore, your petitioner prays that a writ of certiorari may be issued and allowed by this honorable court, directed to the commissioners of taxes and assessments for the city and county of New York, commanding them to certify and return to this court all and singular their proceedings, decisions and actions in the premises, with the reasons therefor, and the dates respec- tively, and all and singular said assessments and the documents and papers before them relating thereto, touching or concerning the valuation or assess- ment of the personal property of your petitioner, or in any wise in respect .thereto, and all and singular their decisions and action thereon, and the statements, records and papers before them touching or concerning the same, and that the said decisions and action of said commissioners may be reviewed and corrected on their merits ; and that the same may be reversed and altogether held for nothing, and that the aforesaid errors may be eor- rected according to law, or that your petitioner may have such other or further relief in the premises as may be meet. And your petitioner will ever pray, etc. The Company. By , Treasurer. City and County of New York, ss. : , being duly sworn, says, that he is the treasurer of the Company, of , the petitioner above named ; that he has read the foregoing petition and knows the contents thereof, and that the same is true to his own knowledge, except as to the matters therein stated to be alleged on information and belief, and as to those matters he believes it to be true. Sworn to before me this ) day of July, 1895. j 332 FORMS. Order for Writ. At a Special Term of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, held at the Court House in the City of New York, on the day of July, 1895. Present : Hon. , Justice. In the Matter of the Applica- tion OF the Company for Writ of Certiorari to and , AS Commissioners of j" Taxes and Assessments for the City and County of New York. J On reading and filing the petition of the Company for a writ of certiorari to , as commissioners of taxes and assess- ments for the city and county of New York, verified on the day of , 1895- Now, on motion of , attorney for said petitioner, it is ordered that a wrU of certiorari be issued, as prayed for in said petition, to be returnable at a special term of this court to be held at the Court-house in the city of New York, on the day of , 1895, at the opening of the court on that day, and that said writ be signed and sealed by the clerk of this court. Notice of the application for this writ is dispensed with. Enter. Justice Supreme Court. Writ of Certiorari. The People of the State of New York, to , Commissioners of Taxes and Assessments for the City and County of New York. Greeting : Whereas, we have been informed by the petitioner, the Com- pany, of New York, that certain proceedings were had before you in regard to the assessment and taxation for the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-five, of the said petitioner, and that you had decided to assess the said petitioner upon and in respect of the personal property held by it in the sum of , and had refused to correct or cancel the said assessment, and had included the sam^ in the assessment rolls prepared by you for delivery to the supervisors of the county of New York, and we being willing for cer- tain causes to be certified of such proceedings and of the action had and of the decision made by you on the application of the said petitioner, do com- mand you that you certify and return under your hands and as ample as the same remains before yon : First. Those proceedings, with that part of the record of valuation and assessment relating to the same. Second. Any and all papers submitted by petitioner and filed with you, and any examination, under oath or otherwise, of said petitioner. FORMS. 333 Third. Any other evidence or information, if any, before you or considered by you in arriving at your decision, and if there were no such other evidence or information, that you so state. Fourth. Your reasons for arriving at such decision and the method adopted by you in arriving at the same, and under what law and by virtue of what power the said assessment is made, unto our Supreme Court, at a special term thereof, to be held in the Court-house, in the city of New York, on the day of , one thousand eight hundred and ninety-five, at the opening of the court on that day, or as soon thereafter as a hearing can be had, so that our justices may further cause to be done thereupon what of right and according to law ought to be done, and have you then and there this writ. Witness : Hon. , one of the Justices of said Supreme Court, at the Court-house, in the city of New York, on the day of July, 1895. Allowed July , 1895. By the Court, , J. S. C. Clerk. [SEAL.] See ante, p. 190. AMENDMENTS OF 1894. (Pages of thie volume) iws 1894. Chapter 136 iiS amending § 18 General Corporation Law to author- ize foreign corporations to take real property by devise. " " Chapter 230 217, 219 amending §§ 81, 84 Transportation Corporations Law in regard to water companies. " " Chapter 235 245 the Joint Stock Association Law. " " Chapter 258 131 amending § 2427 Code of Civil Procedure in regard to voluntary dissolution. " " Chapter 264 94. 96 amending §§2413 and 2415 Code of Civil Pro- cedure in regard to change of name. " " Chapter 304 127, 128 amending § 2420 Code of Civil Procedure in regard to voluntary dissolution. « " Chapter 346. 68 amending § 44 Stock Corporation Law in regard to banking corporations. " " Chapter 400 104 amending § 12 General Corporation Law in regard to limitation of property of non-stock corporations. " " CHAPTEf448 Ijl amending § 32 of the Statutory Construction Law in regard to the effect of the repeal of laws. " " Chapter 562 175,176 amending § 1 1 of the State Taxation Law in regard to taxation of transportation corporations. (334) AMENDMENTS OF 1895. (Pages of this volume) Laws 1895. Chapter 145 . . 250, 251 amending § 12, i R. S. 764, in regard to limited part- nersliips. «