By-laws, rules and regulations ... : adopted November 14, 1887 : revised April 7, 1904

Front matter

-OF THE-

II — L_ I N CD I S

QUINCY, ILLINOIS.

I

The officers of the Board shall consist of a President, Secretary and Treasurer, who shall be elected by the Board and who shall hold their offices until others are elected in their stead.

II

The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board and discharge such duties as belong to a presiding officer. In the absence of the President, a President pro tem may be elected, who shall have the same duties and powers as the President.

III

The Secretary shall keep accurate minutes of the perform such duties as may be incident to such meetings of the Board of Trustees, and generally office; shall keep such financial records and accounts and make such reports and perform such clerical services as may be required by the Board or Superintendent. In the absence of the Secretary, a Secretary pro tem may be apointed.

IV

The Treasurer shall receive and be custodian of all moneys due or belonging to the Home, whether derived from the State Treasurer or from other sources, and shall make disbursements upon the written order of the Superintendent only. He shall present to the Board at each quarterly meeting a written report of all mone}^s received and paid out by him, accompanjdng the same with an itemized account verified by affidavit, and nlake settlement with the Trustees. He shall give bond in the sum of $50,- 000 for the faithful performance of his duties.

OFFICERS

OF

THE BOARD.

DUTIES OF PRESIE1NT.

DUTIES OF SECRETARY

DUTIES OF TREASURER

BY-LAWS, RULES AND REGULALIONS

MEETINGS

OF

THE BOARD.

OFFICERS

OF

THE HOME.

HOW

APPOINTED.

DUTIES OF SUPERIN- TENDENT.

V

The regular quarterly meeting of the Board shall be held at the Home between the first and seventh days of the months of January, April, July and October. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the President or by any member of the Board at any time.

GOVERNMENT AND MAINTENANCE.

The officers of the Home shall consist, of the Superintendent, Adjutant, Surgeon, Engineer and ( Quartermaster, and such other subordinate officers ) as may be necessary for the proper government and : maintenance of the Home, and whose salaries and compensation shall be fixed by the Trustees.

The Trustees shall appoint the Superintendent. / All other officers and ’employes of the Home shall be appointed by the Superintendent, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees.

SUPERINTENDENT.

The Superintendent shall be the financial agent of the Trustees, and shall have charge of the premises, property and members subject to their direction.

He shall assign all sub-officers and employes to their respective duties, and may, at any time, suspend or discharge them from service, subject to the approval of the Trustees at their next meeting, and he shall suspend or discharge any employe when in the judgment of the Trustees the interests of the Home require it. He shall reside on the premises and see that all officers, agents and employes of the institution faithfully discharge their duties, and shall be directly responsible to the Trustees for the economy, efficiency and success of the internal man-

ILLINOIS SOLDIERS AND SATLORS HOME.

agement. Ho may make such rules and issue such orders as in his judgment are required, if not in conflict with law or these regulations. It shall he his duty to fully inform the Board of Trustees, in a report made by him at each quarterly meeting, of any and every event in connection with the management or discipline of the Home which may require their attention, and may suggest to them, from time to time, such measures or changes in these by-laws as lie may deem for the benefit of the Institution.

ADJUTANT.

The Adjutant shall be charged with the duty of keeping a record of morning reports, substantially the same as required in the military service of the United States. He shall keep in proper form all the records pertaining to applications for membership, correspondence relating thereto, the acceptance or rejection of applicants, and when an applicant is admitted, shall complete the record of admission and assign the new member to quarters. He shall keep a register of members showing number, name, age, nativity and occupation, date of admission, residence at date of enlistment, and time of enlistment, company, regiment, or if navy, the vessel on which he served, the date of discharge, or cause of discharge from service, disease or disability, domestic relations, next of kin, names of relatives, amount of pension and remarks. Also a register of deaths, with full particulars of date and cause of deaths and exact place of birth.

