Shall comply with the requirements of this act.

Shall file certificate of

membership

of Public

Accounts.

fined to the membership of any secret society or order, heretofore organized or which may hereafter be organized, which in addition to the benevolent and fraternal features thereof, shall also issue certificates of indemnity calling for the payment of a certain sum, known and defined, in case of the death, disability, or sickness of any of its members, to the wife, widow, orphan or orphans, or other persons dependent upon such members, shall be exempt from the provisions of chapter twentyfive (25) of the Revised Statutes of 1866 of the Territory (now State) of Nebraska, the same being chapter sixteen (16) of the Compiled Statutes of 1885;

Provided, That such secret society or association as aforesaid shall comply with all the requirements of this act.

SEC. 2. Within thirty (30) days after the takwith Auditor ing effect of this act, such society as aforesaid shall, by its presiding officer or recording officer, or both of them, file a certificate in the office of the auditor of public accounts setting forth the total number of members in good standing in such society or association at the date of the taking effect of this act, the name, title, and postoffice address of each of the chief officers of such society or association; the plan of assessment upon which funds are provided to pay the certificate of indemnity issued by such society or association, together with a certified copy of the constitution and by-laws of such society. If, from such statements, the auditor of public accounts shall be satisfied that such society or associ

ation has a sufficient membership to pay a certificate so issued by such society or association in case of the death of any of its members, by its usual method of assessment, he shall issue to such society Authority or association a certificate authorizing it to transact business. its business for one year.

to transact

statement.

SEC. 3. On the first day of January of each Annual year, or within fifteen days thereafter, such society or association shall, by its presiding or recording officer or both of them, file with the auditor of public accounts, a sworn statement, setting forth the total number of members in good standing on the first day of January of that year; the total number of members who have been suspended for non-payment of dues, or assessments for the twelve months next preceding the date of the report, the name of each member deceased during the year next preceding the date of the report, together with the amount of money paid to each, the number of claims resisted and the reasons for resisting the payment thereof; the total amount collected for the payment of certificates of indemnity herein before provided for; the amount due and unpaid upon certificates of deceased members, the total amount on hand in such fund and the amount paid out in such fund. If the auditor shall be satisfied that such society or association has a sufficient membership to pay its certificate in full in case of the death of any of its members, by its usual method of assessment, he shall issue his certificate authorizing such society or association to transact its business for the term of one year from the first day of January next preceding the date of the report,

Revocation of certificate.

Change of constitution or by-laws.

Violation.
Penalty.

Embezzlement.

SEC. 4. If, at any time, the auditor shall be credibly informed that the membership of such society or association has fallen below a number sufficient to produce the amount required to pay a certificate of membership in full, in case of the death of any of its members he shall cause an investigation to be made of the affairs of such society, or association, at the expense of such society or association, and if he shall become satisfied that its membership has fallen below the number required as aforesaid, he shall revoke the certificate provided for in section three of this chapter, and it shall be unlawful for such society, or association to further transact any business within the State of Nebraska.

SEC. 5. Before any change in the constitution or by-laws of any such society or association shall take effect, a copy of the same shall be filed in the office of the auditor of public accounts.

SEC. 6. All moneys collected by any such society or association for the payment of its certificates of indemnity, shall be used for that purpose, and none other.

SEC. 7. Any person or persons violating the provisions of this act shall, upon conviction thereof, be imprisoned in the penitentiary for not more than five nor less than one year.

SEC. 8. This act shall only apply to secret, benevolent, fraternal societies.

SEC. 9. Any officer of any such society or association, who shall embezzle or appropriate any of the moneys or property of any such society or association to his own use, shall be deemed guilty

of embezzlement, and shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished accordingly.

SEC. 10. An emergency exists, this act shall Emergency take effect and be in force from and after its pass

age.

Approved March 29, 1887.

CHAPTER 19.

AN ACT authorizing churches, religious and charitable associations, to change their names and declaring the effect thereof.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of
Nebraska:

change of

name.

SECTION 1. That any church, religious or char- Association, itable association or corporation existing now or hereafter coming into existence, by virtue of any special charter from the legislature of this state or of the territory of Nebraska, or by virtue of the General Statutes of the state, may and hereby is authorized to change its name at any regular annual meeting of said association by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the members present at said meeting.

and record.

SEC. 2. Public notice of such action by said Publication church or association shall be given by publishing the same in some newspaper in general circulation in the county where said church or association is located for three weeks successively next after said meeting, and by recording the minutes of said

Rights and liabilities not impaired.

Repealing clause.

meeting in the same place as articles of incorporation are now by law required to be recorded.

SEC. 3. The change of the name of any church or religious or charitable association under this act shall not in any manner impair the right, title or interest in or to any property held by said association whose name becomes changed, and any incumbrance or liability created before said change shall remain unimpaired thereby.

SEC. 4. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.

Approved March 31, 1887.

CHAPTER 20.

Union freight

and passenger depots com

poration of.

AN ACT authorizing the incorporation of Union Depot Companies.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Nebraska:

SECTION 1. Any number of persons not less panies, incor- than five, may associate themselves together and become incorporated for the purpose of constructing, maintaining and operating union freight and passenger depots and the tracks, structures, appliances and appurtenances incident and necessary to the use of the same, in like manner, and by like proceedings as are now provided in chapter 16 of the Revised Statutes of 1885, for the organization of railway companies, including the exercise of the power of eminent domain.