Original New Jersey Hospital Law and Muhlenberg Hospital, Plainfield, New Jersey 1872 New Jersey Legislature

Session of 1872 - Chapter DXI - "An Act to amend the charter of the City of Plainfield" "Article 14. And be it enacted, That it shall be lawful for the common council of said city to pass such ordinances or by-laws as to them shall seem meet and necessary for ...to enact health laws, and establish a board of health; to provide for the relief of the poor and for the establishment and maintenance of an almshouse or a workhouse, and a city hospital, ..." approved April 4, 1872. 1877 New Jersey Legislature Session of 1877 - Chapter CIII. - "An Act to provide for the incorporation of associaition for the erection and maintenance of hospitals, infirmaries, orphanges, asylums, and other charitable institutions." "Article 6. And be it enacted, That no governor or board of director of any association organized under this act, shall receive, directly or indirectly, any salary or emoluments from such association, nor shall any compensation whatever be voted, allowed, or paid by the governors or directors therof to any governor or director for services, either as governor or director, or in any other capacity." approved March 9, 1877. 1877 Muhlenberg Hospital Certificate of Incorporation, May 10, 1877 Within two months of the passage of the 1877 New Jersey State Legislation, Plainfield had an incorporated hospital.

Notes: 1. Chapter 159, Laws of 1968, "An act to provide for a special charter for the city of Plainfield, in the County of Union." supersedes the charter of the city of Plainfield approved April 4, 1872. 2. "All ordinances and resolutions of the city, to the extent that they are not inconsistent with the charter, shall remain in full force and effect until repealed or amended pursuant to law." Chapter 159, Laws of 1968, Article VIII, 8.2(b). It is not known if the City Council ever passed and ordinance or resolution concerning Muhlenberg Hospital, but it is known that the City of Plainfield had a poor farm which was located at Rock and Myrtle Avenues. The question remains concerning the NJ State Legislation whether of not Article 6 of CIII of the Laws of 1877 was ever repealed or amended. The intent of the Article 6 of CIII, 1877, was to create transparency and prevent conflict of interest between the governoring body of a hospital and its employees.