Pennsylvania Act 1905-106 — ALLEGHENY COUNTY MEMORIAL HALL - RELATING TO

Act text

ALLEGHENY COUNTY MEMORIAL HALL - RELATING TO
                 Act of Apr. 12, 1905, P.L. 140, No. 106              Cl. 16
                                  AN ACT

     Providing for the erection and maintenance of a memorial hall at
        the county-seat of Allegheny county, in honor of the
        soldiers, sailors, and marines from that county, who served
        in the Army and Navy of the United States in the war for the
        suppression of the rebellion; authorizing and directing the
        commissioners of said Allegheny county to erect and maintain
        said memorial hall, upon petition of fifty citizens, approved
        by two successive grand juries, the court of quarter
        sessions, and a majority vote of the qualified voters of said
        county, at a general election; designating a committee to
        determine what relics, records, etc., shall be placed in said
        memorial hall, and providing for a flagstaff and display of
        the flag of the United States.

        Section 1.  Be it enacted, &c., That upon presentation of a
     petition, signed by fifty citizens of Allegheny county, to the
     court of quarter sessions of said county, praying for the
     erection and maintenance of a memorial hall at the county seat
     of said county, at the cost of the county of Allegheny, in honor
     of the soldiers, sailors and marines from Allegheny county who
     served in the Army and Navy of the United States in the war for
     the suppression of the rebellion, said court shall refer said
     petition to the grand jury; and if said petition shall be
     approved by two successive grand juries of said county and said
     court, it shall be the duty of the county commissioners of said
     county to certify the same to the sheriff, who shall give public
     notice by proclamation, once a day for ten successive days, by
     advertisement in three newspapers published in said county, that
     at the next general election the erection of a memorial hall, in
     honor of the soldiers, sailors, and marines from said county,
     who served in the Army and Navy of the United States in the war
     for the suppression of the rebellion, will be submitted to the
     qualified voters of Allegheny county for their approval or
     disapproval, under the provisions of the laws of this State
     relating to general elections.
        Section 2.  The commissioners shall prepare the ballots in
     the manner and form provided by law, and cause the same to be
     properly distributed to the election officers at each poll or
     voting place, who shall receive these ballots when voted by the
     qualified voters in each election district, and deposit them in
     the box or receptacle provided by the county commissioners for
     that purpose, and, after said polls close, count the same, and
     make return of said votes, together with the other returns of
     said election, to the prothonotary of Allegheny county.
        Section 3.  If after the approval of said petition by the
     said grand juries and the said court, there shall not be
     sufficient time to proclaim or advertise said election for ten
     days before the next general election, then said proclamation
     and advertisement may be for the next succeeding general
     election.
        Section 4.  If a majority of said votes, upon being counted
     by the court of common pleas or returning-board that counts the
     votes polled at general elections, shall be found to be for the
     said memorial hall, the court or returning-board making said
     count shall so certify to the commissioners of Allegheny county;
     whereupon the said commissioners shall proceed to erect said
     memorial hall at the county seat of Allegheny county, and are
     authorized to cause plans and specifications to be prepared by
     architects and to select the best that, in their judgment, is
     submitted; and they are hereby further authorized to purchase,
     or acquire by condemnation under the right of eminent domain, a
     suitable site, or piece or parcel of ground, upon which to erect
     said memorial hall. The cost of said plans, site, or parcel of
     ground, advertising, election ballots, the erection, furnishing
     and maintenance of said memorial hall, and all other cost and
     expense connected therewith, shall be paid by the county
     treasurer, out of the funds belonging to Allegheny county, on
     warrants drawn by the county commissioners upon the county
     treasurer: Provided, That the cost of said memorial hall,
     including the cost of the site, or land, upon which it is
     erected, shall not exceed the sum of twelve hundred and fifty
     thousand dollars.
        Section 5.  The county commissioners of said county may, and
     are hereby authorized to, levy and collect a sufficient tax on
     the taxable persons and property of the county to defray the
