Pension for loss of both hands, feet, or eyes increased. Be it enacted, &c., That on and after the passage of this act, all soldiers and sailors who have lost either both their hands or both their feet or the sight of both eyes in the service of the United States, shall R. S., §§ 4697, receive, in lieu of all pensions now paid them by the Government of 4698. the United States, and there shall be paid to them, in the same man- 1877, Feb. 28, ch. ner as pensions are now paid to such persons, the sum of seventy two 73, dollars per month [June 17, 1878.] 1879, March 3, ch. 200. CHAPTER 263. AN ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE ARMY FOR THE FISCAL SECTION 1. Signal Service to be maintained with force of 450 men. 2. Army Register; how to specify lineal rank of officers and military service. 3. Second lieutenants; who may be appointed as, &c. 4. Non commissioned officers; how promoted. Board of examination. Recommendation for promotion, &c., in staff corps. 5. Women not to accompany troops as laundresses, except, &c. 6. Military headquarters; whero to be established. 7. In computing service for longevity pay, time of service as volunteers, &c., included. Be it enacted, &c. [SECTION 1.] Nothing, however, in this act shall be construed to prevent enlistments for the Signal Service, which shall hereafter be maintained as now organized and as provided by law, with a force of enlisted men not exceeding four hundred and fifty, after present terms of enlistment have expired. ** ** * 1878, June 20, ch. 359, § 1, par. 8. SEC. 2. That in every Official Army Register hereafter issued, the lineal rank of all officers of the line of the Army shall be given separately for the different arms of the service; And if the officer be promoted from the ranks, or shall have served in the volunteer army, either as an enlisted man or officer, his service as a private and non-commissioned officer shall be given, and in addition thereto the record of his service as volunteer. SEC. 3. That hereafter all vacancies in the grade of second lieutenant shall be filled by appointment from the graduates of the Military Academy so long as any such remain in service unassigned; And any vacancies thereafter remaining shall be filled by promotion of meritorious non-commissioned officers of the Army, recommended under the provisions of the next section of this act: June 18, 1878. 20 Stat. L., 145. Signal Service to be maintained with 450 men. Second lieuten ants; who may be appointed as, &c. R. S., § 1213. 1878, June 11, ch. 181, § 2. Provided that all vacancies remaining, after exhausting the two classes named, may be filled by appointment of persons in civil life. SEC. 4. That to insure the selection of proper candidates for promo- Non-commissioned officers; tion from the grade of non-commissioned officers, company and battery how promoted. commanders will report to their regimental commanders such as, in their opinion, by education, conduct, and services, seem to merit advancement, and who have served not less than two years in the Army; the reports to set forth a description of the candidate, his length of service as non-commissioned officer and as private soldier, his character as to fidelity and sobriety, his physical qualifications and mental abili ties, the extent to which his talents have been cultivated, and his fitness generally to discharge the duties of a commissioned officer. ination. If recommended on account of meritorious services, the particular services referred to must be stated in detail. On receiving the reports of company or battery commanders, the regi mental commander will forward the same to the department commanders, with such recommendation of non-commissioned regimental staff as he may deem worthy of promotion; and the department commander shall Board of exam- annually assemble a board to consist of five officers of as high rank as the convenience of the service will admit, to make a preliminary examination into the claims and qualifications of such non-commissioned officers. The board, constituted as above shall submit a full statement in the case of each candidate examined; and on the said statements, the department commander shall indorse his remarks and forward them to the Secretary of War by the first day of June in each year. Recommenda The Chief of Engineers and of other staff corps may make similar tion, &c., for pro- recommendations of the non-commissioned officers of their respective motion in staff commands to the Secretary of War, who shall convene a board of officers for like purpose. corps. Women not to accompany troops as laundresses, except, &c. Military headquarters; where to be established. Repealed 1879, June 23, ch. 35, § 8. In computing service for longevity pay time of service as volunteers, &c., included. R. S., § 1262, 1263. 