Guardians, &c. person, appointed the committee of a lunatic, or the guardian of a minor or lunatic, by the proper authority in any state or territory of the United of lunatics may act within the States, to institute and prosecute to final judgment any suit or action District of Coin the courts of the District of Columbia, as he might have done if his lumbia. authority as such guardian or committee had been derived from the proper tribunals of said district; and such committee or guardian may in the same manner collect and receive any sum of money due to such lunatic or minor, and may by deed, duly executed, release and convey to any party entitled to the same, whether by purchase or otherwise, any lands or estates situated in the District of Columbia, the property of such lunatic or minor, or to or upon which such lunatic or minor may have a claim or mortgage, in the same manner as he might have done if his authority had been derived from the tribunals of said district: Provided, That such Proviso. committee or guardian, before making any conveyance of real estate or release of claim, or mortgage thereon, shall file in the orphans' court of said district the official certificate of the judge of the court from which such committee or guardian derived his appointment, that he has given a sufficient bond to account to the minor or lunatic for all sums of money received by virtue of the authority conferred by this act. Former pay SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That all payments heretofore made within the District of Columbia to the committee or guardian of a lunatic ments to such or the guardian of a minor duly appointed at the domicil of the lunatic or clared sufficient. guardians deminor out of the District of Columbia, in the United States, shall be good and sufficient: Provided, That said guardian or committee shall file in Proviso. the orphans' court in said district, the official certificate of the judge of the court from which such committee or guardian derived his appointment, that he has given sufficient bond to account to the minor or lunatic for all payments so made: And provided further, That in all cases the evidence of the appointment and authority of such committee or guardian shall be first recorded in the office of the orphans' court of said district. APPROVED, March 8, 1864. CHAP. XXIII. —An Act to apportion the Expenses of the Levy Court of the County of March 8, 1864. Washington upon the Basis of Population. apportioned. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That from and after the pas- Expenses of sage of this act the corporate authorities of the city of Washington, the Levy Court, how corporate authorities of the city of Georgetown, and the county authorities of the county of Washington, in the District of Columbia, shall contribute to the expenses of the levy court of the county of Washington, incurred on account of the orphans' court, the office of coroner, and the jail of said county, whenever hereafter imposed by law, in the following proportions, to wit: the city of Washington twelve fifteenths, the city of Georgetown two fifteenths, and the county of Washington one fifteenth of said expenses. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That all laws and parts of laws in- Repeal of inconsistent with the provisions of this act, be, and they are hereby, repealed. consistent laws. APPROVED, March 8, 1864. CHAP. XXIV.-— An Act to authorize the Enrolment and License of the Steam-tugs B. F. March 8, 1864. Davidson and W. K. Muir. W. K. Muir to Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Steam-tugs B. Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized to grant the enrolment and F. Davidson and license of the steam-tugs B. F. Davidson and W. K. Muir, now owned be enrolled and by William Porter and William Lurkins, of Milwaukie, in the State of licensed. Wisconsin, upon such terms, not inconsistent with law, as to him shall seem just and proper. APPROVED, March 8, 1864. March 11, 1864. CHAP. XXVII. —An Act to establish a uniform System of Ambulances in the Armies of the United States. Ambulances, who to have direction, &c., of. Officers and men of the ambulance corps. To be examined. Two-horse ambulances to be furnished each army corps. Distribution. Horse and mule litters. Captain, authority and duties of. Condition of ambulances. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the medical director, or chief medical officer, of each army corps shall, under the control of the medical director of the army to which such army corps belongs, have the direction and supervision of all ambulances, medicine, and other wagons, horses, mules, harness, and other fixtures appertaining thereto, and of all officers and men who may be detailed or employed to assist him in the management thereof, in the army corps in which he may be serving. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the commanding officer of each army corps shall detail officers and enlisted men for service in the ambu lance corps of such army corps, upon the following basis, viz: one cap tain, who shall be commandant of said ambulance corps; one first lieutenant for each division in such army corps; one second lieutenant for each brigade in such army corps; one sergeant for each regiment in such army corps; three privates for each ambulance, and one private for each wagon; and the officers and non-commissioned officers of the ambulance corps shall be mounted: Provided, That the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates so detailed for each army corps shall be examined by a board of medical officers of such army corps as to their fitness for such duty; and that such as are found to be not qualified shall be rejected, and others detailed in their stead. