New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-13
OF H ICIA L.
Laws Of the United States Passed at the
Third Session of the Foriy.Second
r.nnHreaa.

Congress.
GENERAL NATURE-No. III
An act to provide for the establishment O
military prison, and for its govern
| ment.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o
Representative Of the United States O
] America in Congress assembled, That Their,
| shall be established at Rock Island, in the
| State OF Illinois, prison for the cOntine
| ment and reformation of offenders agains
| the rules, regulations and laws for the gov
| ernmeDt of the army OF the L nited States,
| in which shall be securely confined, anC
employed at labor. and governed in thu
| manner hereinafter directed. all offender.
| convicted before any court martial or mill
| tary commission in the United States. anC
sentenced according to law :o!mp.!sonnel
| therein.
| SEC. 2. That the Secretary Of War shall
| organiza a board Of five members, ~ con
sist OF three officers Of the army and two
persons from civil life. who shall adopt q
| plan for the building of such prison. and
who shall frame regulations for the gov
| eminent OF the prisoners, in accordance
with the provisions of this act. The said
commissioners from civil life shall hold
! their offices for the term of three years, and
shall be paid five dollars day while on duty
| and necessary travelling expenses: and the
| said officers of the army shall. at all times,
| be subject to removal by the Secretary OF
| War.
SEC. 3. Tha. the Secretary of War shall
| with said commissioners, semi.annually,
| and as much oftener as may oe deemed
! expedient. visit said prison for the purposes
of examination, inspection. and correction;
and they shall inquire into all abuses
or neg le.ts' Of duty on the part of the Of
ticers o: other persons in charge of the
same ,anL max" such changes in the general
! discipline OF thu prison a. they may hold
80 be essential.
SEC. 4. That the officers OF the prison
shall consist of commandment and such
! subordinate officers as may be necessary. /,
! chaplain, . surgeon. and clerk, who shall
be detailed by the Secretary OF War from
the commissioned officers of the army: and
sufficient humber of enlisted men shall!
be detailed by the Secretary of War TO act
as turnkeys, guards and assistants in the
prison.
SEC. >. That one Of the inspectors Of che
army shall. at least once in three months,
visit the prison for the purpose of examining
into the books and all the affairs thereof.
and ascertaining whether the laws, rules,
and regulations relating thereto are com
piled with. the officers are competent and
faithful, and the cOnvicts properly gov.
erned and employed, and at the same time
treated with humanity and kindness. And
it shall be the duty OF The inspector. at
once, to make full gepor: thereof to the
Secretary of War.
SEC. 6. That before the eomrnandant en-.
ters upon the duties of his office he shall
give bond, with sufficient sureties. in a SUN
10 be fixed by the Secretary of War. to be
approved by him. conditioned that he shall
faithfully account for all money placed in
his hands 20: the use of the prison and tor
the faithful discharge OF al! his duties as
commandant. He shall have command of
the prison: shall nave the charge and EN-.
plOyment OF the prisoners, and the custody
of all the property of the government con.
nected with the prison. He shall receive
and pay out all money used for the prison,
and shall cause to be kept. in suitable
books, completes accounts of all the proper.
ty, expenses, income. business and concerns
of the prison; and shall make full and
regular reports thereof to the Secretary of
War: and shalt. under the direction and
with the approval OF the Secretary OF War,
employ. for the benefit OF the United States.
the convicts at such labor and III such
trades as may be deemed best for their
health and reformation. He shall have
power to sell and dispose o: any articles
manufactured by the convic:s. and shall
regularly account for the proceeds thereof,
and shall give bond and security tor the
faithful keeping and accounting of all
moneys and property coming TO his hands
as such commandment. He shall, take note
and make record of the good conduct of
the cOnvicts. and shall shorten the daily
time OF hard labor for those who by their
obedience. honesty. industry. or general
good conduct. earn such Iavors: and the
Secretary Of War is authorized and directed
TO remit, IN part. the sentences OF such
Gonvlcts, and to give them an honorable
restoration to duty in case the same is
merted: and in case any convict shall dis.
obey the lawful orders 81 the officers OF the
prison. and refuse to comply with
the rules and regulations thereof.
he may be placed in solitary confinement.
and the commandment shai! AZ once report
the case to the Secretary OF War. who shall
direct the inspector To make :ul! examina.
ton and report of the matter at the next
inspection; but in no case shall. any prisoner
be subjected to whipping. branding, or the
carrying OF weights for The purpose of dis.
cipline, or for producing peni5ence: and
every prisoner. upon being discharged from
prison, shall be furnished with decent
SEC. T. That the Use Of newspapers and |
books shall not be denied the convicts at
times when not employed: and that un.
official visitors shall be admitted to the |
prison under such restrictions as the board !
Of commissioners may impose. The prison. |
lers shall not be denied the privilege of |
with their friends by let. |
,er, and from receividg like communica. |
ions from them, all of which shall be sub. |
ect to the inspection of the commandant, |
" such officer as he may assign to that I
luty.
Sec. 8. That the prisoners shall be sup.
'lied with ample and clean bedding. and
With whOlaaoma and utfic fnn1 h,t |
when In hospital or under discipline their
liet shall be prescribed by the proper
authority. The prison shall be suitably
'ehtllated, and each prisoner shall have a
weekly bath Of cold or tepid water. which
hall be applied to the whole surface of the
'ody, unless the surgeon shall direct other.
wise for the health of the prisoner.
SEC. g. That no officer OF the prison. or
Their person connected Herewith. shall be
oncerned or interested. directly or inui.
ectly. in any contract. purchase or sale
lade on account of the prison.
SEC. 10. That any officer who shall suffer
convict to escape, or shall in any way con.
emit to his escape, or shall aid him to escape,
r III an attempt to escape. shall. upon con.
lotion, be dismissed from the service. and
nffer such other punishment as a court
lartial may intiict.
SEC. IL. That any soldier o: other person
mployed in the prison. wac shall suffer |
onvlct to escape, or shalt in any way con.
ant to his escape or shall aid him to es.
ape, or In an attempt to escape. shall.
pom conviction by court martial. be con. |
ned therein not less than one year.
SEC. II. That all prisoners under contine-
tent in said military prison undergoing |
sntence OF courts martha! shall be liable |
trial cad punishment by courts martial
nde: the rules and articles of war tor
Fences committed during the said con.
nement.
Approved March 3. 1875.
iGENERAL NATURE-No. no!
n act to authorize and direct the Secra.
tarY of War To distr htlt a ar1nr