He shall be the custodian, under the Superintendent, of all books and records of the Headquarters office except such as are properly in the custody of the Superintendent, Bookkeeper or Secretary of the Board of Trustees. He shall keep and prepare all statistics and shall assist the Superin-

DUTIES OF ADJUTANT.

tendent in the preparation of all reports having reference to or involving the statistics of the Home, and ail orders promulgated, not signed by the Superintendent, may be signed by the Adjutant, “by order of the Superintendent.”

SURGEON.

DUTIES OF SURGEON.

The Surgeon shall be a competent physician and surgeon, legally licensed to practice medicine and surgery under the laws of Illinois, and of not less than five (5) years practice. He shall make thorough examination of all applicants for admission to the Home ; certify, on a blank to be furnished by the Superintendent, to the amount and nature of the disability of the applicant. He shall attend to the medical or surgical treatment of every member of the Home without fee other than his salary. He shall make, or cause to be made by his assistants, weekly examination of all the buildings and rooms occupied in connection with the Home and report the condition thereof to the Superintendent. He shall have charge of the nurses and assign them to their respective places of duty. He shall also have charge of the food and medical supplies, and if at any time the supplies are inadequate or of an inferior quality, it shall be his duty to report the same to the Superintendent and to each member of the Board of Trustees.

The Hospital shall be in his charge, subject to orders of the Superintendent. It shall be his duty to see that proper records are kept, and that timely requisitions are made for such supplies as may be necessary, and as far as practicable, he shall estimate for at least one quarter’s supply in advance.

He shall also sec that all approved appliances for the cure and proper care of the patients are

ILLINOIS SOLDIERS AND SAILORS HOME.

applied, that the hospital is kept in a condition of cleanliness, and the proper disinfectants are used for the elimination of bad odors.

He shall see that the bedding and clothing receive constant and careful attention, that such articles as may have been soiled or infected are not destroyed, provided they can be restored to a sanitary condition by washing or sterilizing. Drugs and medicines should be carefully guarded to prevent their improper or unauthorized use.

All prescriptions, after being filled, will be carefully filed and preserved.

ASSISTANT SURGEON.

The Assistant Surgeons must be graduates of a first-class regular medical school, and be competent to discharge the duties of their positions. They shall assist the surgeon in the performance of all duties belonging to his office and shall act as house surgeons under direction of the surgeon in charge, and shall at all times answer the calls of the sick, either in the hospital or in quarters. They will, in addition to the work above specified, act as apothecaries and perform such other duties pertaining to their profession or office as shall be required of them by the Surgeon.

QUALIFICA-

TIONS

AND DUFIES OF

SURGEONS.

RULES

AND

REGULATIONS.

L LINO IS SOLDIERS AND SAILORS HOME.

RULES AND REGULATIONS.

Under Section 18 of the law establishing this institution and other laws pertaining thereto, said Board of Trustees hereby make the following rules and regulations governing admission to the ITome:

ADMISSION.

To he entitled to admission the applicant must be:

I.

An honorably discharged United States soldier or sailor in the war of the Rebellion, the Mexican war, or of the late war with Spain and Philippine Islands.

II.

A bona fide resident of the State of Illinois for two years next preceding date of application, or shall have served in an Illinois organization.

III.

Disabled so he cannot earn a living, and have, at the time of his application, no property or other means of support.

IV.

Preference will he given inmates of poor-houses in this state ( who possess the above described qualifications, and non-pensioned, indigent applicants will be preferred to those in receipt of pensions.

V.

Xo person shall be admitted as a member of the Home until he shall have submitted a written application, signed by himself, accompanied by an honorable discharge or certificate of service in the army or navy of the United States, and the said application shall have been approved by the Superintendent.

No one will be admitted until he has been examined by the Home Surgeon, who shall certify to his disability.

IX

The applicant, in asking admission to the Home, must agree and bind himself, if he be admitted, to abide by and lie governed by all the rules and regulations pertaining to members of the Home, so long as he retains his membership.

And must authorize and empower the Superintendent to hold his pension money, if subject to the laws of the State of Illinois and the rules and regulations of the Home. Applicants for original admission only will be furnished transportation from his place of residence within the State of Illinois to the Home.

