Library Collections: Document: Full Text

# 18. There shall be received and supported gratuitously in the Asylum one hundred and twenty pupils, to be selected in equal numbers, as near as may be, from each judicial district, from those whose parents or guardians are unable to provide for their support therein, to be designated as State pupils; and such additional number of idiots as can be conveniently accommodated, may be received into the Asylum by the trustees, on such terms as may be just. But no idiot shall be received into the Asylum, without there shall have been first lodged with the superintendent thereof, a request to that effect, under the hand of the person by whose direction he is sent, stating the age, and place of nativity, if known, of the idiot, his Christian and surname, the town, or city, and county in which they severally reside, the ability or otherwise of the idiot, his parents or guardians, to provide for his support in whole or in part, and if in part only, then what part; and the degree of relationship, or other circumstance of connection between him and the person requesting his admission; which statement shall be verified in writing, by the oath of two disinterested persons, residents of the same county with the idiot, acquainted with the facts and circumstances so stated, and certified to be credible by the county judge of the same county. And no idiot shall be received into said Asylum unless the county judge, of the county liable for his support, shall certify that such idiot is an eligible and proper candidate for admission to said asylum as aforesaid.

# 19. Whenever the trustees shall direct a State pupil to be discharged from the Asylum, the superintendent thereof is authorized to return such pupil to the county from which he was sent to the Asylum, and deliver him to the keeper of the poor house of such county; and the superintendents of the poor of said county shall audit and pay the actual and reasonable expenses of such removal, as part of the contingent expenses of said poor house. But if any town, county or person be legally liable for the support of such pupil, the amount of such expenses may be recovered for the use of the county, by such superintendents of the poor. If such superintendents of the poor neglect, or refuse to pay such expenses, on demand, the treasurer of the Asylum may pay the same and charge the amount to the said county; and the treasurer of the said county shall pay the same, with interest, after thirty days, out of any fund in his hands not otherwise appropriated; and the supervisors of the said county shall levy and raise the amount as other county charges.

# 20. The superintendent is authorized to agree with the parent, guardian or committee of any idiot, or with any other person or persons, for the support, maintenance and clothing of any idiot, at the Asylum, upon such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the by-laws, or approved by the trustees. But every parent, guardian, committee or other person applying for the admission into the Asylum of any idiot who, or whose parents or guardians, are of sufficient ability to provide for his maintenance therein, shall, at the time of his admission, deliver to the superintendent a bond, with one or more sureties, to be approved by the trustees in such a manner as they shall prescribe, in the penal sum of at least three hundred dollars, conditioned to pay to the treasurer, for the time being, of the Asylum, by his name of office, all such sum or sums of money, at such time or times as shall be agreed upon as aforesaid; and to remove such idiot from the Asylum, free of expense to the trustees, within twenty days after the service of the notice hereinafter provided. And if such idiot, or his parents or guardians, are of sufficient ability to pay only some portion less than the whole of the expenses of supporting and clothing him at the Asylum, said bond shall be conditioned only for his removal as aforesaid; and the superintendent may take security by note or other written contract or agreement, with or without sureties, as he may deem proper, for such portion of the said expenses as the idiot, his parents or guardians, are able to pay, subject, however, to the approval of the trustees, in the manner that shall be prescribed in the, by-laws. Notice to remove any idiot from the Asylum, shall be in writing, signed by the superintendent; it shall be directed to the parents, guardians, committee or other person or persons, upon whose request he was received, at the place or places of residence mentioned in such request, and may be served by depositing the same in the post-office at the city of Syracuse, and with the postage prepaid. If the idiot shall not be removed from the Asylum, according to the conditions of said bond, within twenty days after the service of such notice in manner aforesaid he may be removed and disposed of by the superintendent, as directed in the last preceding section in relation to State pupils, and all the provisions of that section respecting the payment and recovery of the expenses of the removal and disposition of a State pupil, shall be equally applicable to similar expenses arising under this section.