, 1855-11-09

CHAr. CXClX-An Act to organize an Irstitrtisr for
/ 9 insane oi the Amy ard Navy, ard Il tie Ds.
tri3t OF CUlaml ia, In the sad District.
BE enacted By the Senate Gld House Of Reorfsenf =
tres Of he UHiL Siftts Of .fH'rica ~ COBsrtss
assembled That the title Of the lust titn sh III e the
the Government Hospital 0r the Insane, AID its OH
jects shall be TIC mot humane care and enlightened
curative treatmct Of the n'anc ot the army aHd navy
VI tine United State', and OF the D trct Ot COumLa.
SEC. 2. .dnd be IL further end ted, That nine cit
zens of the District OF Columbia be nlqointed by
the President Of the United StIte- shall con-t tute
Board Of Visitors OF the raid hospital. The term o
Office Of three OF the nine vi ts shall expire lthel tr
teth day Of June, c Eighteen hundred ard hity~eycn
and belnaly thereafter the day OF the year,
when they shall he reapponed three other citizens
app1itd in their stead. The order In which the
terms Of office OF the int nine appointeos sha expire
shall be dt,rmned by lot /; and should any vacancy
by DEATH resignation otherwise such vacancy
shall be filled by appointment for the uncxpred term
of such visitor The Board Of Visitors, subject TO the
approval Of the Secretary Of the Interior, may make
any needful bylaws for the government Of themselves
and Of the perintendent and his employees and Of
.he patients, not Inconsistent with this act. nGr 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 gems
eral operations, that the government aud community
may have confidence In the correctness of it, manage
ment they shall make annually to the Secretary Of
the Interior report for the preceding year ending
June ttieth setting forth the condition and wants Of
the institution The Board shall elect Of their num-
Der president who shall preside at their meetings for
one year. or till successor Is elected. The oce Of
visitor shall be honorary and without compensation.
SEC. J. And be Il further snacffi, Tint the chief
executive officer Of the Institution shall he supefin-
tendent to be apppinted by the Secretary Of the lutte
rior, and tO receive salary Of two ;hnu d live hun.
dred dollars per annun. The superintendent sh.I lie
welledlcated physician, posseSsing conf petent ex.
perenee In tile care ard treatment NJ the insare he
shall reside on the premises, and devote his whole time
To the welfrc of tho institution he hal subject 10
the approval of the visitors engage and discharge all
nte tedul and usual employees la the Of the insane,
and laborcrs the farm, aud determine their wages
and duties lie shall he the responsible dEbnrsing
agent OF the institution and shall he ex oleo secret
~ Of the Board Of Visitors; and he shall give bond for
tie htithful ptrf rmanc-uf his dutcs in such and
with such securities as may Lc required by the Seerct
ry OF the Interior.
ssc. 1. Ani be IL Glftier ca7fisi. That the order
o. the Secretary of War and that of tho Secretary Of
the Navy, shall authorize the n receive
insane persrns belonging n the amy and navy, re-
pcctively, and keep them IN custody tlll they ave
cured CT removed by the authority which ordered
their reception.
sR,. S. And Be it further snaotcd That all lndgcnt
insane rernns residing In the District Of Colombia at
the lime they became insane, shall le entitled to
the benefits OF the institution and shall be admitted oa
the authority II the Secretary cf the IDteror, which
he may grant after due process Of law showing the per
son TO lie insane and unable 10 support himself Cor
herstlD and family, Tor themsclves II they have no
tainily) under the visitation Of insanity.
SEC. 7. Ani be ii fartksr enacted, That whenever
there arc vacancies, private patients from the Distric
may he received at rate Of board TO e determined y
the yit0s but to be In no case les than the actual
cost Of their support.
SEC. I. -ind be il further eno-tei That all apprp-
patos OF money by Congress for the support of the
institution shall be drawn from the treasury on the re-
quiton or the Secretary Of the Interior, and shall be
disbuned and accounted for in all respects arcardisg
% the laws regulating ordinary dbur emenis Of pub
lie money.
sEc. <. And b. 10 further erpaetc,I, That this act
shall take eert from and after the first day Of July
one thousand eight hundied ard h.tyGvc.
Approved, March }, 1855.