Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 25.djvu/600

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554 FIFTIETH CONGRESS. Sess. I. Ch. 1095. 1888. 0¢¤>b¢¤‘ 12.1888- CHAP. 1095.-An act regulating admissions to the Institution of the Association

"“"`""` for Works of Mercy in certain cases, and for other purposes.

. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Dismemrcmiumbm. United Staies of Amer»ica in Congress assembled, That the Association ·°““§"*ASg{,*’§;g,,i§,'f for Works of Mercy, a charitable corporation in the District of Co- ¥::8W¤¤‘k¤ of M¤¤‘¢¥· lumbia, is hereby authorized and empowered to receive and have the custody and control of, and to suitab y maintain, teach, employ, and discipline girls under the age of eighteen years. resident in the District of Columbia, until they attain the age of eighteen years. The right to the cusicpdy and control of any such girl shall be obtained in the manner fo owing: R»=¤u¤ci¤ti¤¤¤fi':¤~ First. B a written instrument executed by the father of such girl, rm "gmby m "' giving such custody and control to said association and renouncing arental ri his. ‘ Bymomei-. P Second. lf the father be not living, or is unknown, or not resident in the District of Columbia, by a written instrument executed by · the mother of such girl, giving such custody and control to said association and renouncing parental rights. R i t_ f Third. By a written instrument executed by the guardian of the §m$£$[§§p°,{§°h gs person of such girl, giving such custody and control to said associa- Y 8“**¤"**¤· tion and renouncin the rights of guardianship. Sd! Fourth. If there be no father, or mother, or guardian of such girl °""°°d°'° living, or known, resident in the District of Columbia, by an instrument in writing executed by such girl, surrendering herself to the custody, contro , and maintenance of said association. , Approval by judge Fifth. No such instrument shall be eifectual in law until it shall be °‘°"P"“s`°°“"‘· approved by the judge of the orphans’ court of the District of Columbia by an indorsement of such approval thereon signed by such _ gu ge. · ccmmstmentrm- 0:- Sec. 2. That when any girl under the a e of eighteen years shall ‘“‘“°“‘ be duly convicted of any offense punishable by line or imprisonment ‘ for a term less than two years before any court in the District of Columbia, if it shall appear to the satisfaction of the court that such girl is a suitable subject for the custody of said association, the court may, instead of imposing such une or imprisonment, and with the assent of said association, cause such girl to be committed to the custody and control of said association, there to remain until she shall attain tlpel age of eighteen years, or be otherwise discharged in due course o aw. Keeping and ais- Sec. 3. That a girl, duly received into the institution of the said °""g" ° ‘““‘“‘°“· association, shall be kept there, disciplined, instructed, em loyed, and governed under the direction of said association until slie is either reformed and discharged or has attained the age of eighteen years; but the association shall have the right to discharge and return to the parents, guardian, or protector any girl who, in its judgment, ought, for any cause, to be removed from the institution, and in such case the association shall enter u on its minutes the reasons for her discharge; and in case such gid was received under the order of any criminal court, a copy of the minute of such reasons shall be forthyvith transmitted to the court under whose order she was receive . Association m¤y_be Sec. 4. That the orphans’ court of the District of Columbia shall f,*}°3,‘f,{$,_T*¤s· §},‘{,‘2‘°“ have tpower to appoint the said association the guardian of the person o any girl under the age of eighteen years, in the same manner and with the same eifect that it now has power to appoint guardians of the person of female infants. And such ardianship shall continue until such girl shall attain the age ogbighteen years, unless the orphans’ court shall discharge the same or otherwise direct. Approved, October 12, 1888.