Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-07-24
[PUBLIC-NO. l03.

- - =
TPUBIC-No. l03.
AN ACT to incorporate the guardian society
and reform juvenile offenders in the Dis
trict of Columbia.
Be it enacted by the senate and house of
representatives of the United States in con-
gress assembled, that Amos Kendall, John NJ
Brodhead, Zenas C. Robbins, Sayles j. Bow
en-, Nehemiah B. Northrop, Benjamin b.
French, Joseph Bryan, Peter NJ. Higinboth-
am, Thomas c. Jenner, David w. Heath,
james r. Barr, Matthew Waite, Samuel \.
II. McKim, John r. Nourse, and Stephen
PrentisS and their associates and successors
being members of said society, by paying into
its treasury the sum of two dollars annually,
or life members, by paying fifty dollars
at one time, and ten dollars annually, for
six years, are hereby incorporated and
made a body polite by the name of the
guardian society" for the purpose of en-
couraging and aiding impartially such of the
poor, the ignorant, and the vicious, as can be
induced to make such efforts as they oSght for
the improvement of their condition, and by
that name shall have perpetual succession,
with the power to use common seal, to sue
and be sued, to plead and to be impleaded in
any court of the United States to collect sub
scriptions, make bylaws and rules needful
for the government of said corporation not
repugnant to the laws of the United States;
may have, hold, and receive real and person
al estate, by purchase, gift, or devise; may
use, sell, or convey the same for the purposes
and benefit Of said corporation; may choose
such officers and teachers as they may deem
necessary; prescribe their duties, and fix
their compensation.
See. 3. And be it further enacted that they
may, at their discretion, receive into house
f,f laI
nors, under the age of eighteen years, who
shall be convicted of any crime, ofense, or
msdemeanor, other than such as are capital
Or punishable by imprisonment for life: and
such persons shall be committed by the court
or magistrate before whom the conviction
shall be had. to said house of industry. with
an alternate sentence to the Jail or peniten-
tiary Of the District of Columbia if the trus-
tee decline to receive or keep Them and to
the commitments shall be annexed the names
and residences of the witnesses examined,
and the substance OF the evidence given.
Sect. 3. And be it further enacted that the
court may, with the consent of accused per-
sons, or their parents or guardians in writing,
arrest proceedings at any time and commit
them to the house of industry.
Sect. T. And be it further enacted that the
trustees NAV receive any children Mt the re-
quest of the parents or guardians. or next
friend. or the mother. if the father be dead or
has abandoned his family. or does not provide
for their support, or is an habitual drunkard;
such parents, guardians. or next friend. or
mother. making a written surrender of such
children.
Sect. 5. And be it further enacted, that the
trustees shall not be required to receive anv
offenders known to be extremely vicious, nor
to keep any who NAV prove incorripible. or
whose continuance may be deemed Injurious;
and those whom any two of the trustees or
the superintendent if duly authorized bv the
board, shall refuse to receive or keen shall he
disposed of according to their alternate SEN
fences.
Sect. 6. And be it further enacted. that per
sons committed as witnesses, and those under
the age of eighteen wears committed for trial.
shall be placed in the house of industry in
stead of the iail or penitentiarv. unless they
are so vicious that placing them in if sbould lie
deemed injurious.
Sect 7. And be it further enacted that no
commitment shall be for a shorter term than
until the offender is reformed or twentv-one
wears Of are except such as may be commit
ted for trial as witnesses. but any of then,
who NAV be deemed to be thoroughly re-
formed, may be discharged during good beha.
vior, on the order of the board of trustees,
duly entered upon their record.
Sect. s. And be it further enacted that the
superintendent may, with the concurrence Of
the board Of trustees, govern the inmates,
preserve order, enforce discipline, impart in
struction in the veneration and love of God,
in morality, useful knowledge, and some reg
MAR course Of labor and establish rules 4or
the preservation of health and their proper
physical, intellectual. and moral training. I'M
iii they are reformed and DISCHARGED. or TWEEN
ty-one wears of ace. or remanded as incorrig-
lille. The trustees NAV hind ont, with tbeir con
sent Inv indentnre anv Who NAV annear to he
reforned ,rhoro ta,, Iii - thp horo4it
of good ev"mn1o ,rh1Iosa,,,a i,,s+,,,lt;o, and
otber means IF ;,nnro,,on,or+ i, ,,irt,o and
Lnn,rleJga and the nynn-t,,,i++, of Ioaor,ilC,
intelIi@ent moral and psefi ,3e,hers Of SO
ciat,- Tbav NAV annoint a co,,,nnittoo "a ono
or more of their own nnrnber 70 ayecnto and
deliver indantnres which shall ho fleJ and
kont in the office If the bonse of indnstrv
M, ;,+a,,dort ,,,,, Ia l,+ ;n,,,at,e =;
hire dnring the day time to emnIovers whose
work is not too distant from the house of in
dustrv for him 70 have the general nsnection