Chapter XXI. to amend an Act entitled “An Act to incorporate a national military and naval Asylum, for the Relief of the totally disabled Officers and Men of the volunteer forces of the United States.”March 21, 1866.1865, ch. 91
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CHAP. XXI.— An Act to amend an Act entitled “An Act to incorporate a national military and naval Asylum, for the Relief of the totally disabled Officers and Men of the volunteer forces of the United States.”March 21, 1866.1865, ch. 91.Vol. xiii. p. 509. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United“The National Asylum for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers” established. States of America in Congress assembled,* That the President of the United States, Secretary of War, Chief Justice of the United States, and such other persons as from time to time may hereafter be associated with them, according to the provisions of this act, are hereby constituted and established a board of managers of an establishment for the care and relief of the disabled volunteers of the United States army, to be known by the name and style of “The National Asylum for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers,” and have perpetual succession, with powers to take, hold, andPowers, &c. convey real and personal property, establish a common seal, and to sue and be sued in courts of law and equity; and to make by-laws, rules, and regulations for carrying on the business and government of the asylum, and affix penalties thereto: *Provided,* That such by-laws, rules, and regulations are not inconsistent with the laws of the United States.
Sec. 2. *And be it further enacted,* That the business of said asylumBusiness of the asylum, how managed. shall be managed by a board of twelve managers, who shall elect from their own number a president, who shall be the chief executive officer of the board, two vice-presidents, and a secretary; and seven of the board, of whom the president or one of the vice-presidents shall be one, shallOfficers, quorum. form a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the board.
Sec. 3. *And be it further enacted,* That the board of managers shall beBoard of managers; their residence, mode of election, term of office.1867, ch. 1.Vol. xv. p. 1. composed of the President and Secretary of War and Chief Justice of the United States, ex officio, during their terms of office, together with nine other citizens of the United States, not members of Congress, no two of whom shall be residents of the same State, but who shall all be residents of States which furnished organized bodies of soldiers to aid in the late war for the suppression of the rebellion, (no person being ever eligible who gave aid or countenance to the rebellion,) to be selected by joint resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives immediately after the passage of this act.
The term of office shall be for six years, and until others are appointed in their places, after the first election, which shall be of three for six years, three for four years, and three for two years, to be determined by the order in which they shall be named in the resolution. New elections shall be made by joint resolution of Congress,New elections and vacancies. and vacancies by death, resignation, or otherwise, to be filled in like manner. No member of the board of managers shall receive any compensationMembers, as such, not to be paid, except for expenses. may be paid for other duties. as such member; but his travelling and other actual expenses while upon the business of the asylum may be paid.
But any member of the board having other duties connected with the asylum may receive a reasonable compensation therefor, to be determined by the board. Sec. 4. *And be it further enacted,* That the board of managers shall have authority to procure for early use, at suitable places, sites for militarySites for asylums may be procured, and buildings erected. asylums for all persons serving in the army of the United States at any time in the war of the rebellion not provided for by existing laws, who have been or may hereafter be disqualified for procuring their own maintenance and support by reason of wounds received or sickness contracted while in the line of their duty during the present rebellion, and to have the necessary buildings erected, having due regard to the health of location, facility of access, and capacity to accommodate the persons provided for in this act.
Sec. 5. *And be it further enacted,* That for the establishment and supportAppropriations for support of asylum. of this asylum there shall be appropriated all stoppages or fines adjudged against such officers and soldiers by sentence of court-martial or military commission, over and above the amounts necessary for the reimbursement of the Government or of individuals; all forfeitures on account11 of desertion from such service; and all moneys due such deceased officers and soldiers, which now are or may be unclaimed for three years after the death of such officers and soldiers, to be repaid upon the demand of the heirs or legal representatives of such deceased officers or soldiers.
And the said board of managers are hereby authorized to receive all donationsDonations may be received. of money or property made by any person or persons for the benefit of the asylum, and to hold or dispose of the same for its sole and exclusive use. Sec. 6. *And be it further enacted,* That the officers of the asylum shallOfficers of asylum: appointment, removal, &c. consist of a governor, a deputy governor, a secretary, and a treasurer, and such other officers as the board of managers may deem necessary, to be appointed from disabled officers serving as before mentioned, and they may be appointed and removed from time to time, as the interests of the institution may require, by the board of managers.
Sec. 7. *And be it further enacted,* That the following persons only shallWho entitled to benefits of the asylum, and how admitted. be entitled to the benefits of the asylum, and may be admitted thereto, upon the recommendation of three of the board of managers, namely: All officers and soldiers who served in the late war for the suppression of the rebellion, and not provided for by existing laws, who have been or may be disabled by wounds received or sickness contracted in the line of their duty; and such of these as have neither wife, child, nor parent dependent upon them, on becoming inmates of this asylum, or receiving relief therefrom, shall assign thereto their pensions when required by the board of managers, during the time they shall remain therein or receive its benefits.
Sec. 8. *And be it further enacted,* That the board of managers shallBoard to make annual report; to audit accounts of treasurer, and visit the asylum quarterly. make an annual report of the condition of the asylum to Congress on the first Monday of every January after the passage of this act; and it shall be the duty of the said board to examine and audit the accounts of the treasurer and visit the asylum quarterly. Sec. 9. *And be it further enacted,* That all inmates of the asylum shallInmates subject to rules and articles of war. be, and they are hereby, made subject to the rules and articles of war, and will be governed thereby in the same manner as if they were in the army of the United States.
Sec. 10. *And be it further enacted,* That the managers of the asylumManagers may give out-door relief in certain cases. shall have power and authority to aid persons who are entitled to its benefits by out-door relief in such manner and to such extent as they may deem proper, provided such relief shall not exceed the average cost of maintaining an inmate of the asylum. Sec. 11. *And be it further enacted,* That so much of the act to whichRepeal of law establishing naval asylum in connection with this, &c. this is an amendment as provides for the establishment of a naval in connection with a military asylum, and so much of said act as provides that all stoppages of fees adjudged against naval officers and seamen by sentence of courts-martial or military commission, all forfeitures on account of desertions from the naval service, and all moneys due to deceased naval officers and seamen which are or may be unclaimed for three years after the death of such officers or seamen, shall be appropriated for the establishment of the asylum contemplated and provided for by this act and the act of which it is amendatory, be, and the same is hereby, repealed.
Sec. 12. *And be it further enacted,* That all the property of the UnitedProperty of the United States at Point Lookout, Maryland, to belong to asylum, when, &c. States now at Point Lookout, St. Mary’s county, Maryland, shall become the property of the asylum so soon as a title to the satisfaction of the board of managers shall be made to the asylum of at least three hundred acres of land, including that on which said property of the United States is now built and maintained or held.*Post*, p. 564.
Sec. 13. *And be it further enacted,* That Congress may at any timeAct may be altered, &c. hereafter alter, amend, or repeal this act. Approved, March 21, 1866.