Chap. 67.—An ACT to incorporate The Chamber of Commerce of
Richmond.

Approved February 12, 1876.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly, That David I.
Burr, Thomas W. McCance, Joseph R. Anderson, Isaac Dav-
enport, Junior, EH. O. Nolting, P. G. Coghlan, R. HE. Blanken-
ship, J. K. Childrey, T. M. Logan, Thomas Potts, Z. W. Pick-
erell, William H. Palmer, Claiborne Watkins, J. P. Rogers,
Franklin Stearns, Moses Milhiser, S. H. Hawes, J. G. Spotts,
J. H. Capers, P. W. Grubbs, Asa Snyder, and J. H. Montague,
and their associates, be and they are hereby created a body
corporate and politic, with perpetual succession, by the name
and style of The Richmond 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 detended, in all courts
and places, and in all matters whatever, with full powers to
acquire, hold, possess, and the same to sell, convey, and dis-
pose 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 con-
veyed 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 a 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 cor-
poration shall have power to devise ways and means of ad-
vancing and developing the commercial, manufacturing and
mechanical interests of the city of Richmond; 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, rev-
enues, 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 com-
merce, who shall, on the annually, at such time of the
day, and at such place in the city of Richmond, as the offi-
cers for the time being shall appoint, which officers shall be
members of said chamber of commerce, choose g board of
officers, consisting of a president, two vice-presidents, treas-
urer and secretary, and fifteen directors, who shall hold their
offices for one year, and until their successors shall be chosen.
The board of officers and directors of said chamber of com-
merce shall fill all vacancies in the board of officers or direc-
tors during the year, and also shall have power to make by-
laws and regulations for the government of said chamber of
commerce, annex reasonable pecuniary fines as a penalty for
the breach thereof, and do all such other acts as appertain
to the chamber of commerce. The board of officers shall
appoint such agents as they shall deem fit and expedient:
provided, no by-laws, rules, or regulations shall, in any wise,
be contrary to the constitution and laws of the state or of
the United States.

3. The annual meeting of the Richmond chamber of com-
merce, for the election of officers and other purposes, shall
be held at such time in each year as the association shall, by
their by-laws, prescribe. But if, for any cause, a failure to
hold such annual meeting shall occur, then the annual meet-
ing 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 thirty days’ notice by the president or secre-
tury, being published in any newspaper of general circula-
tion in the city of Richmond. Meetings of the directors
and the business meetings of this association sbal! be held
in accordance with the by-laws of the association.

4. The board of directors shall control, manage, and con-
duct the financial and business concerns of the association.
They shall, annually, one month after their election, or at
any other meeting of their body thereafter, appoint for the
convenience of the members of the association, and for no
other purpose, such gaugers, weighers, measurers, and other
officers and employees as the by-laws may require, or as they
may deem expedient and necessary, for the term of one year,
subject to removal, at the discretion of the board. But no-
thing contained in this act shall, be construed to affect or
change the existing laws with respect to inspections of to-
bacco.

5. It shall be lawful for such corporation, when they shal!
think proper, to receive and require of and from their offi-
cers, 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 corporation; and may be sued on, and the moneys
collected and held for the use of the party injured, or such
other use as may be determined upon by said corporation.

6. This act shall take effect from its passage.