Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-06-07
LAWS OF low a.
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY.
CHAPTER 1873.
CHAPTER 1S3.
AN ACT to protect the Insane.

AN ACT to protect the insane.
SECTION /. Be it enacted by tho Gen
eral Assembly Of the State Of Iowa, That
there shall be a Visiting Compittee of
three appointed by the Governor, to
visit the Insane Asylums Of the State at
their discretion, with power to send for
persons and papers, and to examine wit
nesses on oath, to ascertain whether any
Of the inmates arc improperly detained
in the Hospital, or unjustly placed there
and whether tie inmates are humanely
and kindly treated, with full power to
correct any abuses found to exist and
any injury inflicted upon the insane shall
be treated as an oficnsc, misdemeanor, or
crime, as the like offense would be re-
gardcd when inflicted upon any other
citizen outside of the insane asylums
They shall have power to discharge any
attendant or cmployo who is found to
have been guilty of misdemeanor, merit
ing such discharge; and in all these
trials for misdcmcanor, olliensc, or crime,
the testimony of patients shall be taken
and considered for what it is worth, and
no employee at the Asylum shall be
allowed to sit upon any jury before whom
these cases are tried. Said Committee
shall make an annual report to the Cover
nor of the State.
SEC. 2. The names of this visiting
committee, and their post-ofllce address,
shall be kept posted in every ward in the
asylum, and every inmate in the asylum
shall be allowed to write when and what
they please to this committee, and to any
other person they may choose.
Procided, The Superintendent may, if
he think proper, send letters addressed
to other parties, to the visiting commit
tee for inspection before forwarded to
the individual addressed. And any mem
Der of this committee who shall neglect to
heed the calls Of the patient to him for
protection, when proved to have been
needed, shall be deemed unfit for his
Office, and shall be discharged by the
Governor.
SEC 3. Each and every person, con-
fined in any insane asylum within the
Superintendent o. party having charge
Of such person at least once in each week
while so confined, with suitable materials
for writing, enclosing, sealing, and mail
ing letters: ProoidGd, They request the
same unless otherwise ordered by the
visiting committee, which order shall
continue in force until countermanded by
said committee. r.
SEC. 4. 1t is hereby made the duty
Of the Superintendent or party having
charge of any person under confinement
to receive, if requested to do so by the
person so confined, at least one letter in
each week without opening or reading
the same, and without delay to deposit it
in postoflice for transmit!al, by mail,
with proper postage stamp attached
thereto.
SEC. 5. 1t is hereby made the duty Of
the Superintendent, or party having
charge of any person confined on account
OF insanity to deliver to said person any
letter or writing to him or her directed,
without opening or reading the same:
Procidod This letter has been forwarded
by this Visiting Committee.
Sec. 6. In the event Of the sudden
and mysterious death Of any person SO
confined, a coroner's inquest shall be
held as provided for by law in other
cases.
SEC. T. Any person neglecting TO com.
ply with, or willfnlly and knowingly
violating any of the provisions of this
act, shall upon conviction thereof be
punished'by Imprisonment for not term
exceeding three years, or by fine not
exceeding one thousand dollars, or by
both fine and Imprisonment, in the dis
erection of the court, and by ineligibility
for this Office in future, and upon trial
had for such oflense, the testimony ofany
person, whether insane or otherwise,
shall be taken and considered for what
it is worth
SEC. s. At least one member Of said
committee shall visit the Asylum for the
Insane every month.
SEC. 8. That there shall be allowed as
salary Of such Visiting Committee, the
sum of FIVE dollars per day for the time
taken in visiting such Insane Asylums,
and the same mileage, rs is now by law
allowed members of the General Assem-
bly,.
And the disbursng officer Of such in
sane asylum, shall pay the per diem and
allowed such Visiting Commit,
tee under the provisions Of this act, and
each member of such Visiting Commit
tee shall certify under oath to such dis
bursting officer, the number of days he
has served, and the number ofmiles trav-
cled .H
SEC. 10. This act being deemed Of inn
mediate Importance, shall take effect and
be in force from and after two weeks pub
lication IN the Daily Iowa State Register