The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-11-01

OI the expenses OF CnlS commission, he Snail
pay to the said William B. Dodd.
Approved, July 1, 1862.
CHAP. CXXV.s
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 of
America in Congress assembled, That Amos
Kendall John M. Broadhead, Zenas c. Rob
bins, Saylcs J. Bowen, Nehemiah B. North
rup, Benjamin B. French, Joseph Bryan,
Peter n. Higinbotham, Thomas G. Jenner,
David w. Heath, james r. Barr, Matthew
Waite, Samuel A. III. McKim, j. 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 time, or ten dollars
annually, for six years, are hereby lncorpo-
rated and made body polite by the name
of the " Guardian Society" for the purpose of
encouraging and aiding impartially such of
the poor, the ignorant, and the vicious, as
can be induced to make such efforts as they
ought for the improvement of their condi-
ton and by that name shall have perpetual
succession, with the power to use common
seal, to sue and be sued, to plead and be i'm
to collect subscriptions, make bylaws and
rules needful for the government of said cor
poration not repugnant to the laws of the
United States may have, hold, and receive
real and personal 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.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That
they may, at their discretion, receive into a
house of industry provided by said society
any minors, under the age of eighteen years,
who shall be convicted of any crime, offence,
or misdemeanor, other than such are capi-
tai or punishable by Imprisonment for life
and such person[sl shall be committed by
the court, or magistrate before whom the con-
viction shall be had. to said house of indus
try, with an alternate sentence to the Jail or
penitentiary of the District of Columbia if
the trustees 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.
Sec 8. And be it further enacted, That
the court may, with the consent of accused
persons, or theirparents or guardians in writ
ing, arrest proceedings at any time, and COM
NIT them to the house of industry.
Sec 4. And be it further enacted, That
the trustees may receive any children at the
request 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 written surrender
of such children.
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That
the trustees shall not be required to receive
any offenders known to be extremely vicious,
nor to keep any who may prove incorrigible,
or whose continuance may be deemed injuri-
Gus and those whom any two of the trustees
or the superintendent, if duly authorized by
the board shall refuse to receive or keep,
shall be disposed of according to their alter
nate sentences.
Sec 6. And be it further enacted, That
persons committed as witnesses, and those
under the age of eighteen years committed
for trial, shall be placed in the house of in
dustry instead of the Jail or penitentiary, un-
less they are so vicious that placing them in
it should be deemed injurious
Sec T. And he it further enacted, That
no commitment shall be for a shorter term
than until the offender is reformed or twenty
one years of age, except such as may be COM
mitted for trial or as witnesses but any OF
them who may be deemed to be thoroughly
reformed may be discharged during good be-
havior, on the order of the board of trustees
Sec g. 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 re-
gular course of labor, and establish rules for
the preservation of health and their proper
physical, intellectual, and moral training,
until they are reformed and discharged or
twenty-one years of age, or remanded as in
cOrrigible. The trustees may bind out, with
their consent, by indenture, any who may
appear to be sufficiently reformed, where they
will have the benefit of good example, whole
some instruction, and other means of i'm
provement in virtue and knowledge, and the
opportunity of becoming intelligent, moral,
and useful members of society. They may
appoint committee of one or more of their
own number to execute and deliver linden
tures which shall be filed and kept in the
Office of the house of industry. The super
intendent may let out inmates to hire during
the daytime to employers whose work is not
too distant from the house of industry for
him to have the general inspection of their
conduct and the treatment they receive.
Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That il
any apprentices, prove untrustworthy and un-
reformed, the trustees may, at their discretion,
permit their return, and order the indentures
cancelled. Fugitives from the house of in
dustry, or from apprenticeship, may be ar
rested and returned to the house of industry
by sheriff. constable, police officer, or an
officer of the house of industry, on the writ
ten order of any two of the trustees or the
superintendent.
Sec TO- And be it further enacted That
persons under the age of eighteen years shall
be entitled to private examination and
trial, if they request it in writing, at which
only the parties shall be admitted, theii
parents, guardians, or other legal represents