Pennsylvania Act 1921-15 — MEMORIAL HALLS, COUNTIES PERMITTED TO ERECT

Act text

MEMORIAL HALLS, COUNTIES PERMITTED TO ERECT
                  Act of Mar. 17, 1921, P.L. 32, No. 15               Cl. 11
                                  AN ACT

     Authorizing the erection and construction by counties of
        memorial halls in memory of the soldiers, sailors, and
        marines of such counties; providing for an election to
        determine whether such hall shall be erected; providing for
        the purchase and condemnation of property for such purposes;
        regulating the use of such halls; and providing for the
        maintenance and care of the same, by a board of control, at
        the expense of the county.

        Section 1.  Be it enacted, &c., That in any county of the
     Commonwealth, where the petition of at least fifty citizens
     thereof to the county commissioners of any county for the
     erection or completion and maintenance of a memorial or monument
     in honor of the soldiers, sailors, or marines for such county,
     who served in the Army and Navy of the United States in the War
     of the Rebellion, the Spanish-American War, the Philippine
     Insurrection, the War with Germany and Austria, and all other
     wars in which the United States has been or may hereafter be
     engaged, has been or may be laid before two successive grand
     juries and approved by them, it shall be the duty of the county
     commissioners to submit the question of the erection of a
     memorial hall to the electors of the county at the next general
     or municipal election; and, if a majority of the votes cast on
     the question of the erection of a memorial hall shall be in
     favor of the same, it shall be the duty of the county
     commissioners to erect, at the county seat, a memorial hall as
     such memorial or monument, and for such purpose to acquire by
     purchase, donation, or by condemnation under the right of
     eminent domain, the necessary site, and to erect and maintain
     thereon a suitable and proper memorial hall or buildings in
     memory of the soldiers, sailors, and marines of such wars. In
     case said election shall result adversely and a second petition
     shall be presented, the same shall be laid before two successive
     grand juries, and, if approved, then it shall be the duty of the
     county commissioners to again, in like manner, submit the
     question to vote at the next general or municipal election; and,
     if the result shall be favorable, then it shall be the duty of
     the county commissioners to erect such hall at such place in the
     county as shall have been designated, upon the ballot, in the
     question submitted to the electors. All proceedings for the
     condemnation of any property under the provisions of this act
     shall be in the same manner as now provided by law for the
     condemnation of property for other county purposes.
        If the site so secured has a hall or building already erected
     thereon which can be altered and improved so as to be made
     suitable for such memorial hall, it shall be lawful for such
     county commissioners to acquire such site in manner aforesaid
     for the purpose of a memorial hall.
        (1 amended June 28, 1923, P.L.896, No.344 and June 29, 1923,
     P.L.927, No.358)
        Section 2.  For the purpose of aiding in paying the purchase
     money and price for the site and erection and construction of
     such memorial hall, voluntary donations and contributions may be
     accepted by the county commissioners from individuals,
     associations and organizations.
        Section 3.  The county commissioners of said county may, and
     are authorized hereby to, levy a special tax, to an amount
     sufficient to pay for the ground purchased or condemned and the
     erection thereon of said memorial hall, within the period of ten
     years from the erection thereof. Such tax shall be levied and
     collected from all taxable persons and property of the county,
     and the rate of such tax shall not exceed two mills on the
     property taxable for county purposes in any one year. Such
     memorial hall shall be and remain the property of, and shall be
     maintained at the expense of, the county. The county
     commissioners may borrow moneys or issue bonds for the purchase
     and construction above mentioned; the said loans or bonds to be
     paid within or at the expiration of the tax period above
     prescribed.
        Section 4.  Such memorial hall shall be in honor of the
     soldiers, sailors, and marines from said county, who served in
     the Army or Navy of the United States in the War of the
     Rebellion, the Spanish-American War, the Philippine
     Insurrection, the War with Germany and Austria, and all other
     wars in which the United States has been or may hereafter be
     engaged. Such memorial halls shall each contain one large
     assembly room or auditorium for public meetings of the soldiers,
     sailors, and marines of such county, which may be used also for
     other public meetings and patriotic gatherings by the consent of
     the board of control herein provided for. Such memorial hall
     shall also contain rooms for meetings of posts of the Grand Army
     of the Republic, encampments of the Union Veteran Legion,
     commanderies of the Loyal Legion, camps of Sons of Veterans,
     Women's Relief Corps, Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic,
     chapters of the Daughters of the Revolution, organizations of
     the Spanish-American War and Philippine Insurrection, the
     Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Italian
     American War Veterans of the United States, Incorporated, and
     organizations of veterans of all other wars in which the United
     States has been or may be engaged, and also rooms for the county
     historical society and for such committees of public defense and
     welfare as may be created by the State or as may be approved by
     the board of control hereinafter provided for. Such memorial
     halls shall also provide room for the display and preservation
     of relics and trophies of all wars in which the United States
     has been or may be engaged, photographs, paintings, and
     portraits, busts, and statues of the soldiers, sailors, and
     marines of the said counties, and mural tablets, upon which
     shall be inscribed the names of such soldiers, sailors, and
     marines. Such memorial halls shall also contain waiting and rest
     rooms with lavatories attached.
        (4 amended June 19, 1961, P.L.460, No.230)
        Section 5.  The room for the county historical society shall
     be made as nearly fireproof as possible, and be provided with
     the proper files and furnishing for preservation and storing of
     all historical data of the said county with reference to any and
     all subjects.
        Section 6.  A board of control is hereby created, which shall
     have charge of all matters relating to such memorial hall, and
     shall have the care thereof. The board shall be composed of
     three members chosen by members of the Grand Army of the
     Republic, three members chosen by members of Spanish-American
     War Veterans, three members to be chosen by members of the
     Veterans of Foreign Wars, three members to be chosen by Italian
     American War Veterans of the United States, Incorporated, and
     three members to be chosen by members of the American Legion.
     The judges of the court of common pleas and the county
     commissioners shall be ex officio members of the board of
     control. The selected members of the board shall serve one year,
     when their successors shall be selected. Vacancies occurring
     shall be filled by the board for the unexpired term.
        (6 amended June 19, 1961, P.L.460, No.230)
        Section 7.  A suitable flagstaff shall be erected upon said
     memorial hall, from which shall be displayed the flag of the
     United States from sunrise to sunset on each and every day of
     the year.
        Section 8.  That in counties of the first class of this
     Commonwealth, the expenditures of which are defrayed from the
     funds of any city within such counties by appropriation of the
     council of such city, all the powers, duties, and obligations
     with respect to this act and hereinbefore required or authorized
     to be performed or exercised by the county commissioners and
     board of control shall devolve upon and be exercised and
     performed by such city by and through its council and its
     appropriate executive officials in accordance with their
     respective duties and functions: Provided, That this section
     shall not invalidate any action or proceeding heretofore had or
     taken in such counties for the carrying out of the provisions of
     this act.
        (8 added Apr. 30, 1925, P.L.370, No.222)