| 1787.
CHAP.
XI. |
LAWS of MARYLAND.
alter; and that the said persons so incorporated, and their successors,
shall be the
true and undoubted trustees, in perpetual succession for ever, to be continued
in
way and manner hereafter specified, with full and absolute 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 punishing vagrants,
beggars, vagabonds, and other offenders, and for the good government of
the said
alms and work-house in their said county, as to them and their successors
shall,
from time to time, think most fit and requisite, all which shall be observed
by
the overseer of such alms and work-house, and by all poor, beggars, vagrants,
vagabonds, and other offenders, in such alms and work-house, under the
penalties
therein contained. Provided always, that the said rules, laws and
orders,
be no ways contrary to the laws of this state. |
How vacancies
are to be
filed, &c. |
IV. And,
to perpetuate the succession of the aforesaid number of nine trustees
for the poor in said county, Be it enacted,
That as often as any one of the said
trustees for the poor shall die, or remove himself out of the county,
refuse to qualify
himself, by taking and subscribing the oaths or affirmations aforesaid,
or become
incapable of acting, the trustees for the time being, then surviving and
remaining
within the said county, or the major part of them, are hereby authorised
and required
to elect, nominate and choose, one of the inhabitants of said county in
the
place and room of such trustee, and so to fill up the full number of trustees
for
such alms and work-house; the which persons so elected and chosen, from
time
to time, are always to be qualified in the same manner as before by this
act is
directed. |
Penalty on
refusal to
serve, &c. |
V. And be it
enacted, That every person by this act appointed as a trustee for
the poor, or that shall hereafter be nominated and appointed as such, pursuant
to the directions thereof, and 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
ten pounds current money; provided, that no member of the general assembly,
clergyman, attorney, or practising physician, be obliged to accept of the
office
of trustee aforesaid, or forfeit as aforesaid for refusing to accept and
take upon
him the same, and that no judge of the general court, county magistrate,
or
sheriff, or any one who hath not the qualification to be a member of the
general
assembly, if elected, shall be capable to be chosen, or act as a trustee
aforesaid,
nor shall any person be compellable to serve in less than three years after
he has
served, or paid the said forfeiture for not serving as a trustee aforesaid. |
Trustees to
draw on collector,
&c. |
VI. And,
for enabling the said trustees to purchase land, and erect an alms
and work-house in the said county, Be it
enacted, That the said trustees, or the
major part of them, be and they are hereby authorised and empowered, from
time to time, as occasion shall require, to draw upon the collector of
Kent county
for all or any part of the money by this act assessed, levied and collected,
as
shall remain in his hands, which the said trustees, or the major part
of them,
shall think necessary for the uses and purposes mentioned in this act. |
To purchase
land, &c. |
VII. And be
it enacted, That the said trustees, or the major part of them,
appointed as aforesaid, shall and they are hereby authorised, directed
and required,
to buy and purchase, in fee-simple, a quantity of land in the said county,
not exceeding
thirty acres, or less than six; and the said trustees, or the major part
of
them, appointed as aforesaid, are hereby authorised, directed and required,
to
agree and contract with a workman or workmen to undertake, erect, build,
and
in a workman-like manner to complete and finish, on the said land when
so purchased,
good, strong, sufficient and convenient houses, habitations and dwellings,
for the reception of the poor of said county, and of such vagrants, beggars,
vagabonds, and other offenders, as shall be committed by virtue of this
act, and
they shall appropriate one part thereof to be called the alms-house, to
and for
the reception and lodging of the poor of the said county, and another part
or parts
thereof to be called the work-house, to and for the reception and lodging
of all
such vagrants, beggars, vagabonds, and other offenders, as shall be committed
by
virtue of this act; and the aforesaid land when bought, and the aforesaid
houses, |
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