Chapter CLXI. * to establish a System of Deposits, to prevent Desertion, and elevate the Condition of the Hank and File of the Army.*May 15, 1872. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That any enlisted man of the Enlisted men of the army
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CHAP. CLXI.— An Act * to establish a System of Deposits, to prevent Desertion, and elevate the Condition of the Hank and File of the Army.*May 15, 1872. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That any enlisted man of the Enlisted men of the army may deposit savings with army pay-masters.army may deposit his savings, in sums of not less than five dollars, with any army paymaster, who shall furnish him a deposit-book, in which shall be entered the name of the paymaster and of the soldier, and the amount, date, and place of such deposit.
The money so deposited shall be accountedDeposits forfeitable by desertion, but not by sentence of court martial; for in the same manner as other public funds, and shall pass to the credit of the appropriation for the pay of the army, and shall not be subject to forfeiture by sentence of court-martial, but shall be forfeited by desertion, and shall not be permitted to be paid until final payment on discharge, or to the heirs or representatives of a deceased soldier, and that such deposit be exempt from liability for such soldier’s debts : *Provided*, That the government shall be liable for the amount deposited to the person so depositing the same.
Sec. 2. That for any sums of not less than fifty dollars so deposited forInterest, when allowable. the period of six months, or longer, the soldier, on his final discharge, shall be paid interest at the rate of four per centum per annum. Sec. 3. That the money value of all clotliing overdrawn by the soldierClothing over-drawn to be charged to soldier; beyond his allowance shall be cliarged against him, every six months, on the muster-roll of his company, or on his final statements if sooner discharged.
The amount due him for clothing, be having drawn less than his allowance, shall not be paid to him until his final discharge from theamount due, not to be paid until, &c. service. Sec. 4. That the system of deposits herein established shall be carriedSystem of deposits, how put in execution. into execution under such regulations as may be established by the Secretary of War. Sec. 5. That the amounts of deposits and clothing balances accumulatedAmounts of deposits, &c., to be paid from what appropriation. to the soldier’s credit under the provisions of sections one and three of this act shall, when payable to the soldier upon his discharge, be paid out of the appropriations for “pay of the army” for the then current fiscal year.
Sec. 6. That all acts and parts of acts inconsistent with the provisionsRepealing clause. of this act are hereby repealed. Approved, May 15, 1872.