Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 61 Part 1.djvu/768

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PUBLIC LAWS-CHS. 471, 472-AUG. 4 , 1947 Inclusion of state- ment in tariffs. August 4, 1947 [H. R . 2669] [Public Law 347] Rehabilitation of alcoholics, D. C. "Chronic alcoholic. " Establishment and equipment of clinic. Use of clinic serv- ices. rules, regulations, and practices affecting such rates, fares, or charges, or the value of the service thereunder, and if joint rates, fares, or charges shall have been established with respect to such through service, just, reasonable, and equitable divisions of such joint rates, fares, or charges as between the carriers participating therein. Any air carrier, and any common carrier subject to the Interstate Com- merce Act, which is participating in such through service and joint rates, fares, or charges, shall include in its tariffs, filed with the Civil Aeronautics Board or the Interstate Commerce Commission, as the case may be, a statement showing such through service and joint rates, fares, or charges." Approved August 4, 1947. [CHAPTER 4721 AN ACT To establish a program for the rehabilitation of alcoholics, promote temperance, and provide for the medical and scientific treatment of persons found to be alcoholics by the courts of the District of Columbia, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the UnitedStates of America in Congress assembled, PURPOSE SECION 1. The purpose of this Act is to establish a program for the rehabilitation of alcoholics, promote temperance, and provide for the medical, psychiatric, and other scientific treatment of chronic alcoholics; to minimize the deleterious effects of excessive drinking on those who pass through the courts of the District of Columbia; to reduce the financial burden imposed upon the people of the District of Columbia by the abusive use of alcoholic beverages, as is reflected in mounting accident rates, decreased personal efficiency, growing absenteeism, and a general increase in the amount and seriousness of crime in the District of Columbia, and to substitute for jail sentences for drunkenness medical and other scientific methods of treatment which will benefit the individual involved and more fully protect the public. In order to accomplish this purpose and alleviate the problem of chronic alcoholism, the courts of the District of Columbia are hereby authorized to take judicial notice of the fact that a chronic alcoholic is a sick person and in need of proper medical, institutional, advisory, and rehabilitative treatment, and the court is authorized to direct that he receive appropriate medical, psychiatric, or other treatment as provided under the terms of this Act. DEFINITIONS SEC. 2. The term "chronic alcoholic" means any person who chron- ically and habitually uses alcoholic beverages to the extent that he has lost the power of self-control with respect to the use of such beverages, or while under the influence of alcohol endangers the public morals, health, safety, or welfare. SEC. 3. (a) The Commissioners of the District of Columbia are hereby authorized and directed to establish and equip a clinic in con- nection either with some existing hospital or with some correctional institution or other facility for the diagnosis, classification, hospitali- zation, confinement, treatment, and study of persons who are found to be chronic alcoholics, as defined herein, by the Municipal Court for the District of Columbia. (b) The Commissioners of the District of Columbia are also directed to utilize the alcoholic clinic services for the treatment of the 744 [61 STAT.