Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-05-28
LAWS OF OHIO.
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
mo. 135.1 AN ACT
10 authorize the establishment of Hous-
es of Rafinnn

No. 130. AN ACT
10 authorize the establishment of Hous
es of Refuge
SECTION. l. Be it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of Ohio,
That the City Council of any city, in or
for which House of Refuge is not al
ready established, shall have power to
erect and establish, either within the
city or within the county in which such
city may be situated, House of Refuge;
and for such purpose may levy tax for
the purchase of any real estate that may
be deemed advisable to provide build
ings for the accommodation of both
males and females, such buildings shall
be at least one fourth of mile apart,
and be managed by separate Boards of
Directors. But the City Council shall
not proceed to purchase lands or to erect
any House of Refuge until fifty individ-
uals shall have subscribed toward the
building and support of such House of
Refuge, either twenty five dollars for life
membership, or five dollars annually for
seven years, and such annual subscrib-
ers who have paid their subscriptions
shall then be entitled to life membership.
And similar subscriptions may from
tors of any House of Refuge, towards its
maintenance and support; and they shall
have power to collect any subscriptions
heretofore made for the use and benefit
of any such institution; and this act
shall not disturb any rights and privi-
leges enjoyed by subscribers to a House
of Refuge under any former act.
SEC. ?. Any House of Refuge alread
dy established, or that may hereafter be
established, shall be under the direction
and control of Board of Directors,
consisting of nine members-three ap-
pointed by the City Council, two by the
Court of Common Pleas, and two by the
Superior Court of the county in which
such House of Refuge may be situated;
and in counties in which there is no
Superior Court, the City Council shall
appoint five directors, and the seven
members so appointed shall, by adver-
tisement for six days in two daily pa
pers, or by notice through the post Of
ice of the city where such House of
Refuge, may be situated, call meeting
of the subscribers to such House of Re
fuge for the appointment of two dircc
tors; and in case the subscribers fail to
appoint, the directors already appointed
shall; after taking an oath of office be-
fore the Mayor, organize and appoint
two directors. The directors shall hold
their Offices for three years, and until
their successors are chosen and qualified.
Vacancies which may happen by death,
resignation, or otherwise, in the Board,
shall be filed by the remaining mem
bcrs, and in case the city or subscribers
e, fo1 h1-t tho foY.
nination Of any appointment within one
month thereafter, such vacancies shall
be filed by the Board. Amy director
of House of Refuge now in Office shall
continue in Office till the expiration OF
their respective appointments, and until
their SUCCESSORS are chosen and qualif-
cd
SEC. 3. A majority of the whole mum.
Der of directors shall have power to sus
pend or remove from office any one OF
their own number, for misconduct in of
fec; and may at any time remove from
Office any one of their own members fol
misconduct in office, and may at any
time remove any officer or employee fol
ineompetency or misconduct. A ma
jority of the Board shall be quorum
they shall have power to appoint Pre-
sidcnt and Treasurer, and employ sucI
clerks and officers as are needful, anC
fix their salaries; and make contracts
for supplies, improvements and labor o
inmates; and to make, establish, and en-
force rules and regulations for the gov
ernment and contlo of such house O
Refuge, its officers and inmates, and tn
government of the Board. But sucl
rules and regulations for the government
shall not be in force until approved b,
the Court of Common Pleas of the coun
ty, the Mayor of the city, and, if ther
be Superior Court in such county, b,
the Superior Court of the county. TIL
approval of the Mayor shall be evince,
by his official signature; and that of tn
Courts by an entry on their Journal
They shall make yearly report to tn
Legislature of the State of Ohio, an,
the City Council, of the fiscal affairs, tn
management, condition and influence q
such House of Refuge, with statistics O
the age, nativity, cause of commitment
progress and disposal of all infants un
der their care, and severally they ma
do whatever the interest of such Hous
of Refuge may require, provided that
conflicts with no existing law of tn
State of Ohio, or ordinance of the cit
in which such house may be situated.
SEC. f. The city council shall caus
to be levied and collected; annually,
tax sufficient to raise such sum as th
board of directors of any house may cel
tify to be necessary for the maintenanc
and support of such house of refuge, NJ
exceeding in any one year three-fourtf
of a mill on the dollar on taxable prof.
erty; and the money SO raised shall
held by the city treasurer, subject
the drafts of the board of directors,
such manner as the board may by rule
provide; and the city alone shall be Ii;
Bile for the debts of such house of refug
but no tax shall ever be levied on an
property owned or held for the use an
benefit of such institution; and the eli
treasurer shall not be entitled to any e.