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That there shall be allowed and furnished to each army corps two-horse ambulances, upon the following basis, to wit: three to each regiment of infantry of five hundred men or more; two to each regiment of infantry of more than two hundred and less than five hundred men or more; and one to each regiment of infantry of less than two hundred men; two to each regiment of cavalry of five hundred men or more; and one to each regiment of cavalry of less than five hundred men; one to each battery of artillery, to which battery of artillery it shall be permanently attached; to the head-quarters of each army corps two such ambulances; and to each division train of ambulances two army wagons; and ambulances shall be allowed and furnished to division brigades and commands not attached to any army corps, upon the same basis; and each ambulance shall be provided with such number of stretchers and other appliances as shall be prescribed by the surgeon-general: Provided, That the ambulances and wagons herein mentioned shall be furnished, so far as practicable, from the ambulances and wagons now in the service. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That horse- and mule-litters may be adopted or authorized by the Secretary of War, in lieu of ambulances, when judged necessary, under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the medical director of each army corps. He SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That the captain shall be the commander of all the ambulances, medicine, and other wagons in the corps, under the immediate direction of the medical director, or chief medical officer of the army corps to which the ambulance corps belongs. shall pay special attention to the condition of the ambulances, wagons, horses, mules, harness, and other fixtures appertaining thereto, and see that they are at all times in readiness for service; that the officers and Instruction of men of the ambulance corps are properly instructed in their duties, and officers and men. that their duties are performed, and that the regulations which may be prescribed by the Secretary of War, or the surgeon-general, for the government of the ambulance corps are strictly observed by those under his command. It shall be his duty to institute a drill in his corps, instructing his men in the most easy and expeditious manner of moving the sick and wounded, and to require in all cases that the sick and wounded shall be treated with gentleness and care, and that the ambulances and wagons are Drill. Orders to be a march or in ac at all times provided with attendants, drivers, horses, mules, and whatever may be necessary for their efficiency; and it shall be his duty also to see that the ambulances are not used for any other purpose than that for which they are designed and ordered. It shall be the duty of the medical director, or chief medical officer of the army corps, previous to a march, and previous to and in time of action, or whenever it may be ne- issued previous to cessary to use the ambulances, to issue the proper orders to the captain for tion. tho distribution and management of the same, for collecting the sick and wounded, and conveying them to their destination. And it shall be the duty of the captain faithfully and diligently to execute such orders; and the officers of the ambulance corps, including the medical director, shall make such reports, from time to time, as may be required by the Secre- Reports. tary of War, the surgeon-general, the medical director of the army, or the commanding officer of the army corps in which they may be serving; and all reports to higher authority than the commanding officer of the army corps shall be transmitted through the medical director of the army to which such army corps belongs. First lieuten and duties of. SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That the first lieutenant assigned to the ambulance corps for a division shall have complete control, under the ant, authority captain of his corps and the medical director of the army corps, of all the ambulances, medicine, and other wagons, horses, mules, and men in that portion of the ambulance corps. He shall be the acting assistant-quartermaster for that portion of the ambulance corps, and will receipt for and be responsible for all the property belonging to it, and be held responsible for any deficiency in anything appertaining thereto. He shall have a travelling cavalry forge, a blacksmith, and a saddler, who shall be under his orders, to enable him to keep his train in order. He shall have authority to draw supplies from the depot quartermaster, upon requisitions approved by the captain of his corps, the medical director, and the commander of the army corps to which he is attached. It shall be his duty to exercise a constant supervision over his train in every particular, and keep it at all times ready for service. Second lieuten and duties of. SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That the second lieutenant shall have command of the portion of the ambulance corps for a brigade, and ant, authority shall be under the immediate orders of the first lieutenant, and he shall exercise a careful supervision over the sergeants and privates assigned to the portion of the ambulance corps for his brigade; and it shall be the duty of the sergeants to conduct the drills and inspections of the ambulances under his orders, of their respective regiments. Ambulances to be used only for, SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That the ambulances in the armies of the United States shall be used only for the transportation of the sick & and wounded, and, in urgent cases only, for medical supplies; and all persons shall be prohibited from using them, or requiring them to be used, for any other purpose. It shall be the duty of the officers of the ambulance corps to report to the commander of the army corps any violation of the provisions of this section, or any attempt to violate the same. And any officer who shall use an ambulance, or require it to be used, for any other purpose than as provided in this section, shall, for the first offence, be publicly reprimanded by the commander of the army corps in which he may be serving, and for the second offence shall be dismissed from the service. Penalty. SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That no person except the proper What officers medical officers, or the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates of take the woundand men only to the ambulance corps, or such persons as may be specially assigned, by ed, &c. to the competent military authority, to duty with the ambulance corps for the rear. occasion, shall be permitted to take, or accompany sick or wounded men to the rear, either on the march or upon the field of battle. SEC. 10. And be it further enacted, That the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates of the ambulance corps shall be designated by such Designation; uniform of the corps. Officers and men, how detailed, &c. Names of officers and men to be sent to of fice of adjutantgeneral. uniform, or in such manner as the Secretary of War shall deem proper : SEC. 11. