CONSOLIDATED STATUTES.--Chapter 43, Section 3428.     ---Establishment:

     There shall be established and maintained by the state of Nebraska an institution to be known as the Nebraska Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, the object of which shall be to provide homes and subsistence to honorably discharged soldiers, sailors, and marines, and also hospital nurses who served in the United States army or navy or hospitals during the war of the rebellion, who shall, at the time of application for admission to such home, have been an actual bona fide resident of this state for two years next preceding such application, and who have become disabled by reason of such service, old age, or otherwise, from earning a livelihood, and would be dependent on public or private charities; and also the wives of such soldiers, sailors, or marines who have attained to the age of fifty years, and the widows of soldiers,  sailors, or marines who died while in the service of the United States, and the widows of such soldiers, sailors, or marines who were honorably discharged from such service and have since died: 

     Provided, such widow shall have been a bona fide resident of this state for two years immediately preceding admission to such home and have attained the age of fifty years, and is unable to earn a livelihood and is dependent on public or private charities;

      Provided further, That all applications for admission to said home shall be made to the County Board of the county in which the applicant resides, and it shall be and is hereby made the duty of any County Board in this state to whom such application shall be made to inquire into the condition of such applicant, and if upon inquiry it be found that the applicant is unable, by reason of disability or old age, to earn a livelihood for him or herself, and is dependent on public or private charities for maintenance, then the County Board shall at once forward the application, together with their finding in regard to the condition of such applicant, under their seal, to the legally authorized Board of such Home, whose duty it is, was, or hereafter may be to received and act upon such application for admission thereto.

     SEC. 3431--Visiting and Examining Board.--The governor shall appoint five persons, three of whom shall be honorably discharged volunteer soldiers of the United States Army, and two of whom shall be either wives, sisters; or daughters of honorably discharged soldiers, sailors, or marines, and members of the Woman's Relief Corps of this state as a Visiting and Examining Board:

     SEC. 3432--(As amended 1893).--The management of the Home shall be vested in the Visiting and Examining Board, who shall visit said Home at least every three months, from April 1, 1893, and inquire into the conduct and management of the affairs of the same, and the treatment of the members thereof, define the duties of the officers, fix their compensation, and to make all necessary by-laws, rules, and regulations for the government of the institution and its inmates. They shall prescribe rules of admission to said Home in accordance with the provisions and object of this act. They shall, from time to time, as they may deem necessary or advisable, cause such lands as may not be necessary in connection with the central building to be surveyed and platted into suitable tracts of two and one-half acres or more, with regularly laid out streets and alleys, and shall cause neat and comfortable cottages and outbuildings to be erected thereon as may be found necessary, and shall assign tracts of land and cottages to such of the inmates as may be able to partially support themselves by manual labor; such land shall be cultivated under such rules as may be adopted for the government of the Home.

     They shall appoint one of their number to be President and one Secretary. They shall hold their stated meetings at the institution at least as often as once each three months, at such times as they may appoint, and called meetings at the call of the President or at the request of three members of the Board. A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. At each regular meeting they shall inspect the institution under their charge, and they, or any one of them, may visit and inspect at any time. They shall, from time to time, recommend to the Board of Public Lands and Buildings such expenditures, either for permanent improvement or otherwise, as in their judgment they may deem necessary or beneficial. They shall audit all bills and vouchers for expenditures for the institution before the same shall be paid.

     SEC. 3433--(Amended 1893).--The Governor shall appoint, by and with the consent of the senate, a commandant of said Home, who shall be an ex-union soldier of the war of the rebellion, and who shall receive such salary, not exceeding fifteen hundred dollars per annum, as may be prescribed by the rules of the government of said Home. The Commandant, before entering upon the duties of his office, shall give a bond payable to the state of Nebraska, in such amount and such sureties, not less than two, as shall be approved by the Visiting and Examining Board and by the Governor, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the duties of his office, which shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State.

     On or before the 1st day of December of each year, the Visiting and Examining Board, also the Commandant, shall make out and transmit to the Governor and to the Commissioner of Public Lands and Buildings, a full and detailed report of all their respective transactions for the year immediately preceding, ending on the 30th day of November, showing the number of inmates admitted and discharged since their last report, the number then remaining in the institution, the average annual attendance, the receipts, disbursements, and expenditures of money or other funds, the valuation of property on hand, the amount of each appropriation or fund under their control, and the balances thereof remaining unexpended in the treasury of the state;

      Provided further, That the Governor may call for and require special reports when in his judgment the public interest shall demand the same; 

     Provided further, That all laws, rules, and regulations as enacted and passed by the Visiting and Examining Board for the control and government of the officers, employees, and inmates of the institution shall be approved by the Governor.