1864. sociate to build town houses. TOWN HALLS. SECT. 576. Any number of persons, in any of the towns of this Persons may as- state, may associate for the purpose of purchasing lands and buildings, or of purchasing lands, and erecting and maintaining thereon, buildings, to be used and occupied for town meetings, schools, lectures, and other public purposes, and being so associated shall, on complying with the provisions of this act, be a body politic and corporate, may sue and be sued, and do all acts necessary and proper for accomplishing the objects aforesaid, including the purchasing and holding of real estate, and the making and adopting of such articles of association and by-laws, as they may deem necessary for conducting and regulating its affairs, not inconsistent with the laws of this state, or of the United States; but before any such association shall Copy of articles be entitled to the privileges of this act, it shall lodge with the secrebe lodged with tary of this state a copy of its articles of association, attested by its secretary of state, presiding officer and secretary; and also cause the same to be recorded in the records of the town, where such association is situated; and all subsequent alterations of said articles shall, in like manner, be attested, left, and recorded as aforesaid, before the same shall be valid. of association, to and with town clerk. TITLE VIII. AN ACT RELATING TO COMPROMISES, OR COMPOSI- 1865. One member of a parate compro tors. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Assembly convened: SECTION 1. That whenever any copartnership firm shall be discopartnership solved, any one or more of the individuals, who was or were emmay make a se- braced in such firm, may make a separate composition or compromise with credi- mise with any one or all of the creditors thereof; and any such composition or compromise shall be a full and effectual discharge to the debtor or debtors making the same, and to him or them only, of and from all and every liability to the creditor or creditors, with whom the same is made or incurred, by reason of his or their connection with such copartnership firm. memoran dum, exonerating SECT. 2. Every such debtor or debtors, making such composition shall take a writor compromise, shall take from the creditor or creditors, with whom ten he or they make the same, a note or memorandum in writing, exon- him from indierating him or them from all and every individual liability incurred vidual liability. by reason of such connection with such copartnership firm, which note or memorandum may be given in evidence, by such debtor or debtors, under the general issue in bar of such creditors' right of recovery against him or them. other shall nor impair rights against them. SECT. 3. Such compromise or composition, with an individual Individual commember of a firm, shall not be so construed as to discharge the other not discharge promises copartners, nor shall it impair the right of the creditors to proceed partners, at law or in equity against the members of such firm who have not of creditors been discharged; and the member or members of such firm, so proceeded against, shall be permitted to set off any demand against said creditor or creditors, which could have been set off, had such suit been brought against all the individuals composing such firm; nor shall such compromise, or discharge, of an individual of a firm, prevent the other members of such firm from availing themselves of any defense at law or equity, that would have been available if this act was not passed, except that they shall not set up the discharge of one individual as a discharge of the other copartners, unless it shall appear that all were intended to be discharged. of partners act. to SECT. 4. Such compromise or composition, of an individual of a Legal obligations firm, with a creditor of such firm, shall, in no way, affect the legal each other, not obligations of the copartners, each to the other, but they shall affected by this remain liable to account for the affairs of their copartnership, in the same manner as if this act had not been passed; but any individual of a firm, who may compromise or compound with a creditor thereof, shall be allowed, in accounting with his copartners, such sum as he shall have paid to such creditor. compromise. SECT. 5. A joint debtor may individually compound or compro- Joint debtor may mise with creditors, for his joint indebtedness, in the same manner as an individual member of a copartnership firm; and such composition or compromise, when so made by a joint debtor, shall have the same effect, and be as binding and obligatory upon the creditors, who may compound or compromise with such debtor, as if made by an individual copartner with the creditors of the coparnership firm ̧ TITLE IX. AN ACT FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE NAVIGA- 1865. Masters of cer warden of Hart ford. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Assembly convened: SECTION 1. That the master or person in charge of every sailing tain vessels to vessel or propeller, of a draft of more than six feet, and of over fifty report to the port tons burden, carrying cargoes to the city of Hartford from any port or place beyond the mouth of Connecticut river, and of every steamer or propeller, engaged in towing on said river, shall report to the port warden of the city of Hartford, within twenty-four hours after every arrival at said city, stating to said warden the name, and registered tonnage of the same, and shall pay to said port warden toll as follows, to wit: for every sailing vessel and propeller, carrying cargoes, and for every steamer and propeller, engaged in towing, a toll of two cents per ton upon the registered tonnage of the same, except, that where the actual weight of cargo can be determined by the bill or bills of lading, said toll shall be imposed on said actual tonnage, at the rate of one cent per ton; and the Hartford and New York steamboat company shall, on the first day of June, in each year, pay to said port warden the sum of one thousand dollars, in lieu of all tolls imposed by this act. To pay toll. Master or person in charge to be liable for toll. Port warden to keep a record of. to account monthly with city treasurer. SECT. 2. The master, or person, in charge of any such vessel, propeller or steamer, together with the owner or owners of the same, at the time when said toll becomes due and payable, shall be jointly and severally liable therefor; and if the master or person in charge of any such vessel, propeller, or steamer, shall neglect so to report, and to pay toll as aforesaid, and, after demand made by said port warden, shall still neglect to pay toll as aforesaid, the master or person in charge of the same at the time said toll became due and payable, together with the owner or owners of the same respectively, shall be jointly and severally liable to pay double the amount of toll hereby imposed, to be sued for and recovered in the name of the city of Hartford; and the city court of said city shall have jurisdiction of all suits instituted for