16 Opin. Att'yGen., 26, 611. SEC. 5. That hereafter women shall not be allowed to accompany troops as laundresses: Provided, That any such laundress, being the wife of a soldier as is now allowed to accompany troops, may, in the discretion of the regimental commander, be retained until the expiration of such soldiers present term of enlistment. SEC. 6. (Rep.) [That hereafter, in time of peace, all military headquarters, except Army headquarters, shall be established and maintained at points where the government own buildings or barracks, within the several departments and divisions, and in such buildings or barracks, and not otherwise, unless the Secretary of War shall by an order in writing otherwise direct.] SEC. 7. That on and after the passage of this act, all officers of the Army of the United States who have served as officers in the volunteer forces during the war of the rebellion, or as enlisted men in the armies of the United States, regular or volunteer, shall be, and are hereby, credited with the full time they may have served as such officers and as such enlisted men in computing their service for longevity pay and retirement. See Tyler's case and Babbitt's case, 16 Ct. Cls., —. Retired list lim ited to 400. R. S., § 1258. Allowance of or And the retired list shall hereafter be limited to four hundred in lieu of the number now fixed by law. SEC. 8. Allowance of or commutation for fuel to commissioned offifor fuel to officers cers is hereby prohibited; but fuel may be furnished to the officers of of Army prohibited, but fuel may be the Army by the Quartermaster's Department, for the actual use of sold to them for use. such officers only, at the rate of three dollars per cord for standard oak R. S., § 1270. wood, or at an equivalent rate for other kinds of fuel, according to the 16 Opin. Att'y- regulations now in existence; Gen., 92. Forage in kind And forage in kind may be furnished to the officers of the Army, by may be furnished the Quartermaster's Department, only for horses owned and actually for horses owned kept by such officers in the performance of their official military duties and kept by offi- when on duty with troops in the field or at such military posts west of R. S., §§ 1270- the Mississippi River, as may be from time to time designated by the Secretary of War, and not otherwise as follows: cers, &c. 1272. 1877, Feb. 27, ch. 69, par. 35. To the General five horses; To the Lieutenant General four horses; To a major-general three horses; To a brigadier-general, three horses; To a colonel, two horses; To a lieutenant-colonel, two horses; To a major, two horses; To a captain (mounted), two horses; To a lieutenant (mounted), two horses; To an adjutant, two horses; To a regimental quartermaster, two horses. be furnished. R. S., § 1270. SEC. 9. That all posts and stations where there are public quarters Quarters in belonging to the United States, officers may be furnished with quarters kind; where may in kind in such public quarters, and not elsewhere, by the Quarterinaster's Department, assigning to the officers of each grade, respectively, such number of rooms as is now allowed to such grade by the rules and regulations of the Army: Provided, That at places where there are no public quarters, commu--where may be tation therefor may be paid by the Pay Department to the officer entitled to the same at a rate not exceeding ten dollars per room per month, and the commutation for quarters allowed to the General shall be at the rate of one hundred and twenty-five dollars per month, and to the Lieutenant General at the rate of seventy dollars per month. commuted, and at what rate. 35. 1881, Feb. 24, ch. 79, par. 1. 16 Opin. Att'yGen., 577, 619. Promotions in SEC. 13. That from and after the passage of this act, all promotions in the Army, in each and every grade, arm, corps and department thereof, Army to cease till shall cease; and thereafter no promotions or appoinments shall be made January, 1879. to fill any vacancy which may occur, or be created therein, until after such report (1) shall be made and acted upon by Congress: Provided, That this limitation shall not apply to the line of the Army below the rank of captain. SEC. 15. From and after the passage of this act it shall not be lawful Army not to be to employ any part of the Army of the United States, as a posse comi- used as a possc comtatus, or otherwise, for the purpose of executing the laws, except in itatus, except as such cases and under such circumstances as such employment of said ized by Constituexpressly authorforce may be expressly authorized by the Constitution or by act of Con- tion and laws. gress; and no money appropriated by this act shall be used to pay any 16 Opin. Att'yof the expenses incurred in the employment of any troops in violation Gen., 162. of this section Punishment for And any person wilfully violating the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction thereof shall be violation of secpunished by fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars or imprisonment not exceeding two years or by both such fine and imprisonment tion. SEC. 16. That all acts and parts of acts inconsistent with the provis. Repeal. ions of this act be, and they are hereby, repealed. [June 18, 1878.] NOTE.