A district court, in its discretion, may at any time direct the sale of the whole or any part of the effects of a deceased seaman or apprentice, which it has received or may hereafter receive, and shall hold the proceeds of such sale as the wages of deceased seamen are held. When no claim to the wages or effects or proceeds of the sale of the effects of a deceased seaman or apprentice, received by a district court, is substantiated within six years after the receipt thereof by the court, it shall be in the absolute discretion of the court, if any subsequent claim is made, either to allow or refuse the same. Such courts shall, from time to time, pay any moneys arising from the unclaimed wages and effects of deceased seamen, which in their opinion it is not necessary to retain for the purpose of satisfying claims, into the Treasury of the United States, and such moneys shall form a fund for, and be appropriated to, the relief of sick and disabled and destitute seamen belonging to the United States merchant marine service. (R. S., 4545; Mar. 3, 1897; sec. 7.)
The President is authorized to receive donations of real or personal property, in the name of the United States, for the erection or support of hospitals for sick and disabled seamen. (R. S., 4801.)
The term "seaman," wherever employed in legislation relating to the marine-hospital service, shall be held to include any person employed on board in the care, preservation, or navigation of any vessel, or in the service, on board, of those engaged in such care, preservation, or navigation. (Mar. 3, 1875; sec. 3.)
No person employed in or connected with the navigation, management, or use of canal-boats engaged in the coasting-trade shall by reason thereof be entitled to any benefit or relief from the marine-hospital fund. (R. S., 4804.)
Sick and disabled seamen of foreign vessels and of vessels [not subject to hospital-dues] may be cared for by the marine-hospital service at such rates and under such regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe. (Mar. 3, 1875; sec. 6.)
Sick foreign seamen may be admitted to the marine hospitals within the United States, if it can with convenience be done, on the application of the master of any foreign vessel to which any such seaman may belong. Each seaman so admitted shall be subject to a charge of [seventy-five cents] per day for each day he may remain in the hospital, which shall be paid by the master of such foreign vessel to the collector of the collection-district in which such hospital is situated. And the collector shall not grant a clearance to any foreign vessel until the money so due from her master shall be paid. The officer in charge of each hospital is hereby directed, under penalty of fifty dollars, to make out the accounts against each foreign seaman that may be placed in the hospital under his direction, and render the same to the collector. (R. S., 4805; Mar. 3, 1875; sec. 6.)