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the commander of the army corps to transmit to the adjutant-general the names and rank of all officers and enlisted men detailed for service in the ambulance corps of such army corps, stating the organizations from which they may have been so detailed; and if such officers and men belong to volunteer organizations, the adjutant-general shall thereupon notify the governors of the several states in which such organizations were raised, of their detail for such service; and it shall be the duty of the commander of the Report of con- army corps to report to the adjutant-general, from time to time, the conduct, &c. duct and behavior of the officers and enlisted men of the ambulance corps, and the adjutant-general shall forward copies of such reports, so far as they relate to officers and enlisted men of volunteer organizations, to the governors of the states in which such organizations were raised. Authority of commanders not impaired by this act. SEC. 12. And be it further enacted, That nothing in this act shall be construed to diminish or impair the rightful authority of the commanders of armies, army corps, or separate detachments, over the medical and other officers, and the non-commissioned officers and privates of their respective commands. APPROVED, March 11, 1864. March 11, 1864. CHAP. XXVIII. -An Act to constitute Parkersburg, in the State of West Virginia, a Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Parkersburg, in States of America in Congress assembled, That Parkersburg, in the State West Virginia, of West Virginia, shall be, and is hereby, constituted a port of delivery, made a port of delivery. within the collection district of New Orleans; and there shall be appointed a surveyor of customs to reside at said port, who shall, in addition to his own duties, perform the duties and receive the salary and emoluments prescribed by the act of congress approved on the second of March, eighteen hundred and thirty-one, for importing merchandise into Pittsburg, Wheeling, and other places. APPROVED, March 11, 1864. March 14, 1864. CHAP. XXX.-An Act to supply Deficiencies in the Appropriations for the Service of the Fiscal Year ending the thirtieth of June, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, and for other Purposes. Deficiency appropriation for 1864. Southeast Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following sums be, and the same are hereby, appropriated to supply deficiencies in the appropriations for the fiscal year ending the thirtieth of June, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated: For contingent expenses of the Southeast executive building, including Executive build- the extension, viz: For fuel, labor, light, and miscellaneous items, thirteen ing. thousand three hundred and five dollars. For supplying a deficiency in the current expenses of the branch mint at Denver, for the current fiscal year, eighteen thousand three hundred and seventy-seven dollars and sixty-nine cents. Interior Department. For compensation of returns clerk, from January first to June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, six hundred dollars. For compensation of the surveyor-general of Illinois and Missouri, to the thirty-first of October, eighteen hundred and sixty-three, when the office was closed, one thousand six hundred and sixty-eight dollars and forty-eight cents. For compensation of the surveyor-general of Arizona, and the clerks in his office, four thousand two hundred and fifty dollars. To supply deficiencies in the Department of Agriculture for the current year, as follows: For the purchase of sorghum seed, two thousand dollars. For rebuilding shop in the propagating garden, eight hundred dollars. For carpets, furniture, and cans for fruit, three hundred and fifty dollars. For fuel, three hundred dollars. War Department. For supplying a deficiency in the appropriations for the payment of the clerks, messengers, copyists, and laborers in the office of the quartermaster-general, one hundred and fifty-six thousand six hundred and fifty-one dollars and sixty-six cents. For salary of an additional assistant secretary of war, fifteen hundred dollars. To supply a deficiency in the appropriation for the purchase and manufacture of arms for volunteers and regulars, ordnance and ordnance stores, seven millions seven hundred thousand dollars. To supply a deficiency in the appropriation for the manufacture of arms at the national armory, seven hundred thousand dollars. To supply a deficiency in the appropriation for the surgeon-general's department, to wit: For medical instruments and dressings, one million three hundred thousand dollars. For hospital stores, bedding, etc., one million two hundred thousand dollars. For hospital furniture and field equipments, three hundred thousand dollars. For books, stationery, and printing, thirty-six thousand dollars. For citizen-nurses, thirty-eight thousand dollars. For sick soldiers in private hospitals, seventeen thousand dollars. For hire of clerks and laborers in purveying depots, twenty-five thousand dollars. For contingent expenses of the medical department, five thousand dollars. For medicines and medical attendance for negro refugees, commonly Contrabands. called "contrabands," thirty-three thousand dollars. For washing and washing-machines for hospitals, where matrons cannot be employed, one thousand dollars. To supply a deficiency in the appropriation for the subsistence of the army, to wit: For volunteers and drafted men, five millions eight hundred and twentyfour thousand dollars. For employees, six hundred [and] forty thousand six hundred and forty dollars. For women, two hundred [and] eighteen thousand and four hundred dollars. To supply a deficiency in the appropriation for the engineer depart ment : Subsistence department. Engineer de partment. For contingencies of fortifications, including field-works, five hundred Fortifications. thousand dollars. |