1. Where the legislature joins together a large number of old statutes in one revised act, the presumption is that no change in the meaning and effect of the old law is intended.
2. P.L. 1892 p. 426 § 1 was embodied as section 83 of an act concerning corporations (Revision of 1896), Comp. Stat. p. 1650, and hence the latter section should be given the same interpretation as the former act, even though it does not include the title of the former act.
3. To find the legislative intent, it is necessary to consider the title of the act under consideration. P.L. 1892 p. 426, was concerned only with liens to secure "laborers and workmen in the employ of corporations."
4. The wage claims preferred by statute must be restricted to those of "laborers and workmen," inasmuch as the statute confers a special or exceptional right and hence must be strictly construed.
5. A president of a corporation does not come within the scope of "laborers and workmen," even though he also acts as manager of the company, and hence cannot have his wage claim listed among the preferred claims.
PER CURIAM.
The decree appealed from will be affirmed, for the reasons stated in the opinion delivered by Vice-Chancellor Bigelow in the court of chancery.
For affirmance — THE CHIEF-JUSTICE, TRENCHARD, PARKER, LLOYD, CASE, BODINE, DONGES, HEHER, VAN BUSKIRK, KAYS, HETFIELD, DEAR, WELLS, DILL, JJ. 14.
For reversal — None.