Chap. 138.—An ACT to incorporate Norfolk Chamber of Commerce.

Approved March 10, 1902.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That W. R. Mayo,
F.S. Royster, C. W. Priddy, Robert Johnston, E. T. Lamb, W. A. Wrenn,
T. S. Southgate, R. M. Hughes, W. H. Tavlor, R. Henry Jones, W. Lane
Kelly, C. M. Barnett, Key Compton, B. Oberndorfer, John B. Jenkins.
J. P. Andre Mottu, John L. Roper, S. Milnor Price, M. L. T. Davis,
J. W. Grandy, Colonel W. H. Taylor, O. D. Jackson, J. M. Keeling,
H. L. Page, ‘and T. F. Rogers, and their associates, be, and they are
hereby, created a body corporate and politic, with perpetual succession.
by the name and style of Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, and by that
name shall be competent to contract and be contracted with, to sue and
be sued, to plead and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto, defend
and be defended, in all courts and places, and in all matters whatever,
with full powers to acquire, hold, possess, and the same to sell, convey,
and dispose of all such real estate and other property as may be necessary
and convenient for the support and transaction of business of said
Chamber of Commerce, or which may be conveyed to the same for the
security or in payment of any debts which may become due and owing
to said Chamber of Commerce, or in satisfaction of any judgment at law,
or any decree of a court of equity in its favor, and may make, have, and
use & common seal, and the same break, alter, and renew at pleasure:
provided, that the property, funds, and revenues of said Chamber of
Commerce shall not be used for any other than the purpose of a chamber
of commerce: provided, the property of said Chamber of Commerce shall
not exceed at any one time two hundred thousand dollars. The said
corporation shall have power to devise ways and means of advancing and
developing the commercial, manufacturing, and mechanical interests of
the city of Norfolk; of collecting and diffusing information in relation
to the resources and business and trade of the said city, and of making
such proper rules and arrangements for the transaction of business among
its members as it may determine to be expedient and proper, consistent
with law.

2. That the real and personal estate, property, funds, revenues, and
other concerns of said Chamber of Commerce, and the administration of
its affairs, shall be under the exclusive direction of the active members of
said Chamber of Commerce, who shall at the annual meeting choose a
president, two vice-presidents, and twenty-two other directors, who shall
hold their offices for one year, and until their successors shall be chosen.
The board of directors of said Chamber of Commerce shall fill all vacan-
cies in the offices or board of directors during the year, and also shall
have power to make a constitution, by-laws, and regulations for the gov-
ernment of said Chamber of Commerce, and amend the same at pleasure,
annex reasonable pecuniary fines as a penalty for the breach thereof, and
to do all such other acts as appertain to the Chamber of Commerce. The
board of directors shall appoint such officers and agents as they shall deem
fit and expedient, or may be provided for by the by-laws: provided, no
by-laws, rules, or regulations shall in any wise be contrary to the con-
stitution and laws of the State or of the United States.

3. The annual meeting of the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce for the
election of officers and other purposes shall be held at such time and
place in each year as the association shall, by their constitution or by-laws,
prescribe. But if, for any cause, a failure to hold such annual meeting
shall occur, then the annual meeting and the election of officers may be
held at such time and place as may be appointed by the majority of the
board of directors upon ten days’ notice by the president or secretary
being published in any newspaper of general circulation in the city of
Norfolk. Special meetings of the Chamber of Commerce may be called
on ten days’ notice, by publication or otherwise, as the constitution or
by-laws may direct. Meetings of the directors and the business meet-
ings of this association shall be held in accordance with the constitution
and by-laws of the association.

4. The board of directors shall control, manage, and conduct the finan-
cial and business concerns of the association.

5. It shall be lawful for such corporation, when they shall think
proper, to receive and require of and from their officers, whether elected
or appointed, good and sufficient bonds for the faithful discharge of their
duties and trusts, and the president, vice-presidents, or secretary are
hereby authorized to administer such oaths of office as may be prescribed
in the by-laws of such corporation; such bond or bonds shall be made
payable and conditioned as prescribed by the by-laws of such corpora-
tion, and may be sued on and the mopeys collected and held for the use
of the party injured, or such other use as may be determined upon by
said corporation.

6. All taxes, dues, and demands due the State or that may hereafter
become due by this corporation to the State of Virginia shall be paid in
lawful money of the United States, and not in coupons.

7. This act shall be in force from its passage.