that purpose. SECT. 3. The port warden shall keep a record of all vessels, provessels, &c, and pellers and steamers, paying or liable to pay toll under this act, and of the amount of toll collected from each, and once in every month shall render a correct account to the treasurer of the city of Hartford, of all moneys received by him for toll, and shall pay over the same to said treasurer; and the court of common council of said city shall cause all moneys received under this act, and also all moneys that said court of common council may appropriate for the same purpose, except as hereinafter provided, to be for improving expended for the improvement of the channel of Connecticut river To be expended between the towns of Hartford and Middletown, and for and all any purposes, necessary and proper, for rendering the navigation of said river. river, between the towns aforesaid, safe and convenient, under the direction of a committee to be appointed by said court of common council; and said committee shall, from time to time, render true and just accounts and vouchers, for all moneys expended for the purpose aforesaid, to the treasurer of said city, and the same shall be audited and adjusted as the other accounts of said city are. The port annually to said committee shall annually make a report to the general assembly, the general ?sembly. stating therein fully and particularly the amount of money received from tolls, the amount of money expended by them, the purpose for which, and the manner in which, the same was expended, and also the condition of the channel of said river between the towns aforesaid. Committee to re as Compensation of SECT. 4. The said port warden shall receive such reasonable port warden. compensation, for performing the duties imposed by this act, as the said court of common council may prescribe, not exceeding the sum of two hundred dollars per aunum, to be paid from the tolls collected under this act; and before entering upon the performance of said duties, the said warden shall give a bond to said city, with surety, to be approved by the mayor of said city, in a sum not less than one thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of the same. Common council to approve this SECT. 5. This act shall not take effect, until the same shall have act been accepted and approved by said court of common council. TITLE X. AN ACT TO PREVENT THE PASSING OF COUNTERFEIT Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Assembly convened: of banks, may counterfeit bills SECTION 1. That when any false, forged, altered, or counterfeit Treasurer of the bill, made in imitation of, and purporting to be, a bill of public state and cashiers credit, issued by the authority of the United States, or any false, seize and deface forged, altered, or counterfeit bill or note, issued by any incorporated countert bank, or national banking association, in this state, or any of the United States, shall be offered to the treasurer of the state, in payment of debts or taxes, or to the cashiers of any of the banks in the state, in payment of debts, or to be exchanged, they shall seize and Justices of the peace may seize deface such counterfeit bills or notes, and enter, on the back thereof, the name of the possessor, and deliver the same to some justice of the peace, for the purpose cf further inquiry. SECT. 2. When any justice of the peace shall see, or have knowland deface them. edge of, any such counterfeit bill or note, he may seize and deface the same, and shall enter, on the back of it, the name of the person from whom he takes it, and shall retain it in his possession. Any person posfeit bill or note, SECT. 3. When any person shall discover that he has in his possessing counter-session any such counterfeit bill or note, he shall deliver it to some shall deliver it to justice of the peace; and if such justice of the peace is of opinion a justice of the that such bill or note is counterfeit, he shall enter on the back of it the name of the person of whom he received it, and that it was delivered to him as a counterfeit bill or note. peace. of the peace to bind Power of justice SECT. 4. Every justice of the peace, who has received or taken a examine, counterfeit bill or note, or with whom one has been lodged as aforeover, or commit. said, may, at his discretion, cause the person from whom it was seized, taken, or received, to come before him, and examine him on oath, respecting the person of whom he received it; and in like manner, make such further inquiry as he may deem expedient, to discover the person who forged or altered it, or who passed it, knowing it to be forged or altered; and when he shall obtain satisfactory proof against any person, he may require him to become bound, with sufficient surety, to appear before the proper court for trial, or commit him for want of bail. Proceedings by counterfeit bill SECT. 5. Every person, who shall deliver up a counterfeit bill or party receiving a note, or from whom it shall be taken as aforesaid, may inform the or note, to re- person, from whom he received it, with whom it is lodged, and decover damages. mand of him payment of the same, and on refusal, may bring his action on this statute, to recover his just damages; and if, on trial, such bill or note shall be found to be forged or altered, the court shall proceed to examine the parties on oath, and any other proper witnesses; and if it shall be found that the plaintiff received such bill of the defendant for a true bill, he shall recover his reasonable damages and costs; but such suit shall be brought within one year after the passing of such bill or note, and the plaintiff shall not have offered to return it to the defendant, before it was taken by, or lodged with, a justice of the peace, as aforesaid; and such suit may be brought, without giving information to the defendant, and making demand of payment, if the plaintiff, at the time of making out the writ, shall make oath before the authority issuing it, that he verily believes it is necessary, in order to secure the demand. Party making satisfaction, dy. to SECT. 6. Every person who shall have made satisfaction for any have like reme- such bill or note, taken or delivered up as aforesaid, to the person to whom he put off the same, shall have a like remedy against him from whom he received such bill or note; and justices of the peace, who shall have such bills or notes in their hands, shall, at the expense of the party, convey the same to any court, when necessary, in the trial of a cause. Power of treasurer and cashiers to seize counterfeit coin. of any SECT. 7. When any false and counterfeit coin, made in imitation current gold and silver coin, shall be offered to the treasurer of the state, or the cashier of a bank, he shall seize the same and deliver it to some justice of the peace, with the name of the person from whom it is taken; and every justice of the peace, who shall see or have knowledge of any such false and counterfeit coin, shall seize and detain the same; and every person who shall discover that he has in his possession any such false and counterfeit coin, |