Kansas weekly herald., 1855-06-01
Public 75.7

AN ACT TO organize an Institution for the in.
sane of the army, and navy, and Of tho District
of Columbia, in the said District.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House Of Re
presentatives of United States Of America in
Congress assembled, That the title of the in
the Insane, and its objects shall be the most
humane care and enlightened curative treatment
of the insane Of the army AID navy OF the United
States, and Of the District Of Columbia.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That nine
citizens of the District Of Columbia, to be ap-
pointed by the President Of the q. s. shall const
tuts aboard Of Visitors of the said hospital. The
term of office of three of the nine visitors shall
expire the thirtiieth day Of Juno, eighteen hun
dred and ffty-seven, and biennially thereafter
on the same day of the year, when they shall be
re-appointed. or three other citizens appointed
in their stead. The order in which the terms
of office of the first nine appointees shall expire
shall be determined by lot and should any va
cancy occur by death, resignation, or otherwise,
such vacancy shall be filled by appointment fer
the unexpirsd term of such visitor. The Board
Of Visitors, subject to the approval Of the Seere-
tary of the Interior, may make any needful by.
laws for the government for themselves and OF
the superintendent, and his employees, and Of
the patients, not inconsistent with this act, nor
with the Constitution and laws Of the United
States; they shall visit the hospital at stated
periods, and exercise careful supervision
over its expenditures and general operations,
that the government and community may have
confidence in the correctness Of its management;
they shall make annually to the Secretary Of the
Interior report of the proceeding year ending
June thirtieth, setting forth she condition and
wants Of the institution. The Board shall elect
Of their number president, who shall preside at
their meetings for one year, or till successor Ii
elected; The Office Of visitor shall be honorary
and without compensation. M -
SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, that the
chief executive officer of the institution shall be
a super abundent to be appointed by the Secreta-
ry Of the Interior, and to receive SALARY or two
thousand five hundred dollars per annum. The
superintendent shall be we'll educated ply
sician, possessing ompetent experience In the
care and treatment of the insane he shall re-
side on the premises and devote his whole time
to the welfare of the Institution; he shall subject
to the approval of the visitors, engage and dis
charge all neeAful and usual employees in the
care of the insane, and all taborers on the farm,
and determine their wages and duties; ne SHALL
be the responsible disbnrsing agent OF the
institution, and shall be ex Office secretary ot
the Board Of Visitors; and he shall give bond Tor
the faithful psrformaneei OF his duties OUT as
| may be required by the Secretary OF TIE Interior.
SEC. a And be itifufthsf enacted, That the
order Of ths Secretary of War, aad thatof the Sc
sretary of the Navy, shall authorize the super
intendent to receive insaas persons belonging
i to the army and navy, respectively, and keep
| them in custody till they are cured, or remord
| by the same authority which ordered their re-
septioH. .Gglss sless =
Sec. S. And be it further enacted, That all
INDECENT insane persons residing in the District
| of CoIumbia, at the time they became insane,
shaII he entitled to the benefits of the institu-
| tien. and shall be admitted on the authority of
the Secretary of the Interior, which he may
grant after due process OF Law showing the per-