Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-12
DECIDES UPON CHANGE
COMMISSIONERS SUGGEST AN
AMENDMENT TO Law,
Governing Apprehension and Detention
Of the TRANSFORMATIONS Of
Proposed Measure.

Commissioner mcfarland. after consulta-
ton with the corporation counsel, the
health officer the sanitary officer and the
secretary of the board of charities. as to
improvements to be made in the law for
the apprehension and detention Of insane
persons in the District of Columbia. has
recommended to the Commissioners the
draft of a new bill. to be presented to Con-
gress for that purpose. 1t embodies the
best features Of bills heretofore proposed.
and authorizes temporary commitments to
the Government Hospital for the Insane or
to any other similar hospital for the in
sane or to any other hospital in the Dis
trict, which, In the judgment of the health
officer. is properly constructed and equip
ped for the reception and care Of such per-
sons. until transferred to the Government
Hospital for the Insane.
The bill provides that any member OF the
police force, or any other officer in the
District authorized to make arrests, be au-
thorized to apprehend and detain. without
warrant any insane person or person or
unsound mind, found on any street or in
any public build ng within the District,
and to file Immediately with the superin-
tendent OF police an affidavit stating that
he believes the person detained to be or
unsound mind. and that the superintendent
shall notify the husband or wife or some
near relative Of the person apprehended,
- AAAi"'H " ihtii, VI THO uS1cHCfOu.
Authority Conferred.
Section provides that the superintendent
Of police be authorized to order the appre-
hension and detention without warrant of
any INDECENT person alleged to be insane
In the District, upon the affldavIts of two
or more responsible residents of the Dis
trict, stating their belief in the insanity of
the person complained of. and upon the
q OF IL.
that they have examined the person alleged
to be In insane and that such person should
not be allowed to remain at liberty
section 3 authorizes the Commissioners to
place In the Government Hospital for the
insane for period not exceeding thirty
Gays, INDECENT persons alleged to be Of un-
sound mind. found within the District and
detained as provided in the previous seq
uons or the act. pending the formal commit
ment or the persons or their transporta ton
to their homes when their places of resi-
dence are ascertained by the proper Of
ficials.
In section the Commissioners are en-
powered to order the temporary commit
ment OF alleged insane persons in any other
hospital which the health officer may deem
properly constructed and equipped for the
care or such persons. or that any alleged in
sane person may be detained in any police
station or house Of detention pending the
completion of arrangements for his or her
temporary detention In the government hos
pitai or any other hospital.
Regarding Certificates.
Section and provide as follows:
That for the purposes of this act no
certificate as to the sanity or the insanity
of any person shall be valid which has
been issued Gay by physician who has not
been regularly licensed to practice medt-
cine In the District Of Columbia unless he
be commissioned surgeon of the United
states army, navy or public health and ma
rine hospital service. or 90 by a physician
who Is not permanent resident of the
District of Columbia, or (c) by a physician
who has not been actively engaged in the
practice OF his profession for at least three
years, or I'D by physician who Is related
by blood or by marriage to the person
shall any certificate alleging the insanity
of any person be valid which has been
issued by physician who Is financially in
terested in the hospital or asylum In which
the alleged insane person Is to be confined
or who Is professionally or officially con-
nected herewith
THAT any person who makes an affidavit
as required by section or of this act by
which he or she secures or attempts to Sc
cure the apprehension, detention or re-
straint of any other person in the District
of Columbia without probable cause for be-
lieving such person to be insane or of I'M
sound mind. or any physician who know
ingly makes any false certificate as to the
sanity or insanity Of any other person shall
upon conviction thereof be fined not more
than $500 or imprisoned not more than three
years, or both"