Rules and Regulations of Berks County Almshouse and House of Employment, USA.
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RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE Berks County Almshouse and House of Employment, Adopted at a meeting of the Board of Directors, held at the Almshouse, September, 1888. | |||
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RULE 1. All immoralities and disobedience to the government of the House, and other misbehavior shall be strictly prohibited.
RULE 2. All person admitted, who are capable of working, shall be employed as well to enure them to labor as to contribute to their support. RULE 3. Whereas some slothful persons may pretend sickness or lameness to excuse themselves from labor, such persons shall be examined by the Physician, and if it appears by his report and other concurring circumstances, that those persons made false excuses, they shall be punished by confinement in the cell, and fed on bread and water until they comply, or in some other legal way, as the Directors shall determine. RULE 4. None shall presume to beg money or any other thing, directly or indirectly, from any person that shall come to visit the House, on penalty of been denied the next meal. RULE 5. None shall speak unnecessarily, or misbehave at table, on pain of being removed and deprived of that meal; such as shall not attend at the appointed time, shall lose that meal, unless they have a proper excuse for their absence. RULE 6. If any person shall neglect to repair to their proper places to work, or being there, shall refuse to work, or shall loiter, be idle, or shall not well perform the task of work set them, or shall waste or spoil any of materials or tools of the several manufactories, or shall deface the walls or break the windows, or shall disturb the House by clamour, quarrelling, fighting or abusive language, or shall bring any strong liquors into the House without leave, or shall be guilty of lying, or wanton, or lascivious behavior, or shall drink to excess, steal or profanely curse or swear, or in any other respect act immorally or irregularly, they shall be punished either by denying them a meal or a whole day's allowance, or by being confined in the cell, and supported on bread and water, at the discretion of the officers, not exceeding 72 hours, unless the board of Directors order a longer confinement, or proceed against them before a magistrate, there to be dealt with according to law. RULE 7. When any person is taken sick, he shall be immediately removed to the sick wards, that they may have the benefit of nursing and medical assistance. RULE 8. It shall be the duty of the Engineer or his assistant, to blow the whistle every morning half an hour before breakfast time, to call the family up, that they may have time to dress, wash and comb themselves, which they shall be required to do. RULE 9. No person shall go out from the House without liberty, and every one who obtains liberty shall return in good order at the time appointed and report himself present, on penalty of being put on the black list, and of being denied going out for one month for the first offence, and three months for every subsequent offence. RULE 10. All communication between the sexes is strictly forbidden on pain of being confined in the cell, and supported on eight ounces of bread and water per day, not exceeding 72 hours, unless the board of Directors order a longer confinement, and for serious cases to be proceeded against before a magistrate and dealt with according to law. |
RULE 11. Paupers must obey promptly and cheerfully all directions given them, either by the Steward or his subordinates; and they must at all times in their intercourse with the officers of the Poor House he respectful and courteous.
RULE 12. Paupers are forbidden to approach an officer and make any requests while otherwise engaged with visitors. RULE 13. No person shall be permitted to visit any pauper unless in the presence of an officer, who shall have power to restrict said visit to five minutes. Former inmates, frequent idle curiosity seekers, and all beastly intoxicated visitors shall be shown through the different departments or have denied said privilege at the discretion of the officer or officers in charge. None but official visitors shall have any communication with any of the paupers without the permission of the officer in charge, nor shall such visitors be permitted to deliver to or receive from any pauper, any letter or message whatever, or to deliver any liquors, matches or any other article or articles without the permission of said officers. RULE 14. The regular visiting hours of the institution shall be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on every week day of the month, excepting in cases of extreme sickness, when the Steward shall have discretionary power to extend said time even to Sundays. RULE 15. Should any of the employees other than the officers desire to show any of their friends or relatives through any or all of the Departments, they shall be required to obtain permission from the officer having charge of said department. RULE 16. All occupied rooms shall be locked every night, and lights extinguished, excepting such as the officer having charge deems it necessary to have open for the early exit of such as are to repair to their respective work at an early hour. RULE 17. The officers of the Institution shall consist of the Steward, Matron, Under Steward and Clerk, whose duty it shall be to enforce the discipline of the said Almshouse and House of Employment in any manner they may deem proper, not inconsistent with the laws of the Commonwealth, and the rules and regulations of the board of Directors. RULE 18. All inmates are positively forbidden to sleep in the barn or any other outbuildings; inmates must be in their respective rooms at the time for closing for the night. RULE: 19. The effects of all inmates who are discharged (from the institution) are to be searched, and in case more than one suit of clothing is found on them, said clothing are to be retained for the use of the institution. RULE 20. All communication between the sexes along the fences or any other places is strictly forbidden on penalty of being confined to the cell for 72 hours, excepting cases of particular necessity, where they have to work together, or on permission of the Steward or his subordinates. RULE 21. It is expected that all employees at the Almshouse will at no time appear at . the said institution under the influence of liquor.
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