Chapter CXCIX. *to organize an Institution for the Insane of the Army and Navy, and of the District of Columbia, in the said District.* March 3, 1855. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That the title of the institution Government hospi
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Chap. CXCIX.— An Act *to organize an Institution for the Insane of the Army and Navy, and of the District of Columbia, in the said District.* March 3, 1855. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That the title of the institution Government hospital for the insane. Its object.shall be the Government Hospital for the Insane, and its objects shall be the most humane care and enlightened curative treatment of the insane of the army and navy of the United States, and of the District of Columbia.
Sec. 2. *And be it further enacted,* That nine citizens of the District Board of visitors.of Columbia, to be appointed by the President of the United States, shall constitute a Board of Visitors of the said hospital. The term of office of three of the nine visitors shall expire [the] thirtieth day of June, eighteen hundred and fifty-seven, and biennially thereafter on the same day of the year, when they shall be reappointed, or three other citizens appointed in their stead. The order in which the terms of office of the first nine appointees shall expire shall be determined by lot; and should any vacancy occur by death, resignation, or otherwise, such vacancy shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term of such visitor.
The Board Their power and duties.of Visitors, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, may make any needful by-laws for the government of themselves and of the superintendent, and his employees, and of the patients, not inconsistent with this act, nor with the Constitution and Jaws of the United States; they shall visit the hospital at stated periods, and exercise so careful a supervision over its expenditures and general operations, that the government and community may have confidence in the correctness of its management; they shall make annually to the Secretary of the Interior a report for the preceding year ending June thirtieth, setting forth the condition and wants of the institution.
The Board shall elect one of their number president, who shall preside at their meetings for one year, or till a successor is elected. The office of visitor shall be honorary and with out compensation. Superintendent. Sec. 3. *And be it further enacted,* That the chief executive officer of the institution shall be a superintendent, to be appointed by the Secretary Salary.of the Interior, and to receive a salary of two thousand five hundred dollars per annum. The superintendent shall be a well-educated physician, possessing competent experience in the care and treatment of the insane;
Duties.he shall reside on the premises, and devote his whole time to the welfare of the institution; he shall, subject to the approval of the visitors, engage and discharge all needful and usual employees in the care of the insane, and all laborers on the farm, and determine their wages and duties; he shall be the responsible disbursing agent of the institution, and shall be ex officio secretary of the Board of Visitors; and he shall give bond for the faithful performance of his duties, in such sum and with such securities as may be required by the Secretary of the Interior.
Reception of insane on order. Sec. 4. *And be it further enacted,* That the order of the Secretary of War, and that of the Secretary of the Navy, shall authorize the superintendent to receive insane persons belonging to the army and navy, respectively, and keep them in custody till they are cured, or removed by the same authority which ordered their reception. THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS. Sess. II. Ch. 200, 201. 1855. 683 Sec. 5. *And be it further enacted,* That all indigent insane persons Residents of District of Columbia, entitled to privileges of the hospital.residing in the District of Columbia at the time they became insane, shall be entitled to the benefits of the institution, and shall be admitted on the authority of the Secretary of the Interior, which he may grant after due process of law showing the person to be insane and unable to support himself (or herself) and family, (or themselves, if they have no family) under the visitation of insanity.
Sec. 6. *And be it further enacted,* That whenever there are vacancies, Private patients may be received.private patients from the District may be received at a rate of board to be determined by the visitors, but to be in no case less than the actual cost of their support. Sec. 7. *And be it further enacted,* That all appropriations of money Appropriations to be drawn on requisition of Secretary of the Interior.by Congress for the support of the institution, shall be drawn from the treasury on the requisition of the Secretary of the Interior, and shall be disbursed and accounted for in all respects according to the laws regulating ordinary disbursements of public money.
Sec. 8. *And be it further enacted,* That this act shall take effect from Act to take effect July 1, 1855.and after the first day of July, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five. Approved, March 3, 1855.