CHAP. 449.—An ACT to regulate the appointment of boards of direc-
tors of the lunatic asylums and care of insane, and the repeal-of
chapters 117 and-118 of Acts of Assembly of 1883-’84, respecting
the appointment of the boards of said asylums.

Approved March 6, 1886.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
chapters one hundred and seventeen and one hundred and
eighteen of the Acts of Assembly of eighteen hundred and
eighty-three and eighty-four, respecting lunatic asylums and
the care of insane, be and the same are hereby repealed.

2. The board of directors of the Eastern, Western, South-
western, and Central lunatic asylums, shall consist of nine
members each. The said directors shall be appointed and com-
missioned by the governor, subject to confirmation by the sen-
ate. The governor shall also fill all vacancies that may occur,
and the appointment to fill the vacancy shall be for the unex-
pired term of his predecessor, but subject to the confirmation
of the senate at its next session.

The term of office of said directors shall commence on the
fifteenth day of April, eighteen hundred and eighty-seven, and
hold as follows: Under the first appointment under this act,
three directors shall hold for one year, three for two years, and
three for three years; and all succeeding appointments shall be
for three years: provided, however, that as soon as the build-
ing’ committee of the Southwestern asylum shall notify the gov-
ernor that said asylum is completed, he shall appoint nine di-
rectors for said asylum, who shall hold their office until the fif-
teenth of April, eighteen hundred and eighty-seven, when he
shall appoint nine directors, in accordance with this act, at each
of the said asylums. Five directors shall constitute a court for
the transaction of business.

4. The superintendent, and all other officers of the lunatic
asylums, shall be elected on the fifteenth day of April, eighteen
hundred and eighty-seven, and every two years thereafter, by
the board of directors, except that the officers of the South-
western lunatic asylum shall be elected the first time, as soon as
the board of directors may determine, and shall be selected with
reference to fitness, sobriety, and business qualifications, with-
out regard to party afhliations; and each of said boards of di-
rectors may remove, at any time, any officer or appointee caus-
ing to be entered upon their minutes the order of removal, to-
gether with the cause of removal. The superintendent and his
assistants shall constitute a board to examine and receive per-
sons brought to the asylums as lunatics, and order those found
to be such to be received. :

5. That all acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act,
be and the same are hereby repealed.

6. This act shall be in force from its passage.