160 CITY OF BALTIMORE. [ART. 4.

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 per-
forming labor or service, may, in the discretion of the trustees,
be required and compelled to perform the same, and shall be
allowed a reasonable compensation according to the value
thereof, to be ascertained and fixed by the said trustees and
credited to the account of the pauper performing such work,
labor or services; and the trustees may retain such pauper
under their care until the charges against them, and the com-
pensation so allowed, shall balance; and if any pauper shall
depart from the alms-house without the permission of the said
trustees before he shall have compensated by work, labor, or
services as aforesaid, or otherwise, for the charges against him,
he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof
in the Criminal Court of Baltimore, shall be sentenced to work
and labor under the direction of the trustees for the poor of
Baltimore city and county, for a period of time in the discretion
of said court not exceedmg twelve months; and a certificate
under the corporate seal of said trustees that any person has so
departed indebted, and without permission, shall be sufficient
evidence to authorize any judge or justice of the peace to issue
a warrant for the arrest of such person, and to bind over or
commit him for trial as in other cases of misdemeanor.

55. Nothing contained in the last aforegoing section shall be
construed to prevent or restrict the said trustees from dis-
missing any pauper or other person under their care, without
requiring any compensation to be made, by labor or otherwise,
for the expenses charged against such person.

56. Any one trustee may, under his hand in writing, direct
the admission of any pauper into said alms-house.

57. The said trustees shall meet at the alms-house four times
in the year, to wit: in the first week of February, May, August
and November, or oftener if they shall deem it necessary; and
make and ordain by a majority of votes of such as may be
present, all such good and wholesome ordinances, rules and by-
laws as they may think necessary and convenient for the main-
tenance and employment of the inmates of said alms-house.

58. Upon complaint made by any one trustee, or by the over-
seer, to any justice of the peace for said city or county, and due