-(1) The report here referred to was required to be made by January 1, 1879, by a committee of Congress provided for in §§ 10, 11, and 12, which are omitted because special and temporary. Superintendent for coast on Gulf of Mexico. 2. Unexpended balances available. 3. Proceeds of sale of old stations; how to be used. 4. Keepers' compensation. -to have powers of inspectors of customs. -to have charge of property saved. to reside near their stations. Be it enacted, &c. SECTION 5. Stations; at what seasons to be kept open. 6. General superintendent; his appointment, Assistant to general superintendent. 7. Duties of general superintendent. -to make annual report. 8. Revenue Marine officers may be detailed as 9. Investigation of shipwrecks with loss of life. 10. Compensation of members of volunteer crews Duty of crews. Pay of volunteers for saving, &c., property. 11. Drill, &c., of enrolled crews. 12. Life-saving medals may be bestowed by Sec- [SECTION 1], That the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized June 18, 1878. 20 Stat. L., 163. Additional life to establish additional life-saving and life boat stations at or near the saving stations. following-named points upon the sea and lake coasts of the United R. S., § 4242States, namely: 4251. 1874, June 20, ch. 344. 1881, March 2, ch. 111. At Cranberry Isles; - Delaware coast; - Maryland coast; -Virginia and coast; One complete life-saving station at Cranberry Isles, Maine; Two complete life-saving stations on the coast of Maryland, to be located, one between Indian River and Green Run, and one between Green Run and Chincoteague; Fifteen complete life-saving stations on the coasts of Virginia and North Carolina North Carolina, ten of them to be located at intermediate points between the existing stations, three between the southernmost existing station and Hatteras Inlet, one at or near Cape Lookout, and one at or near Cape Fear Point; -Texas coast; - Lake Michigan; - Lake Superior; - Lake Huron; Five complete life-stations on the coast of Texas, to be located, one at or near Sabine Pass, one on Galveston Island, near west end, one at or near Pass Cavallo, one at or near Aranzas Pass, and one at Brazos Santiago, and one life boat station on Galveston Island, near east end; Two complete life-saving stations on the coast of Lake Michigan, to be located, one at or near Sleeping Bear Point, and one at or near Bayley's Harbor, and four life-boat stations to be located, one at or near Manistee, one at Ludington, one at or near Muskegan, and one at Kenosha; One life-boat station on the coast of Lake Superior, at or near the mouth of Portage Lake and Lake Superior Ship Canal; Two complete life-saving stations on the coast of Lake Huron, one at or near Port Austin and one on Middle Island, and a life-boat station at or near Sand Beach Harbor of Refuge; - California. And on the coast of California, a life-boat station at Bolinas Bay, in 1874, June 20, ch. place of that authorized to be established at Point Reyes by the act of 344, § 1. June twentieth, eighteen hundred and seventy-four, entitled "An act to provide for the establishment of life-saving stations and houses of refuge upon the sea and lake coasts of the United States, and to promote the efficiency of the Life-Saving Service"; of Mexico. Superintendent And the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized, whenever, for coast on Gulf in his opinion, it may become necessary for the proper administration of the Life-Saving Service and the protection of the public property at the stations, to appoint a district superintendent for the coast of the United States bordering on the Gulf of Mexico, whose compensation shall be at the rate of one thousand dollars per annum, Keeper at each station. Unexpended balances available. Proceeds of sale of old stations; how to be used. And also a keeper for each of the stations hereby authorized to be established. SEC. 2. That the unexpended balances of appropriations heretofore made for the establishment of life-saving and life-boat stations are hereby made available for the payment of the expenses of the establishment of the stations herein authorized. SEC. 3. That all moneys received from the sale of old stations and equipments and other material condemned by a board of survey as unR. S., § 3618, serviceable may be expended in rebuilding or improving and equipping 3672, 3692. stations. 