Chap. 837.—An ACT to provide artificial limbs for citizens of the common-
wealth who lost their limbs during the war and whose names are upon the
pension roll.

Approved March 8, 1894.

Whereas it appears that there are only one hundred and ninety-
two citizens of this state on the pension rolls who lost a leg or an
arm in the late war; and whereas no act has been passed furnishing
said citizen pensioners artificial legs or arms since the act approved
January thirteenth, eighteen hundred and seventy-three, and that
many of the said citizens are unprovided with artificial legs or arms
in consequence of their indigent circumstances: therefore,

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That the
governor and auditor of public accounts, who are hereby constituted
a board for the purpose, are directed to contract for and furnish to
every citizen of this commonwealth who lost a leg or an arm in the
late war an artificial leg or arm to supply the place of the one so lost:
provided that the applicant has heretofore furnished, or can hereaf-
ter furnish, a certificate from the court of his county or corporation
showing that he is a citizen of this state, that he lost his leg or arm
in the late war and was a citizen of this state at the time of the loss
of said leg or arm or in a military corps of the state: and provided,
further, that he has not received an artificial leg or arm from any
other state, the United States, or under the provisions of an act en-
titled an act to provide artificial legs or arms for citizens of this
commonwealth who lost their legs or arms in the late war, passed
January twenty-ninth, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, or an act
approved November the first, eighteen hundred and seventy, entitled
an act to provide artificial legs or arms for citizens of the common-
wealth who lost their legs or arms during the late war, or the act ap-
proved March twenty-fifth, eighteen hundred and seventy-two,
amending and re-enacting the same: provided, further, that where
the applicant has been heretofore furnished an artificial leg or arm
under the provisions of either of the aforementioned acts and cannot
use said artificial leg or arm, or that it is unfit for use, then such
disabled soldier shall produce the certificate of the county court of
his county reciting the facts, as required as aforesaid; and further,
that such soldier was so disabled as aforesaid to such an extent that
an artificial leg or arm cannot be worn or used by him, and his name
igs upon the pension roll of the state, then it shall be the duty of the
auditor of public accounts, on the production of such last named
certificate, to pay such soldier an amount in money equivalent to the
cost of such leg or arm if the same could be worn by him: provided,
further, that in the furnishing of limbs, or giving compensation in
lieu thereof, under the provisions of this act, preference shall be
given to those applying who have not received the same under the
provisions of former acts: provided, further, that the amount annu-
ally appropriated to any such citizen shall be credited upon the
actual cost of said limb, so that the commonwealth shall only be re-
quired to pay the difference as aforesaid in purchasing said limb,
and in payment of the annual pension of any citizen under the laws
now in force governing pensions: provided said citizen shall desire
the said artificial leg or arm.

2. That the sum of four thousand dollars—if so much be required—
is hereby appropriated to defray the charges and expenses attending
the execution of the provisions of the foregoing section, to be paid
by the treasurer as the same may be required, out of any money not
otherwise appropriated, upon the order of the auditor, countersigned
by the governor.

8. The board may make such rules and regulations as it may deem
suitable to carry this act into effect, and shall contract for and fur-
nish such patterns of artificial legs and arms as it may think best
adapted to the purpose intended by this act: provided that no Con-
federate soldier shall be entitled to the benefit of this act unless he
is entitled to the benefits of the general law of this state providing
for commutation to soldiers of the late war who have lost a leg or an
arm.

4. This act shall be in force from ite passage.