The board of surveyors of the city of Philadelphia, as elected and constituted under acts of assembly, be and the same is hereby invested with full authority to examine and finally confirm or reject all original plans and revisions of plans of the city of Philadelphia when the same have been made by direction of the council of the said city; and for the purpose of enabling the said board to carry out the intent of this act it is hereby authorized, through its presiding officer, to administer oaths and affirmations and hear testimony, and shall use a seal for all official papers.
53 P.S. § 16395