Duties of steward. Duty of auditor of state as to account of steward. year. The said reports of the trustees shall contain a summary statement of all contracts entered into during the year, and the names of all persons interested in such contracts, also the articles, quantity, and price of each, and from whom purchased; special meetings of the board may be held on a call of the president thereof: provided, each member shall have at least three days' notice thereof in writing, together with a statement of the object for which the meeting is called. [71 v. 87, sec, 5.] SECTION 6. The steward shall keep a full and true account of receipts, and an itemized account of all disbursements, in a proper book, always open to the inspection of the superintendent and trustees, and shall balance the same on the fifteenth day of each month, and he shall prepare and have ready at the same time, in duplicate, a balance-sheet showing the amount of money received during the preceding month, and the balance on hand at the commencement thereof, and also a full and itemized account of all expenditures and payments during the same period, and a summary of all contracts entered into, with the name of each person interested therein; and he shall also take and arrange according to the entry in such duplicate balance-sheets, all vouchers and receipts for all disbursements during said month. After the said duplicate and balance-sheets shall have been indorsed by the superintendent and board of trustees, the steward shall, within two days thereafter, file said duplicate and vouchers pertaining thereto in the office of the auditor of state; and he shall take and subscribe an oath, to be indorsed on each of said duplicate balance-sheets, that the said account is a full, true, and correct account of his said stewardship for the preceding month, to the best of his knowledge and belief. [71 v. 87, sec. 6.] SECTION 7. The said auditor of state shall carefully examine said account and compare the same with the vouchers, and see that the footings of figures are correct; and he shall have full power and authority, at any time, to examine the said steward under oath touching his account; and if he think proper to do so, he may reduce such examination to writing and require the steward to sign the same, and such examination shall then be filed with papers of the proper monthly settlement. After having made the necessary examination, the auditor of state shall indorse his finding and approval, or otherwise, on each of said duplicate balancesheets, one of which he shall forthwith file in the office of the governor, and the other, together with the vouchers, shall be filed and safely kept in the office of said auditor of state. Said steward shall not be credited with disbursements by the trustees, or superintendent, or auditor of state in his monthly account, to an amount above ten dollars in the aggregate in any one month, unless the same is accompanied with a proper voucher therefor, and itemized account thereof. [71 v. 87, sec. 7.] SECTION 8. Said steward shall make all contracts on behalf of, and all purchases for, such institution, where they can be made on the best terms, keep the accounts, pay those employed in and about the institution, take vouchers for all expenditures, have a personal superintendence of the garden and ground, and perform such other duties as may be assigned him by the board of trustees, or superintendent, and under the direction of the superintendent and not otherwise, he may make engagements with, and discharge those employed in and about the institution. Whenever, in the opinion of the board of trustees, more than five hundred dollars' worth of any one article will be needed for the use of the institution during any one year, then it shall be the duty of said board to advertise for sealed bids to furnish at the institution such articles, at such times, and in such quantities as the steward may, from time to time direct, each bid to be accompanied with a bond in such amount as the board may direct, with good and sufficient surety that such bidder, if the contract be awarded to him, will fulfill and perform the contract on his part, and all such contracts shall be awarded to the lowest bidder. The board shall have power to reject all bids and re-advertise, or direct the steward to purchase by private contract: provided the price paid shall be less than the lowest bid received under said advertising; and when, in the opinion of a majority of the trustees, any articles, provisions, or supplies needed for the institution can be more economically purchased by private contract, the trustees may authorize the steward to buy the same without a letting to the lowest bidder, under such rules and regulations as the trustees may prescribe. [73 v. 246, sec. 9.1 Stewards to make contracts and purchases. Trustees to advertise for bids in certain cases. remove officers for cause. SECTION 9. The board of trustees may at pleasure remove Trustees may any matron or physician, and they may remove the superintendent also, for incompetency, gross neglect of duty, or refusal to discharge the duties devolving upon him, or for any misconduct which renders it improper for him longer to continue at the head of the institution, and may direct the discharge of a pupil, teacher, or employé, when they shall deem it expedient. [71 v. 87, sec. 10.] SECTION 10. The superintendent of the institution shall be a person of acknowledged skill and ability in his profession, and shall sustain a good moral character, and shall hold his office for the term of five years, unless sooner removed by the board of trustees. He shall have entire control of the moral and dietetic treatment of the inmates and pupils, and shall see that the several officers and employés in the institution faithfully and diligently discharge their respective duties. He shall employ or direct the employment of attendants, nurses, servants, and such other persons as he may deem necessary for the efficient and economical management Qualification and duties of superintend ent. Duties of matron. Treasurer of advance not What persons to be admitted to the asylum. Rules for admission of pupils. of the institution, assign them their respective places and duties, and may at any time discharge, or direct the steward to discharge, any of them from service. The superintendent, steward, and matron shall devote their entire time to the interests of the institution. [71 v. 87, sec. 12.] SECTION 11. The matron, under the direction of the superintendent, and not otherwise, shall have the general supervision of the domestic arrangements of the institution, and do what she can to promote the comfort and welfare of its inmates. [71 v. 87, sec. 13.] SECTION 12. The treasurer of state may, from time to time, advance to the steward, on his own order, approved by the superintendent and a majority of the board of trustees, on a warrant from the auditor of state, a sum not exceeding two thousand dollars to meet current expenses; and he shall account for the whole sum of two thousand dollars before another order is approved. [71 