1874, June 20, ch. 344, § 9. Keepers' compensation. SEC. 4. That hereafter the compensation of the keepers of life-saving and life-boat stations and houses of refuge shall be at the rate of four hundred dollars per annum; -have powers of And they shall have the powers of inspectors of customs, but shall inspectors of cus- receive no additional compensation for duties performed as such: toms. to have charge of property saved. 16 Opin. Att'yGen., 645. Provided, That said keepers shall have authority and be required to take charge of and protect all property saved from shipwreck at which they may be present, until it is claimed by parties legally authorized to receive it, or until otherwise instructed to dispose of it by the Secretary of the Treasury; And keepers of life saving stations shall be required to reside continually at or in the immediate vicinity of their respective stations. SEC. 5. That hereafter the life-saving stations upon the sea and gulf coasts at which crews are employed shall be manned and the stations opened for active service on the first day of September in each year, and so continue until the first day of May succeeding, and upon the lake coasts from the opening to the close of navigation, except such stations as, in the discretion of the Secretary of the Treasury, are not necessary to be manned during the full period specified; to reside near their stations. Stations; at what season to be kept open. Crews to reside at stations. &c. And the crews shall reside at the stations during said periods. SEC. 6. That the President of the United States may, by and with General superinthe consent of the Senate, appoint a suitable person, who shall be fa- tendent; his apmiliar with the various means employed in the Life-Saving-Service for pointment, salary, the saving of life and property from' shipwrecked vessels, as general superintendent of the Life-Saving Service, who shall, under the immediate direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, have general charge of the service and of all administrative matters connected therewith, and whose compensation shall be at the rate of four thousand dollars per annum; Assistant to gen And the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to appoint an assistant to the general superintendent, whose compensation shall be two eral superintendthousand five hundred dollars per annum. ent. Duties of general SEC. 7. That it shall be the duty of the general superintendent to supervise the organization and government of the employees of the superintendent. service; To prepare and revise regulations therefor as may be necessary; To fix the number and compensation of surfmen to be employed at the several stations within the provisions of law; To supervise the expenditure of all appropriations made for the sup port and maintainance of the Life-Saving Service; To examine the accounts of disbursements of the district superintendents, and to certify the same to the accounting-officers of the Treasury Department; To examine the property returns of the keepers of the several stations, and see that all public property thereto belonging is properly accounted for; To acquaint himself, as far as practicable, with all means employed in foreign countries which may seem to advantageously affect the interests of the service, and to cause to be properly investigated all plans, devices, and inventions for the improvement of life-saving apparatus for use at the stations, which may appear to be meritorious and available; To exercise supervision over the selection of sites for new stations the establishment of which may be authorized by law, or for old ones the removal of which may be made necessary by the encroachment of the sea or by other causes; To prepare and submit to the Secretary of the Treasury estimates for the support of the service; To collect and compile the statistics of marine disasters contemplated by the act of June twentieth, eighteen hundred and seventy-four; And to submit to the Secretary of the Treasury, for transmission to Congress, an annual report of the expenditures of the moneys appropriated for the maintenance of the Life Saving Service, and of the operations of said service during the year. SEC. 8. That the Secretary of the Treasury may detail such officer or officers of the Revenue Marine Service as may be necessary, to act as inspector and assistant inspectors of stations, who shall perform such duties in connection with the conduct of the service as may be required of them by the general superintendent. to make annual report. 1876, July 31, ch. 246, § 1, par. 3. Revenue Marine officers may be detailed as inspect ors. SEC. 9. That upon the occurrence of any shipwreck within the scope Investigation of of the operations of the Life-Saving Service, attended with loss of life, shipwrecks with |