Pennsylvania Act 1821-25 — PENNSYLVANIA INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB, INCORPORATE AND ENDOW

Act text

PENNSYLVANIA INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB, INCORPORATE AND ENDOW
                   Act of Feb. 8, 1821, P.L. 30, No. 25               Cl. 24
                                  An Act

     To incorporate and endow the Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and
                                    Dumb.

        Whereas a number of citizens desirous to reclaim the deaf and
     dumb, of whom there are many in this commonwealth, to the rank
     of their species, and render them useful members of society,
     have associated for these benevolent purposes, and have opened
     and supported by their voluntary contributions an asylum and
     school in the city of Philadelphia, where the children of the
     rich for a moderate compensation, and of the poor gratuitously,
     laboring under the privation of the faculty of speech are
     maintained and educated. And whereas the persons so associated,
     have prayed to be incorporated and to receive from the
     legislature such pecuniary aid, as with the fund already raised
     and the further donations that may be expected from the
     charitable, will be sufficient to continue and enlarge an
     institution so salutary to the afflicted, so beneficial to the
     community, and so honorable to the state.

        Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
     Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General
     Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the
     same, That the members of "The Pennsylvania Institution for the
     Deaf and Dumb," and all who according to the constitution and
     by-laws shall become members thereof, be, and they are hereby
     declared to be a body politic and corporate by the said name and
     style, to have perpetual succession, and be capable to take,
     hold and enjoy lands, tenements and hereditaments, to use a
     common seal, and to break, alter or renew the same at pleasure:
     Provided, That the clear yearly value of the real and personal
     estate by them held, shall not exceed thirty thousand dollars.
        Section 2. And be it further enacted by the authority
     aforesaid, That the fundamental laws and constitution by which
     the said institution shall be governed, shall be as follows:
     Constitution and fundamental laws of "The Pennsylvania
     Institution for the Deaf and Dumb"
        Article I. The institution shall be located in Philadelphia,
     and supported by the annual and life subscriptions of its
     members, by the donations and legacies of the charitable, by
     such aid as the legislature may be pleased to afford, and by the
     money to be received for the education of children whose
     parents, guardians or friends are of ability to pay.
        Article II.  The officers of the institution shall be a
     president, four vice presidents, a treasurer and recording
     secretary, they shall be ex-officio members of the board of
     directors, and their duties shall be such as are implied in
     their titles, or shall be prescribed by the by-laws; and said
     officers shall not receive any fee or compensation for their
     services, in performing their several duties either directly or
     indirectly, excepting the treasurer and secretary.
        Article III. There shall be a board of twenty-four directors,
     members of the institution, who shall annually at the meeting
     next succeeding their election, appoint one of their number to
     act as corresponding secretary, their duties shall be such as
     shall be defined by the by-laws; there shall also be a committee
     of twelve ladies, selected annually by the board of directors at
     their first meeting, to aid in the management of the asylum,
     under such provisions as may from time to time be prescribed by
     the by-laws.
        Article IV. Any person shall be entitled to become a member
     by paying annually, or in gross, the sum which shall be required
     by the by-laws for an annual or life subscription.
        Article V.  The members of the institution shall meet
     annually on the first Wednesday in May, in the city of
     Philadelphia, (at such hour as the directors may prescribe,) for
     the election of officers and directors, and the transaction of
     other business, and to receive the annual report of the
     directors. Adjourned and special meetings may be held as shall
     be provided by the by-laws.
        Article VI. The right of membership may be relinquished, and
     the resignation addressed in writing to the board of directors
     shall be accepted by them: Provided, The member shall have
     discharged all demands due by him or her to the institution.
        Article VII. The funds of the institution shall be at the
     disposal and under the management of the board of directors,
     subject however, so far as relates to that part derived from the
     life subscriptions, to such restrictions as may be imposed by
     the by-laws, and subject also to such restrictions as may
     accompany the grant of aid by the legislature; and it shall be
     the company the duty of the directors for the time being, to
     present to the Speaker of the Senate and of the House of
     Representatives respectively, in the month of December annually,
     a statement of the funds and expenses of the institution, and of
     the number of children received and educated therein during the
     year immediately preceding, and of the parts of the state whence
     they have come, distinguishing between those who have been
     supported and educated gratuitously, and others.
        Article VIII.  Indigent children resident any where within
     the state shall be received into the school and asylum,
     maintained and educated gratuitously, so far as the funds of the
     institution will admit; Provided, That where more children shall
     be offered for the benefit of the institution than can be
     received at any one time, the president and directors shall so
     apportion their number among the several counties of this
     commonwealth according to their representation, (when
     application shall be made,) that every county may equally
     receive the benefits of the same.
        Article IX. The number of officers and directors may be
     increased or diminished, as convenience shall require, at any
     annual meeting of the members of the institution, notice of the
     intended alteration being previously given, and twenty members
     being a majority of the members present consenting; and any
     general meeting shall be competent to make, alter or repeal by-
     laws, rules and regulations, twenty-one members being present at
     the same.

        Compiler's Note:  Section 1 of Act 230 of 1871 repealed
            Article I insofar as it requires the institution to be
            located in Philadelphia.
        Compiler's Note:  Section 1 of Act 27 of 1833 repealed
            Article VII insofar as it requires the annual report to
            be made in the month of December. The reference should
            probably have been to Article V.
        Section 3.  And be it further enacted by the authority
     aforesaid, That if an election of the officers of the
     institution be not held at the time herein appointed, the
     corporation shall not for that cause be dissolved; but an
     election shall be held as soon after as may be, public notice
     thereof being given and until such election the officers in
     place shall continue to act, and the officers now elected, viz.
     The Right Reverend William White, D. D. President. Vice
     Presidents, Robert Patterson, Horace Binney, Roberts Vaux, Dr.
     N. Chapman. Secretary, Henry J. Williams. Treasurer, John Bacon.
     Directors, William Meredith, Paul Beck, junior, Samuel B.
     Fisher, Clement C. Biddle, Alexander Henry, Benjamin Tilghman,
     Jacob Gratz, Philip F. Mayer, Caleb Cresson, James N. Barker,
     Dr. William Price, William McIlvaine, Thomas Cadwallader,
     Callender, Irvine, Joseph Gratz, William J. Duane, Reuben
     Haines, Samuel Canby, junior, Samuel Archer, Dr. Franklin Becke,
     Samuel R. Wood, shall hold and exercise their respective offices
     until the election in May next, and until others are appointed.
        Section 4.  And be it further enacted by the authority
     aforesaid, That in order to aid the funds of the said asylum,
     the Governor is hereby authorised and required to draw his
     warrant on the State Treasurer, in favor of the president of
     said institution, for the sum of eight thousand dollars
     immediately, and moreover shall draw his warrant on the State
     Treasurer in favor of the said president, for the further sum of
     one hundred and sixty dollars for every indigent pupil taught in
     said school, one half to be paid at the expiration of the term
     of six months, and the remainder at the end of the year:
     Provided, That no one scholar shall be taught at the expense of
     the commonwealth more than three years: And provided also, That
     the sum so to be drawn from the treasury for such tuition, shall
     in no one year exceed the sum of eight thousand dollars.

        Compiler's Note:  Section 11 of Act 49 of 1838 repealed
            section 4 insofar as it limits the annual appropriation
            for tuition to eight thousand dollars.
        Section 5.  And be it further enacted by the authority
     aforesaid, That the fourth section of this act, so far as
     relates to the annuity from the commonwealth, shall be and
     continue in force for the term of four years from and after the
     first day of April next, and no longer.