CHAP. 784.-An Act To incorporate the American National Red Cross, and for other purposes. June 6, 1900. 31 Stat. L., 277. American Na Whereas on the twenty-second of August, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, at Geneva, Switzerland, plenipotentiaries respectively rep- tional Red Cross resenting Italy, Baden, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Portugal, France, incorporated. Prussia, Saxony, and Wurtemburg, and the Federal Council of Switzerland agreed upon ten articles of a treaty or convention for the purpose of mitigating the evils inseparable from war; of suppressing the needless severity and ameliorating the condition of soldiers wounded on the field of battle; and particularly providing, among other things, in effect, that persons employed in hospitals, and in affording relief to the sick and wounded, and supplies for this purpose, shall be deemed neutral and entitled to protection; and that a distinctive and uniform flag shall be adopted for hospitals and ambulances, and convoys of sick and wounded, and an arm badge for individuals neutralized; and Whereas said treaty has been ratified by all of said nations, and by others subsequently, to the number of forty-three or more, including the United States of Ameriea; and Whereas a permanent organization is an agency needed in every nation to carry out the purposes of said treaty, and especially to secure supplies and to execute the humane objects contemplated by said treaty, with the power to adopt and use the distinctive flag and arm badge specified by said treaty in article seven, on which shall be the sign of the Red Cross, for the purpose of cooperating with the "Comité International de Secours aux Militaires Blessés" (International Committee of Relief for the Wounded in War); and Whereas, in accordance with the requirements and customs of said international body, such an association, adopting and using said insignia, was formed in the city of Washington, District of Columbia, in July, eighteen hundred and eighty-one, known as "The American National Association of the Red Cross," and reincorporated April seventeenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-three, under the laws of the District of Columbia; and Whereas it is believed that the importance of the work demands a reincorporation by the Congress of the United States: Now, therefore, Be it enacted, &c., That Clara Barton, George Kennan, Julian B. Hubbell, of the District of Columbia; Stephen E. Barton, of New York; William R. Day, of Ohio; Brainard H. Warner, Ellen Spencer Mussey, Alvey A. Adee, of the District of Columbia; Joseph Sheldon, of Connecticut; Charles F. Fairchild, William Letchwerth, of New York City; Hiliary A. Herbert, of Alabama; Joseph Gardner, Enola Lee Gardner, of Bedford, Indiana; John W. Noble, of Saint Louis, Missouri; Richard Olney, of Boston, Massachusetts; Alexander W. Terrell, of Austin, Texas; Leslie M. Shaw, Benjamin Tillinghast, of Iowa; Abraham C. Kaufman, of Charleston, South Carolina; J. B. Vinet, of New Orleans, Louisiana; George Gray, of Delaware; Redfield Proctor, of Vermont; George F. Hoar, of Massachusetts; Charles A. Russell, of Connecticut; Robert W. Miers, of Indiana; George C. Boldt, William T. Wardwell, of New York; Daniel Hastings, J. Wilkes O'Neill, of Pennsylvania; Thomas F. Walsh, of Colorado; John G. Lemmon, of California; Charles C. Glover, Walter S. Woodward, Elizabeth Kibbey, Mabel T. Boardman, Walter Wyman, Sumner I. Kimball, of the District of Columbia; Edward Lowe, of Michigan; Harriette L. Reed, of Boston, Massachusetts; William H. Sears, of Lawrence, Kansas; John K. Elwell, of Vinland, Kansas: E. R. Ridgely, of Pittsburg, Kansas; James Tanner, John Hitz, S. W. Briggs, Corry Curry, Lizzie W. Calver, Mary A. Logan, Mary L. Barton, S. B. Hege, and Helena H. Mitchell, of Washington, District of Columbia; Emma L. Nichols, of Chillicothe, Ohio; Lenora Halsted, of Saint Incorporators. Name. estate. eal. Louis, Missouri; P. V. DeGraw, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Walter P. Phillips, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and their associates and successors, are hereby created a body corporate and politic in the Dis trict of Columbia. SEC. 2. That the name of this corporation shall be "The American National Red Cross," and by that name it shall have perpetual succession, with the power to sue and be sued in courts of law and equity May hold real within the jurisdiction of the United States; to have and to hold such real and personal estate as shall be convenient and necessary to carry out the purposes of this corporation hereinafter set forth, such real estate to be limited to such quantity as may be necessary for official use or office buildings; to adopt a seal and the same to alter and destroy at pleasure; and to have the right to have and to use, in carrying out its purposes hereinafter designated, as an emblem and badge, a Greek red cross on a white ground, as the same has been described in the treaty of Geneva, August twenty-second, eighteen hundred and sixtyfour, and adopted by the several nations acceding thereto; to ordain and establish by-laws and regulations not inconsistent with the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof, and generally to do all such acts and things as may be necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this Act and promote the purposes of said organization; and the corporation hereby created is designated as the organization which is authorized to act in matters of relief under said treaty. In accordance with article seven, of the treaty, the delivery of the brassard allowed for individuals neutralized in time of war shall be left to military authority. Regulations. Purpose. -aid of sick and wounded. -duties in general. -successor to American Na tional Red Cross. -voluntary re lief. -medium communication. SEC. 3. That the purposes of this corporation are and shall beFirst. To furnish volunteer aid to the sick and wounded of armies in time of war, in accordance with the spirit and conditions of the conference of Geneva of October, eighteen hundred and sixty-three, and also of the treaty of the Red Cross, or the treaty of Geneva of August twenty-second, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, to which the United States of America gave its adhesion on March first, eighteen hundred and eighty-two. Second. And for said purposes to perform all the duties devolved upon a national society by