X

Whenever the conditions or capacity for the care of members are exhausted, the Superintendent shall give notice thereof by such publication through the public press as he may deem necessary, and by informing the different posts of the Grand Army of the Republic of the State, and thereafter, until additional accommodation is obtained, admissions shall cease.

DISCIPLINE.

I.

All officers, members and employes of the Home must be orderly, temperate and attentive to the duties required of them. Members must be respectful towards officers and non-commissioned officers and civil in their treatment of each other. Drunkenness, disorderly conduct, profane, abusive or obscene language will not be tolerated.

II.

When any member of the Home becomes abusive and violent and disturbs the peace and quiet of other members, or guilty of any other improper behavior, the Superintendent may order the

ILLINOIS SOLDIERS AND SAILORS HOME.

police sergeant, or bis assistants, to confine such members in the guard-house for such length of time as, in his judgment, may he necessary to promote the comfort and discipline of the Home.

III.

Members will not be allowed to bring intoxicating liquors into the Home, and any violation of this rule may subject the offender to expulsion.

, IV.

The supplies purchased for the institution must be carefully and properly used.

Y.

Work without pay may be imposed as a penalty for violation of the rules, and offenders may also be required to remain in their quarters or within the boundaries of the Home at the discretion of the Superintendent.

VI.

Members guilty of repeated drunkenness, disorderly conduct, insubordination, or other offenses, and refusing to obey the rules of the Home, or anyone guilty of outrageous behavior, may be summarily dismissed or dishonorably discharged in the discretion of the Superintendent, and no dishonorably discharged man will be readmitted for a period of six (6) months after discharge, except by order of the Board of Trustees, unless it be clearly proven to the Superintendent that said offender is in need of medical attendance and has no means of procuring same, and it shall be the duty of the Superintendent to report all such cases to the Board of Trustees at their regular quarterly meeting.

VII.

Members of the Home will wear the prescribed uniform, except when on special duty or by permission of the Superintendent.

VIII.

Members will be allowed an honorable discharge on application if they are in good standing; such, honorably discharged men may be readmitted on examination as to disability; but in case a member is mentally irresponsible, the Superintendent may, in his discretion, withhold discharge, and if necessary, communicate with the member’s relatives or friends; and in the event no relative or friends are found to whom the case may be submitted, it shall be the duty of the Superintendent to refer the matter to the County Court and ask for the appointment of a conservator. '

IX.

Members who have recovered from their disabilities, and who, in the opinion of the Surgeon, are able to earn a livelihood, will be granted an honorable discharge, and it shall be the duty of the Superintendent, when he has reason to believe that any member has recovered from his disabilities, to refer the case to the Surgeon for investigation and report.

Officers, employes, or members having complaints to make

concerning the Home or the conduct of anyone connected with it, shall file such complaints in writing with the Superintendent, whose duty it shall be to investigate and act upon the same. In case such investigation is not satisfactory, the complainant shall have the right to appeal to the Board of Trustees. Complaints against the Superintendent shall be made to tho Board of Trustees.

ABSENCE AND LEAVE OF ABSENCE, FURLOUGHS, ETC.

The Superintendent shall at no time absent himself for a period of more than five consecutive days without permission of the Board of Trustees.

Leaves of absence may be granted by the Superintendent to any of the subordinate officers or employes of the institution for a period not exceeding in the whole thirty (30) days in the year.

Furloughs will be granted by the Superintendent when application is made on the usual form, unless the member is undergoing sentence imposed by the Superintendent’s court or is indebted to the Home; but the Superintendent may decline to grant such furloughs in the event the member is thought to be of unsound mind until such time as he can communicate with the friends or relatives of said member. Members on furlough shall not be permitted to wear their uniforms except by special order of the Superintendent.

ILLINOIS SOLDIERS AND SAILORS HOME.

Passes for a period of not exceeding five (5) days may be granted to enable the member to go to points at some distance from the Home; but .such passes shall not be granted to members under sentence or indebted to the Home, except it be for urgent reasons.

For longer periods than five days a furlough should be granted.

ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE.

Members who willfully absent themselves without leave for a period of ten (10) consecutive days shall be discharged as deserters, and when so discharged their pension certificates must be returned to the pension agent who makes payment.

