# United States Statutes at Large/Volume 6/13th Congress/2nd Session/Chapter 76

Chap. LXXVI.—An Act to incorporate the Directors of the Washington Library Company.
Company incorporated.Be it enacted, &c., That James Laurie, Joseph Stretch, William Parker, Jonathan S. Findlay, George Way, Moses Young, and Thomas H. Gillis, and their successors duly elected or appointed in manner hereinafter directed, be, and they are hereby made, declared, and constituted a corporation and body politic, in law and in fact, to have continuance forever by the name, style, and title of “The Directors of the Washington Library Company,”Powers conferred upon it of suing and being sued. and by such corporate name, style, and title, shall be hereafter forever able and capable in law and equity to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto, defend and be defended, in any court or courts, or other places, and before any judge or judges, justice or justices, or other persons whatsoever, within the district of Columbia or elsewhere, in all and all manner of suits, actions, complaints, pleas, causes, matters, and demands of whatever kind or nature they may be, in as full and effectual a manner as any other person or persons, bodies politic or corporate, may or can do.
Capable of holding property.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That all and singular the goods, chattels, and other effects of what kind or nature soever heretofore given, granted, or devised to the said library company, or to any person or persons for the use thereof, or that may have been purchased for or on account of the same, be, and the said goods, chattels, and other effects, are hereby vested in and confirmed to the said corporation. And the said corporation may take and receive any sum or sums of money, or any goods, chattels, or other effects of what kind or nature soever, which shall or may hereafter be given, granted, or bequeathed unto them by any person or persons, bodies politic or corporate, capable of making such gift, grant, or bequest:Proviso. Provided, That the goods, chattels, and other effects vested in and confirmed to the said corporation, and the moneys, goods, chattels, and other effects which by this act the said corporation is authorized hereafter to receive, shall not in the whole exceed in value fifty thousand dollars.
May make needful regulations.Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the said corporation shall have full power and authority to make, have, and use a common seal, with such device and inscription as they shall think proper, and the same to break, alter, and renew at pleasure: to appoint a treasurer and librarian, and such other officers as they may from time to time deem necessary: to assign them their duties, fix their compensation, and remove him or them from office, and appoint another or others in his or their place as often as they shall think fit: to make, ordain, establish, and execute such by-laws and ordinances as may be deemed useful to the institution, and the same to alter, amend, or abrogate at pleasure: to ​fix the price of new shares and annual contributions on each share: to direct how transfers shall be made and certified: to procure by purchase, rent, or otherwise, a suitable place for keeping the library: to appoint the times for keeping the library open, and for taking out and returning books: to fill up vacancies that may happen in their own body between two annual elections: to levy and collect fines and forfeitures: and to determine upon, do and transact all business and matter appertaining to the said corporation and library company, agreeably to the rules, ordinances, and by-laws thereof, during their continuance in office:Proviso. Provided, That not less than a majority of the said directors be a quorum to do business; that no rule, ordinance, or by-law, be made repugnant to the laws of this district or of the United States; and that no contribution be laid on any one share in any one year exceeding three dollars, without the consent of a majority of the shareholders.
Regulations concerning elections, &c.Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That an election for seven directors of the Washington Library Company shall be held on the first Monday in April next, and on the first Monday in April, annually, thereafter, at the library room, under the direction of such persons as the present directors and their successors may appoint; which appointment shall be at least five days previous to the day of election. They shall also publish the names of the persons so appointed to hold the election, in some newspaper printed in the city of Washington, at least three days previous to such election’s being held; the polls for which shall be kept open from three o’clock until six o’clock P. M.; and no person shall be eligible as a director, or have a right to vote for a director, who is not at the time of voting, or being voted for, a shareholder in the said company, or who shall be in arrears to the said company, for any annual contribution, fines, or forfeitures: and all persons qualified to vote, may vote either personally or by proxy, by ballot.
This act may be altered, &c.Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That this act may at any time be altered, amended, or repealed by the Congress of the United States.
Approved, April 18 1814.