Article 14 Cities & City Charters

Sec I

All existing charters, or grants of special exclusive privileges, under which a bona fide organization shall not have taken place and business been commenced in good faith, at the line of the adoption of this constitution, and the admission of the state into the Federal Union, shall there after have no validity.

Sec II

The Legislature shall not remit the forfiture of the charter of any Corporation now xisting, or alter or amend the same, or pass any other general or special law for the benefit of such corporation, xcept upon the condition that such corporation shall there after hold its charter subject to the provisions of this Constitution

Sec 3

The xercise of the right of eminent domain shall never be abridged or construed as to prevent the Legislature from taking property and franchises of incorporated companies, and subjecting them to public use, the same as is the property of individuals, and the xercise of the police power of the State shall never be abridged or so construed as to permit corporations to conduct their business in such manner as to infringe the equal rights of individuals or the general well-being of the State.

Sec 4

No foreign corporation shall do any business in this State without having one or more known places of business and an authorized agents in the same upon whom process may be served. And no corporation shall engage in any business other than that xpressly authorized in its charter, nor shall it take or hold any real estate xcept such as may be necessary and proper for its legitimate business

Sec 5

No corporation shall issue stocks or bonds xcept for money, labor done, or money or property actually received; and all fictitions increase of stock or indebtedness shall be void. The stock or indebtedness of Corporations shall not be increased xcept in pursuance of general law, nor without the consent of the persons holding the larger amount in value of the stock first obtained at a meeting to be held after days notice in pursuance of law

Sec 6

Municipal and other corporations and individuals invested with the privilege of taking private property for public use shall make just compensation for property taken, injured or destroyed by the construction or enlargment of their works, highways, or improvements which compensation shall be paid or secured before such taking, injury or construction. The Legislature is hereby prohibited from depriving any person of an appeal from any preliminary assessment of damages by reviewers or otherwise; and the amount of such damages in all cases of appeal shall on the demand of either party be determined by a jury according to the course of the common law.

Sec 7

Every banking law shall provide for the registry and countersigning, by an officer of the State, of all notes or bills designed for circulation, and that ample security to the full amount there of shall be deposited with the auditor general for the redemption of such notes or bills. And the Legislature shall have the power to alter, revoke or añul any charter of incorporation now existing that or here after may be created, whenever it shall be made to appear to be injurious to the citizens or that any fraud has been shown to exist in the management of its business, in such manner however that no injustice be done to the corporators. No law shall be passed to create, renew or xtend the charter of more than one Corporation.

Sec 8

No corporation possessing banking or discounting privileges shall be created or organized in pursuance of law without three months previous public notice at the place of the intended location, in such manner as shall be prescribed by law, nor shall a charter for such privileges be granted for a longer period than years.

Sec 9

Any association or corporation organized for the purpose or any individual shall have the right to construct and maintain lines of telegraph or telephone within this State and to connect the same with other lines, and the Legislature shall, by general law of uniform operation, provide reasonable regulations to give full effect to this section. No telegraph company shall consolidate with, or hold a controlling interest in the stock or bonds of any other telegraph company owing a competing line, or acquire, by purchase or otherwise, any other competing line of telegraph

Sec 10

The term "corporations" as used in this article shall be construed to include all joint stock companies or associations having any of the powers or privileges of corporations not possessed by individuals or partnerships.

• City Charters [File No. 11, Committee on County, City and Town Organizations]: Excluding Section 1 (introduced on 1889-09-10 00:00:00 - CREATE - e660091) [This document] [view current proposal at this moment]
  • None (introduced on 1889-09-10 00:00:00 - REPORT_PROPOSAL - e660095) [view current proposal at this moment]