     cost and expense of the construction of said memorial hall and
     maintenance of the same.
        Section 6.  Said memorial hall shall be in honor of the
     soldiers, sailors and marines from Allegheny County, who served
     in the army and navy of the United States in the war for the
     suppression of the rebellion. It shall contain one large
     assembly hall, or auditorium, for public meetings of the
     soldiers, sailors, and marines of Allegheny County, but which
     may be used for other public meetings. It shall also contain
     rooms for meetings of the posts of the Grand Army of the
     Republic, encampments of the Union Veteran Legion, commanderies
     of the Loyal Legion, and kindred patriotic organizations. It
     shall also contain rooms and places for the proper display and
     preservation of relics and trophies of the war for the
     suppression of the rebellion; flags, histories, rosters, and
     records of the Grand Army posts, encampments of the Union
     Veteran Legion, commanderies of the Loyal Legion; regimental and
     company histories, photographs, paintings and portraits, busts
     and statues, of soldiers, sailors, and marines of Allegheny
     County; and mural tablets, upon which shall be inscribed the
     names of the soldiers, sailors, and marines of Allegheny County
     who served in the war for the suppression of the rebellion. A
     committee of ten, with power to fill vacancies, shall be
     selected by the survivors of the war for the suppression of the
     rebellion, residing in Allegheny County. The president judge of
     the court of common pleas, the judge next oldest in commission
     in said court, and the three county commissioners of said
     county, shall, ex officio, be members of the committee who,
     together, shall constitute a board of managers. The board of
     managers thus constituted shall annually select from their
     number a president, a secretary, and such other officers as may
     be necessary--but no member shall receive any compensation,
     except the secretary--but shall be allowed the necessary
     expenses incurred in the performance of their duty. The board
     shall select the superintendent, and the necessary employes, the
     number and salaries to be fixed by the salary board of the
     county. The board of managers shall have full power to maintain,
     operate, and rent Memorial Hall and the grounds, for purposes
     not inconsistent with the memorial character of the building,
     and shall determine what supplies, materials, decorations, or
     improvements are required in the building and grounds, and the
     design and character thereof; and, when so determined by the
     board, the president and secretary shall certify the same to the
     county commissioners, together with designs, plans, and
     estimates of the cost of any proposed improvement or decoration.
     The county commissioners shall, thereupon, make all contracts
     for supplies, materials, decorations, or improvements, in the
     manner now provided by law. The board shall make a detailed
     report at the close of each fiscal year, to the commissioners
     and controller, in the form prescribed by them; and, at least
     thirty days prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, submit
     to the county commissioners a detailed estimate of the amount of
     money which will be required by them for the coming year; and,
     should the board of managers and the county commissioners differ
     in their judgment as to the amount of money required, the
     estimates shall be submitted by the board of managers to the
     court of common pleas of the county, which court, after
     investigation, shall certify the amount to be allowed; and its
     decision shall be final, and no expense shall be incurred in
     excess of these amounts without the consent of the county
     commissioners: Provided, however, That any improvement or
     decoration requiring an expenditure of over five thousand
     dollars ($5,000) must receive the approval of the grand jury and
     the court of quarter sessions of the county before such
     improvement shall be made. The president and secretary, upon
     direction of the board, shall issue certificates for all moneys
     to be paid, which certificates shall be changeable at the office
     of the county commissioners for such forms of warrant as may be
     in use for the distribution of county funds for general county
     purposes; and all moneys so expended shall be paid and accounted
     for in the same manner as moneys expended for general county
     purposes, and any moneys realized by the board shall be paid
     into the county treasury and become a part of the general county
     fund.
        (6 amended May 23, 1913, P.L.301, No.208)
        Section 7.  A suitable flagstaff shall be erected upon said
     property, from which shall be displayed the flag of the United
     States, from sunrise to sunset on each and every day in the
     year.