1706

BALTIMORE COUNTY.

Powers
granted.

SEC. 4. And be it enacted, That the trustees for the poor of
Baltimore city and county aforesaid, or a majority of them,
shall have power, and they are hereby authorized to appoint
all such officers, clerks, agents and servants, as they may think
necessary or useful in the exercise of the powers and per-
formance of the duties entrusted and committed to them, and
the same at their pleasure to remove and discharge ; to fix the
compensation and prescribe the duties of all such officers,
clerks, agents and servants; to admit into the poor-house and
receive under their care, in addition to those paupers which
the laws of this state authorize or require, such indigent or
distressed persons as in their opinion the dictates of humanity
or particular circumstances render proper or necessary ; to
prescribe, provide for and direct all matters relating to the
support, treatment and employment of all paupers, vagrants
and other persons whatever, in the poor-house and work-
house, or any other place under their care or charge ; to pro-
cure or erect and use all such machinery, materials and imple-
ments as they shall think proper or necessary for any purpose
connected with their duties, or the exercise of the powers
vested in them ; and to make and in their discretion, amend,
alter and repeal all such by-laws as shall be necessary to carry
into full effect all the powers, authorities, rights, privileges
and duties granted to and vested in, or required of them, or
which shall be granted to them by any future act of assembly :
Provided, that such by-laws shall not be contrary to any law
of this state or of the United States.

Authority
over pau-
pers, &c.

SEC. 5. And be it enacted. That every pauper who shall be
under the care of the said trustees, except females under the
age of twelve years, and males under the age of fifteen, shall
be charged as a debtor for food, medicine and other necessaries
furnished, at a rate not exceeding thirty cents per day ; and
every such pauper, when capable of performing labour, or
service, may, in the discretion of the trustees, be required and
compelled to perform the same, and shall be allowed a reasona-
ble compensation therefor, according to the value thereof, to be
ascertained and fixed by the said trustees, and credited to the
account of such pauper performing such work, labour, or ser-
vices ; and the said trustees may retain such pauper under
their care until the amount of compensation so allowed shall
be equal to the amount of charges against such pauper afore-
said ; and if any pauper shall depart from the poor-house or
work-house, without the permission of the said trustees, before
such pauper shall have compensated by work, labour, or ser-
vices as aforesaid, or otherwise, for the charges made as herein
before directed, such pauper, so departing, shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor, and, on conviction thereof iq the Baltimore city