ACCOUNTS— GENERAL FUND.

Vouchers for mileage of Home officers, or reimbursement for traveling expenses of officers or employes or members of the Board of Trustees, incurred under proper authority in the interest of the Home,' shall be presented on the regular form, and each item of expense incurred will be set down under its proper date and place. The points to and from, which railroad, sleeping car or other transportation expenses are incurred, will be stated.

DISBURSEMENTS.

Disbursements will be made from time to time upon receipt of properly certified bills, but all liabilities, including services, must be paid for as far as practicable during the quarter in which they are contracted.

Pay rolls must in all cases be signed by the persons whose names appear on the roll and who have performed the services; the signature by mark will not be used except in cases where the persons receiving the pay are unable to write their name, in which case their mark must be witnessed.

Where a power of attorney is granted by an officer or employe to draw the amount due him, said power of attorney must be filed with the pay roll as legal evidence of the authority of said signature.

ACCOUNTS— PENSION FUND.

It shall be the duty of the Superintendent to render to the Board of Trustees an account current at the close of each quarter.

He shall also open a debit and credit ledger account with each pensioner and shall provide said pensioner with a hook wherein shall he stated the amount deposited with the Superintendent from time to time and the amount withdrawn or paid to dependent relatives.

The Superintendent may prevent a hurtful, wasteful or extravagant use of pension money in any case by retaining the whole or a portion of any member’s pension when, in his opinion, the best interests of the pensioner require the adoption of this course. Any balance due the pensioner when discharged from the Home shall be paid him; and in case of death, the amount in the Superintendent’s hands shall be turned over to the legal representative of the deceased, but in the event the amount is so small that it will not pay the expenses of administration, it shall be the duty of the Superintendent to deposit the same to the credit of the posthumous fund.

ACCOUNTS— HOME STORE.

An account current of the Home store fund will be transmitted by the Superintendent to the Board of Trustees at each regular quarterly meeting; and said Board may, in its discretion, require at any time a detailed statement of all expenditures on account of this fund, together with vouchers for payments made. The management of the Home store shall make weekly reports of cash receipts and at the end of each quarter shall file an inventory showing- actual value of goods in stock. Disbursements from the Home store account may be made only for amusements, transportation or subsistence of soldiers who are ineligible to membership in a Home of this State, for supplies necessary to keep up the stock and salaries, but any other expenditures must be by order of the Board of Trustees.

No intoxicating liquors shall be sold in the Home store, nor shall patent medicines of any kind be vended therefrom except such as have been passed upon by the Surgeon of the Home and approved by the Superintendent.

ACCOUNTS— POSTHUMOUS FUND.

A posthumous acount shall be opened of the funds belonging to deceased members, of unclaimed amounts deposited therein;

ILLINOIS SOLDIERS AND SAILORS HOME.

and moneys once deposited to the credit of this fund shall not he withdrawn except by order of the Board of Trustees, who shall direct the Superintendent what disposition shall he made of same when so withdrawn.

ACCOUNTS— ORDINARY.

It shall be the duty of the Superintendent to keep an account of moneys deposited to the credit of the ordinary fund, which account shall he credited with all receipts, except from the State naturally belonging to what is known as the ordinary fund. These credits shall consist of all receipts from the sale of property of any kind, and when deposited to the credit of the Treasurer may be drawn against in the same manner as funds received from the State for ordinary expenses.

The Superintendent shall at each regular quarterly meeting submit to the Board of Trustees an itemized account of receipts from all sources, giving name of party from whom received, and if it be received in payment for property sold, a description thereof and price received.

All accounts shall be kept on such records as are prescribed by the Honorable Board of Commissioners of Public Charities, but additional records may be prescribed by the Board of Trustees from time to time with the consent of said Board of Commissioners of Public Charities.

ACCOUNTS— PROPERTY.

All property received will be accounted for by competent vouchers duly signed, examined, approved and filed, whether purchased, fabricated or gained by issue, provided that any unusual excess of gains of issue shall be reported by a Board of Survey duly approved. The abstracts will be signed and certified by the Quartermaster, after which the articles thereupon shown will be entered in proper accounts as by purchase, fabrication, etc.

