ART. 23] MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS——RAILROAD COMPANIES. 651

minors generally, or of any particular age or classes, have the power and
authority following: (1) To retain male and female children legally
committed or confided to them until the age of twenty-one years, and
to discharge such children absolutely before attaining said age when-
ever the managers of such institutions shall deem such discharge to be
beneficial to such children. (2) To permit the return of such children
to their parents or other relatives, or to place them out in suitable homes
without relinquishing absolutely the custody, control and supervision of
the managers, and a record is to be kept of the time of placing out,
name and residence of persons with whom placed, and terms and condi-
tions of placing out; and it is the duty of the managers to cause every
child so placed out to be visited not less than once in six months, in
order to inquire into his or her welfare until he or she shall attain the
age of twenty-one years; and the managers may require the return to
the institution of any child under twenty-one years of age so placed
with parents or relatives or in other homes, whenever they shall deem
that the welfare of the child requires such return. (3) To exercise
parental authority and control over such children, and make needful
provisions as to their care, maintenance and education. (4) To procure
the commitment of such children in cases of necessity to reformatory
institutions.

The foregoing provisions are not to be understood to affect the power
of courts to adjudicate all questions as to the custody of minors, irre-
spective of any alleged or supposed claim or right of guardianship or
custody, or to abridge or affect any corporate rights of any institution,
or to prevent the receiving of minors under such limitations, or for
such definite periods as any institution may by its regulations direct
or prescribe.

Devises and bequests for charitable uses are not to be held void by reason
of the uncertainty of the donees, provided the will contains directions for the
formation of a corporation to take the same, and provided such corporation
is formed within twelve months—art. 93, sec. 328.
See art. 42, sec. 18, et seg.

Municipal Corporations.

1904, art. 23, sec. 241. 1888, art. 23, sec. 157. 1876, ch. 367.

259. Any municipal corporation in this State, against which them
is a judgment or decree in any court of law or equity in this State,
shall have power to levy a sum of money upon the assessable property
of such municipality sufficient to pay such judgments.

For the purpose of the remedy provided by this section, a Judgment ren-
dered by a Justice of the peace may be regarded as a Judgment of a court
of law. If the municipality refuses to make the required levy to pay the
judgment, mandamus lies. Darling v. Baltimore, 51 Md. 14. And see Watts
v. Port Deposit, 46 Md. 505.

Railroad Companies.

Ibid. sec. 242. 1888, art. 23, sec. 158. 1876, ch. 242.

260. Any number of natural persons, not less than five, three of
whom shall be citizens of Maryland, may become a body corporate, with