Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1894-05-17
Saint Maru's Beacon
CHAPTER e47.

CHATTER EAT.
An act to provide for the treatment and
cure CT habitual drunkards.
SECTION I. Be q enacted bg tie General
Assembly Of Maryland, That any inhabitant
Of this State who 10 Of kin 90 or friend Of
an habituai drunkard a. hereinafter defined,
may petition the Circuit Court ofthe coun-
~ Of the residence Of such drunkard or the
Circuit Court of Baltimore city ifsaid habi-
tuai drunkard resides therein, for leave to
send such drunkard At the expense Of said
county or city Of Baltimore 10 such institu-
ton Tor the medical treatment Of drunken
ness ss the said court may designate.
Which petition shall set forth the name,
age and cond ition OF such habitual drunk
ard aud that such dTunkard or those of his
kin petilioning are not financially able TO
incur tie expense Of his cure. and shall set
forth that said drunkard Is willing and viii
agree tci attend such institution for the cure
Of drunkenness; which petition shall be
verified by the person making such request,
and shall contain in addition thereto the
written agreement Of such habisual drunk.
ard 10 take such treatment and obey the
rules Of the institution administering the
same, and the names Of three taxpayers in
the county Of his residence, or Of Baltimore
City, II be resides therein, stating that they
are familiar with the facts set forth In the
petition, and that they are familiar with
the financial circumstances of such drunk
ard and of the petitionipg kin, and think 1t
q proper case for assistance from the Coun-
~ wherein the said habitual dTunksrd re-
sides, or Baltimore City II he resides there
In.
SEcrIos 2. When such petition Ii filed,
any Judge of the Circuit Courts referred 70
in section one; shall, II satisfied from ex-
animation that the facts set forth in the
petition are true and that the said drunk
ard has been a resident of the County or Of
Baltimore City for six months next pre-
ceding the application. and that such
drunkard of his own free will desires 20
take such treatment, send such habitual
drunkard 10 some institution for the cure
Of drunkenness; provided said institution
IL located in the State Of Maryland and
that the managers of such Institutions will
agree TO treat such patient for sum not
TO exceed 500, but such Court shall not
be compelled 10 send such habitual drunk
ard 10 any institution making a lower bid
than the sum herein specified, unless in
their judgment the best interest of such
drunkark shall be promoted thereby, and
the raid Judge Of the Circuit shall there
upon make an order that the expense Of
such treatment be paid out of the Treasury
OF the County or City of Baltimore, as the
case may be, in the same manner that
other claims against such County or City
of Baltimore for the administration of
Justice are paid, provided that no County
or the City of Baltimore shall be required
10 send the same habitual drunkard TO any
institution for the medical treatment of
drunkenness second time at its expenses.
SECTION 3. No provision Of this act
shall be at any time construed as in any
way abrogating, limiting or abolishing the
powers o: Judges of Circuit Courts under
Section AZ, Article 16 of the Code of Pub.
lie General Laws, providing for the c0m-
initial of inebriates.
SECTION 4. The officers Of whatever in
situations may be designated for the treat
ment of the habitual drunkards, payment
for whose cure is provided by this act, shall
become sworn officers of the Court COM
hitting said habitual crunkards to their
care, and shall have power 10 enforce such
reasonable rules as may be necessary for
the administration Of treatment TO the pa
tent provided for and created by this Act,
but they shall receive no fee or Compensa-
ton from any County or the City of Balti-
more other than the sum provided and
limited by Section Q. of this Act.
SECTION 5. A drunkard as mentioned
in the foregoing section of this act shall be
deemed TO include any person who has &C
quired the habit of using spirituous, malt
or fermented liquors, cocaine or other mar
cotics 10 such degree as 10 deprive him or
her of reasonable self-control
SECTION 9. And be il enacted that this
Act shall take effect from the date of its
passage.
10 Approved April 3, 1894.
FRANK BROWN, Governor.
JOHN WALTER SMITH,
President of the Senate
JAMES II. PRESTON,
Speaker of the House Of Delegates
We hereby certify that the aioregoing Is o
correct copy of an act of the General Assem-.
bly, of Maryland, passed January Session,
1894.
]. ROGER MCSHERRY,
Secretary of the Senate.
B. L. SMITH,
Chief Clerk Of the House Of Delegates.