All property disposed of will be accounted for by competent vouchers duly examined, approved and filed, abstracts of which will be furnished by the Quartermaster, to which will be added all articles lost, stolen, lost in issue, etc., all of which entries will be reported by a Board of Survey.

ADMISSIONS.

bio soldier or sailor shall he admitted as temporarily at post; hut the Superintendent may in his discretion permit such soldiers' or sailors to remain for a limited time if satisfactory reasons are given, and persons accepting this courtesy may he required to perform such labor as their condition,, age and health will permit.

ALLOWANCES.

Civilians, permanently employed and residing at the Home, are allowed quarters, heat, light, water, medical care and rations, provided that all such allowances shall conform in quality and kind to those regularly furnished members and employes of corresponding rank and occupation. Civilians employed, when traveling under orders, on business of the Home, may be allowed traveling and other necessary expenses incurred between the points stated in the authority for traveling.

ALLOWANCES— CLOTHING.

The allowance of clothing on admission shall be one hat, one overcoat, one blouse, one vest, one pair of trousers, one pair of shoes, two under-shirts, two over-shirts, two pairs Canton flannel drawers, two pairs of socks, one pair of suspenders. Three months thereafter one blouse, one pair of trousers, one pair of shoes, one under-shirt, one over-shirt, one pair of Canton flannel drawers and two pairs of socks. The allowance thereafter will be such as may be required to replace articles actually worn out. A time limit for the use of clothing will not be recognized, and all clothing will be issued and re-issued until no longer serviceable.

The prices at which the several articles of Home clothing shall be charged to members when lost or damaged through carelessness or neglect will be fixed by the Superintendent according to the cost of such articles when purchased.

Clothing of members furloughed shall be turned in to the Quartermaster before the member leaves the Home. All such clothing shall be cleaned and repaired, and, if not called for by the furloughed member within six. (6) months, shall, if its condition warrants, be re-issued to re-admitted members and members returning from absence of more than six (6) months.

ILLINOIS SOLDIERS AND SAILORS HOME.

Members furloughed or discharged will not, as a rule, be permitted to take away Home clothing. The Superintendent, however, is authorized in deserving cases to make exceptions to this rule.

When a member is admitted to the hospital, when in the opinion of the Surgeon his illness is likely to be of considerable duration, or the prospects of recovery are remote, it shall be the duty of the Surgeon, as soon as a proper diagnosis of t/he patient has been made, to cause all articles of clothing in possession of such member as are not required for his use in hospital to be turned in to the Quartermaster, such clothing to be fumigated, cleansed, repaired and re-issued in the same manner as other clothing.

To members sick in hospital such extra issues of clothing will be made as the Surgeon deems necessary, such issues to be made upon his requisition, approved by the Superintendent. When the clothing so issued is no longer required it shalL be turned in to the Quartermaster, thoroughly renovated and re-issued.

APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL ISSUES.

When members for any reason, whether from unusual size or deformity of any kind, are unable to wear the Home regulation clothing, application will be made to the Surgeon for examination, and, on approval by him, orders will be given for the manufacture of such articles as are not usually carried in stock to fit the exigencies of the case. Members under pay will be charged with excess of cost over the value of articles as fixed by Home regulations.

The clothing is the property of the Home, and no issue shall be construed as a surrender of its control. Overcoats will be issued to members of the Home on the first day of October and returned to the Quartermaster not later than the first day of May in each year.

AMUSEMENTS.

The organization of Grand Army of the Republic Posts, societies having reference to the military service of the members, temperance and religious societies, and clubs for social intercourse, will be encouraged as sources of interest and pleasure to the members. \

It shall be the duty of the Superintendent, however, to carefully supervise all such amusements in the interests of harmony and good discipline.

Liberal expenditures may be made from the Home store fund for amusement, such as reading rooms, lectures, bands, social entertainments, billiard and card rooms.

BATHING.

