POOR.

1777

alter; and that the said persons, so incorporated, and their
successors, shall be the true and undoubted trustees, in per-
petual succession, for ever, to be continued in way and mari-
ner hereafter specified, with full power, liberty and authority,
in the making and ordaining such laws, orders and rules, for
the better relieving, regulating and setting the poor to work,
and for the good government of the alms and work-house in
the said county, as to them and their successors shall from time
to time appear most fit and requisite, all which shall be ob-
served by the overseer of such alms and work-house, under

the penalties therein contained ; Provided always, that the
said rules, by-laws and orders, be no ways contrary to the
laws of this state.

Proviso.

SEC. 2. Andy to perpetuate the succession of the aforesaid
number of seven trustees of the poor of said county, Be it
enacted, that as often as 'any one of the said trustees for the
poor shall die, remove out of the county, or refuse to qualify as
aforesaid, or become incapable of acting, the trustees for the
time being, then surviving and remaining within the said
county, or the majority of them, are hereby authorized and
required to elect and choose one of the inhabitants of said
county in the place and room of such trustee, and so fill up
the full number of trustees for such alms and work-house,
which persons so elected and chosen from time to time, are
always to be qualified in the same manner as herein before
directed.
See 1831, ch. 226, post.

Vacancies,
how to be
supplied.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That every person by this act
appointed as a trustee for the poor, or who shall hereafter be
appointed as such, pursuant to the directions thereof, or who
shall wilfully refuse or delay to take upon him the said office,
shall forfeit and pay for every such refusal or delay the sum of

Persons ap-
pointed to
act, under a
penalty.

twenty dollars current money ; Provided, that no minister of
the gospel, attorney, practising physician, judge of the county
or orphans court, or sheriff, shall be obliged to accept the office
of trustee aforesaid, or forfeit as aforesaid for refusing to accept
and take upon him the same, nor shall any person be com-
pelled to serve in less than three years after he has served, or
paid the forfeiture for not serving, as a trustee as aforesaid.

Proviso.

SEC. 4. And be it enacted, That the houses now erected and
called and known by the name of the Poor-house of Caroline
county, and the land thereunto belonging, are hereby declared
to be vested in the said trustees, and their successors for ever,
as their estate and inheritance, for the uses and purposes by
this act expressed and directed, one part thereof to be called
the Alms-house, to be for the reception of the poor of said
county, and the other part or parts thereof to be called the
£23

House, &c.
vested in
trustees.