each nation which has acceded to said treaty. Third. To succeed to all the rights and property which have been hitherto held and to all the duties which have heretofore been performed by the American National Red Cross as a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the United States relating to the District of Columbia, which organization is hereby dissolved. Fourth. To act in matters of voluntary relief and in accordance with the military and naval authorities as a medium of communication of between the people of the United States of America and their armies, and to act in such matters between similar national societies of other governments through the "Comité International de Secours" and the Government and the people and the armies of the United States of America. Fifth. And to continue and carry on a system of national and international relief in time of peace and apply the same in mitigating the sufferings caused by pestilence, famine, fire, floods, and other great national calamities. Sixth. And to devise and carry on measures for preventing the same, and generally to promote measures of humanity and the welfare of mankind. SEC. 4. That from and after the passage of this Act it shall be unlawful for any person within the jurisdiction of the United States to falsely and fraudulently hold himself out as, or represent or pretend himself to be a member of or an agent for the American National Red Cross for the purpose of soliciting, collecting, or receiving money or -wearing insig material; or for any person to wear or display the sign of the red cross, or any insignia colored in imitation thereof, for the fraudulent nia for fraud. purpose of inducing the belief that he is a member of or an agent for the American National Red Cross. If any person violates the provisions of this section he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be liable to a fine of not less than one nor more than five hundred dollars, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or both, for each and every offense. The fine so collected shall be paid to the American National Red Disposition of Cross. The appointment of the chief medical officer shall not be made without the approval in writing of the Secretary of War. SEC. 5. That the said American National Red Cross shall, on the first day of January of each year, make and transmit to Congress a full, complete, and itemized report of all receipts and expenditures of whatever kind, and of its proceedings during the preceding year, and shall also give such information concerning its transactions and affairs as the Secretary of State may from time to time require, and, in respect of all business and proceedings in which it may be concerned in connection with the War and Navy Departments of the Government, shall make reports to the Secretary of War and to the Secretary of the Navy, respectively. fine. Chief medical officer's appointment to be approved. Report. SEC. 6. That Congress shall have the right to repeal, alter, or amend Repeal. this Act at any time. [June 6, 1900.] CHAP. 785.-An Act Making appropriations to supply deficiencies in the appropriations for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred, and for prior years, and for other purposes. %% * June 6, 1900. 31 Stat. L., 280. Be it enacted, &c., [Par. 1.] (1) For the reimbursement of Army. necessary transportation and traveling expenses, including railroad fare, Nurses' travelsleeping-car fare, transfers, meals, and lodgings en route or during lowed. ing expenses alnecessary delays, of nurses employed by the Medical Department of the Army since April thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, incurred in traveling upon public business from their homes to the places of service and subsequently on changes of station and return to their homes, whose claims may have heretofore been disallowed by the accounting officers of the Treasury on the ground that the terms of the written contracts made with the nurses did not entitle them to the allowances in question, excepting the two hundred and eighteen claims forwarded by the Quartermaster-General to the Auditor for the War Department on or about February twenty-seventh, eighteen hundred and ninety-nine, which have been otherwise provided for, four thousand dollars: propriations. Provided, That all other such claims now pending or that may hereClaims to be paid after be presented shall be allowed and paid from the regular appro- from regular appriations applicable to the payment of transportation and traveling expenses of civilian employees of the Army, in like manner as if the terms of the written contracts entitled the nurses to such allowances; but the amounts allowed shall in no case exceed the amounts authorized by the War Department in regulations governing the matter, nor NOTE.-(1) The employment of nurses in the Army is authorized by R. S., §§ 1238, 1239, and their pay and rations provided for by R. S., § 1277. By 1901, February 2, ch. 192, § 19, post, p. 1472, the nurse corps now constitutes a regular organization of the Army. Similar relief to that in the text as to traveling expenses of contract surgeons is contained in 1901, March 3, ch. 831, par. 2, post, p. 1532. -limit. Credit to disbursing officers. Volunteer Sol the amounts stipulated in the written contracts if the latter expressly provide therefor: And provided further, That disbursing officers of the Quartermaster's Department who have paid or shall hereafter pay accounts for such expenses shall be given credit for all such payments upon proper vouchers. * * [Par. 2.] (2) That appropriations made for the fiscal year ninediers' Homes, ap- teen hundred, or that may hereafter be made, for the construction propriations for construction per- of buildings at any of the branches of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers shall continue available until expended. manent. R. S., § 3689. U. S. attorney, southern dis. N. Y., services in court of appeals. * * [Par. 3.] (3) That so much of section six of the Act approved May twenty-sixth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, as provides that the salaries paid to United States district attorneys shall cover and include compensation for services rendered by them in the circuit courts of of appeals is hereby made applicable to the United States district attorney for the southern district of New York. [June 6, 1900.] * * NOTES. (2) See 1874, June 20, ch. 328, § 5 (1 Supp. R. S., 18), providing that all unexpended balances of appropriations shall, after the expiration of two fiscal years, be covered into the Treasury. Certain exceptions are there made, to which the paragraph in the text adds another. (3) The act here referred to is that of 1896, May 28 (not 26), ch. 252, § 6 (2 Supp. R. S., 479). By the concluding proviso to § 24 (p. 488), it was enacted "That none of the provisions of sections six, eight, or fifteen of this act shall apply to the office of the United States district attorney and his assistants for the southern district of New York, or for the District of Columbia." The paragraph in the text makes section 6 of that act in part applicable to the southern district of New York. June 6, 1900. 