Squatter sovereign., 1855-08-14
BY AUTHORITY.
Laws of the United States.
Public 1ee.

Public 199.
AN ACT to organise an institution for the In
sane OF the army and Navy, and of the Dis
trict of Columbia, in said District.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Re-
presentatives Of the United States of America
in Congress assembled. That the title OF the in
stitution shall be the Government hospital for
the Insane, and its objects shall be- the most hui
name care and enlightened curative treatment
OF the insane of the army and navy of the Uni
ted States, and of the District of Columbia.
SFc 2. And be it further enacted That nine
citizens OF the District of Columbia, to be ap-
pointed by the President of the United States,
shall constitute board of visitors of said hos
pital. The term Of office of three of the nine
visitors shall expire the thrtieth day Of June.
eighteen hundred and ffty-seven, and bieniaily
thereafter on the same day of the year, when
they shall be re-appointed, or three other citi-
Zens appointed in their stead. The order in
which the terms of Office of tie first nine ap-
poihtees shall expire shall be determined BY lot;
and should any vacancy occur By death. resig-
nation, or otherwise, such vacancy shall be fill
ed by appointment for the unexpred term OF
such visitor. The Board of Visitors, subject
TO the approval of the Secretary Of the Interior.
make any needful bylaws for the government
Of themselves and of the superintendent, and
mis- employees, and of the patients, not incon-
sistent with this act, nor with the Constitution
and laws Of the United States they shall visit
the hospital at stated periods, and exercise so
general operations, that the government and
community may have confidence in the correct
hess OF its management; they shall make an
nually to the Secretary of the Interior report
for the preceding year ending June thirtieth,
setting forth the condition and wants of the in
stitution. The Board shall elect one of their
number president, who shall preside at their
meetings for one year. or till a successor is
elected. The office of visitor shall be honorary
and without compensation.
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the
chief executive officer of the Institution shall
be superintendent, to be appointed by the Sec
retary of the Interior, and to receive salary
of two thousand five hundred dollars per an
mum. The superintendent shall be d wel-edu-
Gated physician, possessing competent expert
enee in the care and treatment of the insane
he shall reside on the premises, and devote his
whole time to the welfare the Institution
he SHALL subject to the approval of his visitors,
engage and discharge all needful and usual en-
yioyees in the care of the insane, and all labor
ers on the farm, ,eand determine their wages and
duties; he shall be the responsible disbursing
agent of the Institution, and shall be eX oiicio
secretary of the Board of Visitors and he shall
give bend for the faithful performance of his
duties, in such sum and with such securities as
may be required by the Secretary of the Inte-
rior.
SEC. d. And be 4 further enacted, That the
order OF the Secretary OF War, and that of the
Secretary of the Navy, shall authorise the SUI
pefIntSTdent TO receive insane persons belong |
ing to the army and navy, respectively, and keep
them in custody till they are cured, or removed
by the same authority which ordered their re-
ception.
SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That all |
indigsRt insane persons residing in tha District
Of Columbia at the time they were insane, shall
be entissd to the benefits of the institution, and
shall be admitted On tbs authority of tha Sec
Tst.ry Of the Interior, which he may grant nf-
ter dire process OF Law showing the person to
be insane and unable TO support himself Cor
herself) and family, Cor themselves, if they
have no family, under the visitation of insan-
ity.
SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That when |
ever there are vacancies, private patients from
the District may be received at rate of board
to be determined by the visitors, but to be in no
case less than the actual cost of their support.
SEC. Z. And be it further enacted, That all
appropriations of money by Congress for the
support of the institution, shall be drawn from
the treasury on the requisition of the Secretary |
of the Interior, and shall be disbursed and ac-
counted for in all respects according to the laws
regulating the ordinary disbursement of money. |
SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That this |
act shall take effect from and after the first day
of July, one thousand eight hundred and fifty
five.