Twelve Commissioners, to be
annually
elected by the City Council, shall have the direction
and management of the
Orphan House; admit and take charge of the
maintenance, education and clothing
of the children; elect a Steward and Matron, and
appoint proper assistants,
nurses and domestics; and superintend and govern the
house, the officers and
servants thereof, and the children therein, to the
best of their judgment and
skill, subject to the control of the City Council.
The Commissioners shall
have the power to suspend and discharge any of the
officers of the house after a full hearing and fair
trial at a meeting to be called for that purpose.
The Commissioners shall
have power and authority to make such rules and
regulations as they may think necessary for the good
government of the house and of all persons therein.
The said rules and regulations to be submitted to
the City Council, who may confirm, alter, amend or
annul the same.
The regular meetings of the
Board
shall be held at the Orphan House, on Thursday of each
week. Special meetings
shall be called by the Chairman, whenever, in his
opinion, expedient, or
whenever requested by three members of the Board. At
special meetings no business
shall be transacted except that for which the meeting
was called.
Nine standing Committees,
each to
consist of not less than three members, shall be
appointed as soon as
practicable after the annual organization of the
Board. The duties of the said
Committees shall be, respectively, as follows:
Committee on Improvements
and Discipline.--To consider and recommend to the
Board such improvements and additions to the
buildings, grounds and appurtenances of the
establishment, as shall conduce to the comfort and
health of the inmates of the house, or be demanded
by the wants of the Institution. To see that a
salutary discipline is enforced, and, whenever
possible, by moral sanctions, gentle means, and
affectionate motives. To hear and determine all
questions of difference among the officers of the
house, subject to the revision of the Board. And
seek by such means as they shall deem most effectual
to make the institution, in all its departments, a
scene of cheerful and ready subordination, of active
and voluntary industry, and of physical, mental, and
moral improvement.
Committee on
Retrenchments.--To inquire into and recommend to the
Board such measures for the economical
administration of the Institution as they may deem
proper and expedient. To carefully examine, at least
once a year, the expenditures for each department,
and to report whether any retrenchment can be
judiciously made in the expenses of the
establishment, and if so, in what particulars and to
what extent.
Committee on Schools.--To have the general
charge and superintendence of the intellectual
education of the children of the Institution. To
direct the discipline of the school, the selection
of the school books, and the furniture of the school
and class rooms, and the general course of
instruction. To appoint, with the concurrence of the
Board, teachers from the advanced pupils. To give
advice to the Principal and assistants whenever
required, and, on complaint, to take cognizance of
any difficulty relating to the government and
instruction of the school. To examine, at stated
periods, each class, and note the progress and
deportment of the scholars. To see that the records
of the school are properly kept, and report to the
Board, at least once a year, the conduct,
application, improvement and promotion of the
scholars in each class, and the attention, capacity
and proficiency of the teachers, with such other
facts as may be worthy of record, and such
recommendations as are deemed important to the
interests of the school.
Committee on Accounts.--To audit and report
upon all accounts, bills and claims. To examine,
annually, the books of the Treasurer, and personally
inspect the securities in which the capital of the
private fund is invested, and the vouchers for the
disbursement of the income of the said fund. To
examine quarterly the cash account of the Steward,
and verify the receipts and disbursements of his
department. To superintend the preparation of and
submit to the Board the quarterly accounts for the
City Council, which accounts shall exhibit a
statement in detail of the expenses and liabilities
incurred for the institution during the past
quarter, and the receipts and payments on account of
said expenses; also, the annual account of the
appropriations and disbursements by the Board of the income of the
private fund. To make an annual report of the fiscal
affairs of the Institution, with such facts and
suggestions in respect thereto as shall be deemed of
interest and importance.
Committee on Binding
Out.--To inquire into and report upon all
applications for the removal of children from the
Institution. To execute, by its Chairman, and on
behalf of the Board, all indentures of
apprenticeship to and from the same. To superintend
the record of the children admitted and discharged,
which record shall exhibit the name, sex, age,
nativity and parentage, and a brief history of each
child; the time when received under the care of the
Institution; how long and in what manner maintained
and educated; its progress and proficiency, and when
discharged; to whom given up, and to what employment
or trade apprenticed. To report annually the number
of children received and dismissed during the year,
and all circumstances of interest connected with the
welfare, and condition, and prospects in life, of
the children of the Institution.
Committee on Repairs.--To
obtain estimates, make contracts, and superintend
all improvements and repairs ordered by the Board.
To examine from time to time the condition of the
house, outbuildings and grounds, and recommend such
repairs as they may think necessary for the
preservation of the same.
Committee on Purveyance
and Supervision.--To make all purchases of supplies
for the household, not otherwise provided for. To
examine the books of supplies and issues in the
departments of the Steward, Matron, Sewing Mistress
and Engineer,and
furnish the Board with quarterly statements
therefrom. To give special attention to the tables
of the children, and see that suitable and ample
provision is made for them, and all the regulations
of the Board in respect thereto strictly observed.
To make an annual report to the Board upon the
matters hereby committed to them.
Committee on the Chapel
and Anniversary.--To have charge of the chapel and
the supply of the pulpit, also, of the burial ground
of the Institution at Magnolia Cemetery, and the
interments therein, and the religious services at
funerals. To make all arrangements in concert with
the Committee on Schools for the anniversary
celebration of the Institution.
Committee on the Library. --To make
purchases and receive donations of books. To examine
all works before admitting them into the library. To
appoint a librarian from the senior boys of the
institution, who shall attend to the preservation of
the books and the appurtenances of the library, and
be under the direction of the committee. To make
rules for the use of the books by the inmates of the
house, which rules shall be subject to theapproval of
the Board.
Each member of the Board shall in rotation
be charged with the general supervision of the house
for one week. He shall visit and inspect every
department of the institution, confer with the
officers, and see personally, if possible, every
Iinmate of the household, and report to the Board,
at the next weekly meeting, the condition of the
house and premises, and all irregularities which may
be observed, with such suggestions as he may think
proper or circumstances may require. The Visiting
Commissioner shall conduct the Sabbath morning and
attend the Sabbath afternoon services in the chapel.