31 Stat. L., 321. CHAP. 786.-An Act Making further provision for a civil government for Alaska, and for other purposes. (1) Be it enacted, &c., Alaska. TITLE I. CHAPTER ONE. SEC. 1. That the territory ceded to the United States by Russia by Provisions for the treaty of March thirtieth, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, and civil government. Civil and judicial known as Alaska, shall constitute a civil and judicial district, the government of which shall be organized and administered as hereinafter provided. The temporary seat of government of said district is hereby established at Juneau: district. Seat of govern ment at Juneau. -to remain tem Provided, That the seat of government shall remain at Sitka until porarily at Sitka. suitable grounds and buildings thereon shall be obtained by purchase or otherwise at Juneau. Governor to be appointed. -powers, etc. SEC. 2. There shall be appointed for the district a governor, who shall reside therein during his term of office and be charged with the interests of the United States Government within the district. To the end aforesaid he shall have authority to see that the laws enacted for the district are enforced and to require the faithful discharge of their duties by the officials appointed to administer the same. He may also grant reprieves for offenses committed against the laws of the district or of the United States until the decision of the President thereon shall be made known. He shall be ex officio commander in chief of the militia of the district, and shall have power to call out the same when NOTE.—(1) For criminal code of Alaska, see 1899, March 3, ch. 429 (2 Supp. R. S., 1003). By 1884, May 17, ch. 53 (1 Supp. R. S., 430), provision is made for a civil govern ment for Alaska. necessary to the due execution of the laws and to preserve the peace, and to cause all able-bodied citizens of the United States in the district to enroll and serve as such when the public exigency demands; and he shall perform generally in and over said district such acts as pertain to the office of governor of a Territory, so far as the same may be made or become applicable thereto. He shall, subject to the direction and approval of the Secretary of the Interior, advertise for and receive bids and, in behalf of the United States, contract from year to year with the responsible asylum or sanitarium west of the main range of the Rocky Mountains submitting the lowest bid for the care and custody of persons legally adjudged insane in said district of Alaska; the cost of advertising for bids, executing the contract, and caring for the insane to be paid, until otherwise provided by law, by the Secretary of the Treasury, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, on accounts and vouchers duly approved by the governor and the Secretary of the Interior. The governor shall from time to time inquire into the operations of any person, company, association, or corporation authorized by the United States, by contract or otherwise, to kill seal or other fur-bearing animals in the district, and any and all violations by such person, company, association, or corporation of the agreement with the United States under which the operations are being conducted, and shall annually report to Congress the result of such inquiries. He shall make an annual report, on the first day of October in each year, to the President of the United States, of his official acts and doings, and of the condition of the district, with reference to its resources, industries, population, and the administration of the civil government thereof. And the President of the United States shall have power to review and to confirm or annul any reprieves granted .or other acts done by him. The governor may appoint and commission one or more notaries public for the district, and appointments of notaries public heretofore made by him are hereby legalized, and all acts performed by them by virtue of their notarial commissions shall be for all purposes as valid as though the governor had at the time full and complete legal authority to appoint the commission then. Surveyor-gen secretary. -duties, etc. SEC. 3. The surveyor-general of the district shall be ex officio secretary thereof, and as such shall be custodian of the district seal, which eral to be ex officio shall be provided by the Attorney-General. The surveyor-general, as ex officio secretary of the district, shall perform the official duties required by law to be performed by the secretary of a Territory of the United States, in so far as applicable to said district, and such other duties as may be required by law. SEC. 4. There is hereby established a district court for the district, which shall be a court of general jurisdiction in civil, criminal, equity, and admiralty causes; and three district judges shall be appointed for the district, who shall, during their terms of office, reside in the divisions of the district to which they may be respectively assigned by the President. The court shall consist of three divisions. The judge designated to preside over division numbered one shall, during his term of office, reside at Juneau, and shall hold at least four terms of court in the district each year, two at Juneau and two at Skagway, and the judge shall, as near January first as practicable, designate the time of holding the terms during the current year. The judge designated to preside over division numbered two shall reside at Saint Michaels during his term of office, and shall hold at least one term of court each year at Saint Michaels, in the district, beginning the third Monday in June. The judge designated to preside over division numbered three shall District court. -jurisdiction. -judges. Divisions of court. |