Suitable bathing facilities are provided in each cottage, and every member will be required to bathe not less than once in each week.

BOOKS.

The following records shall be kept, namely: Burial record,

company register, historical register, hospital record, morning report, offenders5 docket, record of members discharged, record of letters received, state registry and boards of survey.

When the Quartermaster requires the action of a board of survey to determine responsibility relating to public property under his charge, he shall make written request therefor to the Superintendent,* accompanying his request with an inventory of the articles upon which action is required and all the documentary evidence upon which he relies for relief from his property responsibility. The inventory must show in the column for remarks opposite each article, its value and how gain, loss or damage is supposed to have occurred. It should be arranged by classes, as lost in issue, taken away by members, stolen, worn out, etc.

The exhibits relating to the loss of clothing while in the hands of members will also be arranged in classes under proper heading: the name of company and regiment and Home company of each member being shown, with date of his furlough, etc.

The certificate of the Surgeon, in case of clothing destroyed by liis order or used for burial purposes, will also be required.

When property has been lost through carelessness or theft, affidavits setting forth the facts, when practicable, will be procured. It is the duty of the Quartermaster to procure, place in proper form, and present to the Superintendent, all evidence on which he relies to relieve himself for responsibility for property. Keports of proceedings of the board of survey will be made on

ILLINOIS SOLDIERS AND SAILORS HOME.

such form as is prescribed by the Superintendent. In all cases at least one member of any board of survey shall be a commissioned officer.

CAMP AND COTTAGE WORK.

Ordinary camp and cottage duty relating to care and comfort of members must always be performed by members when detailed, unless they are excused by the Surgeon ; and when so excused must not be given credit for the duty, but take their turn when again detailed.

CEMETERY.

The cemetery of the Home shall be laid out by the Engineer and graves shall be arranged in sections and rows and numbered in regular series to correspond with the burial record kept in headquarters office.

v

The marble head-stones, provided by the Government for deceased members of the Home, will be used to mark the graves; semi-annual requisitions for the same being made upon the Quartermaster General of the United States Army by the Superintendent; and until such times as the head-stones are furnished, it will be the duty of the Superintendent, as soon as interment has been made, to mark the graves with a temporary wooden board, giving name, company, regiment and state of deceased, together with date of death.

K CHAPLAIN. A

The chaplain shall have charge of the spiritual welfare of the members of the Home. He shall receive the aid and encouragement of all officers, and, in consultation with the Superintendent, will fix the hours for religious services. He will make frequent visits to the hospital, answer promptly all requests for attendance, and, without being subject to definite rules and regulations, have an active interest in all that relates to good discipline and the moral and spiritual well-being of the members of the Home.

CHIEF ENGINEER.

The Chief Engineer shall have charge of all shops for repairing and manufacturing, also the roads, walks, bridges, fire department, heating plant, quarries, cemetery, engines, ice house, and pumping stations. He shall make timely requisition, as far as practicable, for all supplies that will be necessary for his department and present the same through the Superintendent to the Board of Trustees at their regular quarterly meeting, setting forth in detail the probable cost of all necessary repairs, and the amount of material that will be necessary for the several departments under his charge.

THE COTTAGE COMMANDERS.

It shall be the duty of the Cottage Commanders, under direction of the Superintendent, to take charge of and supervise the discipline and general well-being of the members of their cottages. The Cottage Commander is to see that every portion of the cottage occupied by his company is kept in a proper condition, every member of the cottage being subject to detail for his duty. He will make a daily morning report to the Adjutant/ showing the strength of his cottage and the changes from day to day. He will also keep a record of the membership of his cottage, showing the status of the members in the cottage register book, and on the last day of each month assist the Superintendent in making an accurate muster roll of his cottage. He will make report to the Superintendent of any violation of the rules or other offenses against the good order of the Home by members of his cottage, and be present at the time and place of trial appointed by the Superintendent with a statement of the charges and the witnesses in each case. He will, at sick call, each morning cause any members of his cottage who may wish medical advice or attention to be taken before the Surgeon at the designated place, and will promptly report any sickness or injury that may require the attention of the Surgeon at any time.