v. 87, sec. 15.] SECTION 13. The trustees are authorized to receive into the institution such blind and purblind persons residents of the state, as they and the superintendent are satisfied from reliable information and examination are persons suitable in age and mental capacity to receive instruction by the methods therein pursued: provided, no person shall be received who is addicted to immoral practices, or affected with any contagious or offensive disease. The superintendent, subject to the trustees, may reject or discharge from the institution, any person who has sight sufficient to read common print continuously. [73 v. 111, sec. 9.] SECTION 14. Those admitted as regular pupils must be at least six years of age, and none shall be admitted under eight years of age, except for special reasons. Pupils admitted under the age of fourteen years may remain until the age of twenty-one years, and pupils admitted between the age of fourteen and twenty one may remain for a period of seven years, if in the judgment of the trustees or the superintendent, under their direction, the character, progress, capacity, and conduct of the pupil in each case justify so long a pupilage. Persons over twenty-one years of age may be received for one year, for the purpose of learning any trade or employment taught in the mechanical department; and they may also receive instruction in one or more studies, if this can be done without interfering with the purpose for which they are admitted. In addition to the one year specified for those over twenty-one years of age, females over twenty-one years of age may be allowed to remain three years more, if their capacity shall render it advisable provided, that the superintendent, subject to the trustees, may permit former pupils, for a period not exceeding a year, to return to the institution for the purpose of reviewing or perfecting their studies, but not at an age beyond the oldest period provided for in this act. The trustees, upon the recommendation of the superintendent, may, at any time, for sufficient cause, terminate the course of any pupil, and the superintendent shall have authority, subject to the trustees, to dismiss any pupil for persistent disobedience, immoral conduct, or other cause, that renders the person unfit to remain in the institution. Nothing herein. contained shall be construed to prohibit the admission of pupils who are not residents of Ohio, if there shall be accommodation therefor, upon the payment of such sums and upon such terms as the trustees may determine; and the money so received from pupils not residing in this state shall be paid over to the steward, receipted for by him, and by him certified into the state treasury to the credit of the general revenue fund. It shall be the duty of such steward to make a correct record of all such moneys received by him in a book to be prepared for that purpose, which record shall be open for the inspection of any person wishing to examine the same. [73 v. 111, sec. 10.] SECTION 15. All pupils admitted into the institution who have a legal residence in the state shall be supported at the expense of the state: provided, that parents or guardians of such pupils shall be required to keep them comfortably and neatly clothed, and to pay their traveling and incidental expenses. If able so to do, parents and guardians shall be required, for incidental expenses, to deposit with the steward the sum of five dollars. If parents, guardians, or any adult pupils shall neglect or fail to pay said expenses, or to furnish the requisite clothing, the steward of the institution is hereby authorized to pay such expenses and furnish the requisite clothing, and pay for the same out of the appropriation for the current expenses of the institution, keeping and reporting a separate account of the same. The account so drawn up, signed by the steward, countersigned by the superintendent, and sealed with the seal of the institution, shall be forwarded to the auditor of the county from which the pupil came, who shall pay the amount of said bill out of the county funds to the steward of the institution, to be audited to the current expense fund, and said auditor shall then proceed to collect the same, in the name of the state of Ohio, as other debts are collected. [73 v. 111, sec. 11.] SECTION 16. The trustees are authorized to expend any amount not exceeding six hundred dollars, annually, for the purchase of books, maps, and other educational appliances, from the American printing house for the blind, out of the appropriations for current expenses, for the use of the institution, and gratuitous distribution among the indigent blind of the state: provided, the purchase can be made from said printing house at a price not exceeding the exact cost of their production. [71 v. 10, sec. 1.] SECTION 17. All books, papers, vouchers, and contracts pertaining to this institution shall be the property of the state, and shall be carefully preserved. Gifts, bequests, devises, etc. Trustee or officer interested in contracts to be removed. Repeals. SECTION 18. The board of trustees shall be capable of receiving, by gift, devise, or bequest, moneys, lands, or other property for the benefit of this institution, or any of its inmates, and to hold and apply the same according to the terms of the donation. SECTION 19. No trustee or officer of this institution shall be, either directly or indirectly, interested in any purchase for, or contract on, behalf of this institution; and in addi tion to the liability of any trustee, or officer, violating this inhibition to respond in damages for any injury sustained by the institution by his act, he shall be forthwith removed from office. SECTION 20. No trustee of this institution shall be eligible to the office of superintendent or steward of such institution during the term for which he was appointed, nor within one year after such term shall have expired. SECTION 21. Claims due to the institution may be sued for in the name of the institution. SECTION 22. The following acts and parts of acts are hereby repealed: 1. "An act to provide for the more economical management and better regulation of the institution for the blind, and to repeal certain acts therein named." (Volume 71, page 87.) 2. "An act relating to the purchase of books, maps, and other educational appliances for the blind. (Volume 71, page 10.) 3. "An act to amend section nine of an act to provide for the more economical management and better regulation of the institution for the education of the blind." (Volume 73, page 246.) 4. "An act to amend section ten of an act entitled an act to amend sections two and ten of an act entitled an act to reorganize the institution for the education of the blind, and to repeal certain laws heretofore passed and took effect April 6, 1866," passed March 10, 1873. SECTION 23. This act shall be in force from and after its passage; but the present officers of said institution shall retain their place until their successors are appointed and qualified. JAMES E. NEAL, Speaker of the House of Representatives. Passed May 10, 1878. |