The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-02
CHAP. CCXXXVIII.


CHAP. CCXXXVII.
An Act to establish in the District of Columbia
House of Correction for boys.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep
| resentatiyes of the United States of America in
Congress assembled, That there shall lie estab-
lished in the District of of Columbia on the tract
of land known as the government farm, a tit and
convenient house of correction, suitably and et-
ciently ventilated, with convenient yards, work
shops, and other suitable accommodations adj
joining or appurtcnant thereto, for the safe keep
ing, correction, governing, and employing of Of
Tenders legally committed thereto BY authority
of the courts and magistrates of the District OF
Columbia : Provided That the building already
erected on that land for the purpose of establish
ing similar instutiOn, together with all the 9th
CT property there collected for the purpose,
shall be transferred to the trustees appointed ac
cOrding to the provisions Of tbs act. at cost
not exceeding thousand five hundred dollars.
See 2. And be it further enacted, That the
goyerrme Of said institution shall be vested in
Il board of seven trustees, to be appointed ind
commissioned by the President of the United
States, one of whom shall be nominated for ap-
pointment by the mayor of Washington, one by
the mayor of Georgetown, one by the levy court
of the county Of Washington, and four by the
Secretary OF the Interior; and no trustee shall
receive Compensation for his services, but each
trustee shall be allowed the amount of expenses
necessarily incurred in the discharge of the duties
of his Office. The term of Office of the said trus-
tees shall be three years but the first appoint
ment of tue board of trustees two OF the MEM
bers shall be appointed for one year. two for two
years, and three for three years, to be detcrmin-
ed by the President.
See. [3. And be it further enacted, That the
said board of trustees shall be q corporation, by
the name Of the Trustees of the house of corpo-
ration for the District of Columbia, for the pur-
pose of taking and holding in trust, whatever
property may be conveyed, devised, donated, or
beQueathed for the benefit of said institution,
with all the power necessary to carry this pur-
pose into effect.
Sec. f. And be it further enacted, That it
shall be the duty of the said board of trustees to
take charge OF the general interests OF he insti-
tuition, they may appoint superintendent
steward, a teacher, or teachers, and such other
officers as may necessary, and may be approved
by the Secretary of the Interior; they may fix
the salaries of said officers subject to the appro
val OF the Secretary of the Interior: they may
prepare snch hy laws rs may be necessary to reg
ulate and direct the management of the inStitu-
ton, which however, shall not be valid until alD-
proved by the Secretary of the Interior; and to
exercise vigilant supervision over the insttu-
ton, its officers, and its inmates.
See. s. And be it further enacted. That be-
fore entering upon the duties of his Office the su
perintendcnt shall give bond to the trusccs,
with sureties to be approved by the board OF
trustees and by the Secretary of the Interior, in
the sum of three thousand dollars, conditioned
that he shall faithfully account for all money re-
ceived by him, and faithfully perform all the in
cumbent on him as superintendent of said house
of correction.
See. &. And be it further enacted That a
treasurer OF the institution shall be appointed by
the board of trustees, subject to the approval of
the Secretary OF the Interior, who shall, before
entering upon the duties OF Office, give a bond to
the trustees, with sureties to be approved by the
board of trustees and ny the Secretary of the In
terror, in the sum of five thousand dollars, condi
oned that he shall faithfully account for all the
money received by him as treasurer; and it shall
be his duty to keep clear and fui record of his
accounts as treasurer, and report an abstract of
the same to the chairman OF the board of trustees
-, aI-ar fTr-n, he
Sec. Z. And be it furter enacted, That as
soon after their appointment possible, the
board of trustees shall take measures to have the
land and building designated suitably prepared
for the use of said house of CORE ton and as
soon as the building and premises are prepared
for occupancy, the trustees shall give notice to
the proper authorities and courts of the cities of
Washington and Georgetown, and of the county
ofWas!IiBgton, that the house of correction is
ready to receive inmates.
Sec. S. And be it further enacted, That when
any boy under the age of fourteen years is found
guilty in a court of the District of Columbia of
any crime punishable By imprisonment for lifc
he shall be committed to the said house of cor
recton and there held in custody of the superin-
tendent for the term of his sentence; and when
any boy over fourteen and under sixteen years of
age shall be found guilty in court Of the Dis
trict of Columbia of any crime punishable by i'm
prisonment other than imprisonment for life, it
shall be the duty of the court trying the case to
consider carefully and decide whether he is or is
not fit subject for the house of correction, and
make its sentence accord with its decision ofthis
question.
superintendent shall reside at the institution con-
stantly, and that he. with such subordinate officers
may be appointed in accordance with the fourth
section OF this act, shall have charge and custody
of the boys; shall govern them in accordance
with such rules and regulations as the board of
trustees may prescribe in its bylaws; shall en-
ploy them in agricultural, mechanical, other
labor; shall give them instruction in reading,
writing, arithmetic geography, and such other
studies, and in such arts and trades as the trus-
tees may direct and shall employ such methods
Of discipline as will, as far as possible, reform
their characters, preserve their health promote
regular improvement in their [s]tudies, trades,
md employments, and secure in them fixed hab-
its OF religion, morality, and industy.
Sec. 10. And be it further enacted, That the
superintendent shall have charge of the lands,
furniture, tools, implements, stock
to the institution, within the precincts
hereof; and he shall keep in suitable books,
egular and complete accounts of all his receipts
md expenditures, and of all the property intruSt-
d. to show clearly the income and eXpen-
es of the institution and he shall account to the
reasurer, in such manner as the trustees may
,rescibe, for all the money received by him from
he proceeds of the institution or otherwise and
e snail keep a register of the names and ages of
IL boys committed to the institution, with the |
ates or their admission and discharge, and such |
PARTICULARS OF their history before and after leav
no the institution as he can obtain. His books |
cction, shall at all times be open to the inspcc-
ion of the trustees, who shall once or more in
very three months carefully examine his ac-
cunts and vouchers and documents connected |
herewith, and make record of the resnlt of
Ich examination.
Sec IL. And be it further enacted, That all
Ontracts on account of the institution shall be
lade by the superintendent, and, when approved
the trustees if their bylaws shall require their
pproval, shall be binding in law, and the super \
ltendent, or his successor, may or be sued !
lereon to final judgment and execution ; and no !.
lit shall abate by reason of the Office becoming
acant during the tendency of such suit, but amy
lccessor in the Office shall assume the prosecu-
on or defence ofany suit, and continue the pros
'ution or defence until such suit shall be con-
uded.
Sec. IL. And be it further enacted, That one
more of the trustees shall visit the said house
correction, once, at least in every two weeks,
which time the condition of the same shall be
refully examined and the register inspected; a
cord of the visits shall be kept in the books of
e superintendent; once in every three months
e institution shall be thoroughly examined in
its departments by not less than three of the
ustees, and report of such examinations shall
made to the board and an abstract of the re-
'rts, together with full annual reports of the
perintendent and the treasurer, shall be pre-.
nted to the Secretary of the Interior on or be
re the fifteenth QaV OF November in each yeHr