Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-11-17

cution the provisions of the Constitution
on this subject.--,
Institutions of this description have
ceased to be an experiment, numbers of
them having been established in other
States of the Union, With the most ben
eficial results I most earnestly recon-
mend that immediate steps be taken for
carrying into execution, with the least
possible delay, this requirement of the
Constitution.
SOLDIERS RELIEF LAW.
The restoration of peace and the con-
sequent discharge from the service of
the United States of the major part of
the Volunteers of this State, since the
adjournment of the General Assembly,
render it proper that there should be a
co nplete and thorough revision of the
Act for the relief of the families of sol
diers, seamen and marines, and sick
and wounded soldiers in hospitals, ap
proved March 4th, 1865. Difficulties
have arisen in the construction of the
act, and although the Auditor of State
has taken great pains to prevent d.
versisy of action in taking the enumera-
ton contemplated by the act, Iregret to
say his efforts have not been successful
in procuring entire uniformity. There
is also a want of uniformity Of con-
struction as to the persons entitled to
receive the benefits of the act, the local
authorities in some counties, as l am
informed, holding that the soldiers fam.
lily must be reduced to a condition of
absolute pauperism, before they can re-
ceive the allo vance provided for by the
act, while in other counties, relief has
been afforded whenever the soldiers
family was, in the language of the sew
enth section of the act, otherwise with
out Sufficient means for their eomforta.
Bile support" although they might pos
sess some property or means. The
latter is obviously the proper construc.
ton, and it is greatly to be regretted
that the act should not have been l;be-
rally construed in all parts of the State.
There is also some uncertainty as to
the time when the weekly allowance pro.
vided by the Act shall commence, or
from what time it shall be computed to
those entitled, although in my opinion
the Auditor of State has very properly
decided that the allowance should com
mence from the date of the passage of
the Act. So far as it is necessary to
continue the provisions of the Act in
force, l recommend the adoption of such
explanatory legislation as may be nee
essary to remove existing antiquities,
and to secure the benefit of the Act to
all those within its scope and spirit, and
to prevent the illiberal construction be-
fore alluded to. The Act contemplates
the levy and collection of three mill
tax on all taxable property, and a poll
tax of one dollar on each taxable poll,
for each Of thu years 1865 and 1866. 1
respectfully suggest that under existing
circumstances it will be necessary or
proper that these taxes sbould be levied
or collected for the year 1866, believing
that the levy for 1865, if properly dis.
bursed, will be sufficient to furnish all
the relief that the altered condition of
the coun'ry Demands egF 6
SOLDIERS AND sEAMEN's HOME. d 3
1 earnestly invite your attention to the
necessity for the speedy establishment of
an Institution in which Indiana soldiers
and seamen, disabled by woundsor dis
ease contracted in the service of the
United States, shall be cared for and
maintained during the continuance of
the d abilities under which they are
laboring. Justice, humanity, and the
honor of the State, forbid that these
brave men should be permitted to suffer
for the comforts of life, or be compelled
to receive from the public such assist
ance as is accorded to ordinary paupers.
On the 18th day of May last, Tor the
purpose of enlisting the sympathies of
the people in the establishment of such
an institution, l issued an address, of
which copy is herewith respectfully
submitted. In pursuance of the invita-
ton contained in this address, two sue
cessive meetings were held at Indiana
polls, for the purpose of effecting a tenn
porary organization of Home for dis
abled Indiana soldiers and seamen, and
to inaugurate system for the collection
of voluntary contributions sufficient to
plaee it ultimately on apermanent foun-
dation. 10 HE WITH III
At the second of these meetings, held
on the 24th. day of May last, tempo
rary organization was effected, the basis
of which will be seen by reference to
copy OF the proceedings Of said meeting,
herewith respectfully submitted. r 4
e. Soon afteE, application for relief on
the part of disabled soldiers were pre-
scented to the officers of the Associa-
zion, and the Common Council of the
city of Indianapolis generously rendered
the gratuitous use of the City Hospital
Buildings to the managers of the Asso-
citation for a temporary Home, which
offer was accepted, with the distinct I'M
derstanding that its acceptance should
not in any degree influence the ultimate
location Of the Institution, should the
effort to place it on a permanent basis
be successful. The temporary Home was
opened on the 7th day of August last,
and the absolute necessity for such an
Institutionris demonstrated by the. fact
that already forty six (46) disabled sol-
diers have been admitted into the Insti-
tuition, twenty,one (2flI of whom, after
remaining some time and receiving the
best care and medical treatment, have
been discharged with the prospect of
being sufficiently. recovered to enable
them to take care of themselves; and
one has died-leaving twenty four still
to be cared for OF the twenty.four
still in the Institution, seventeen are to.
tally disabled, either by old age, disease,
or wounds received in battle - e. 'l 81
The funds received by the Treasurer
of the Home for voluntary contributions
amount in the aggregate to 81, 994 So,
in addition to which there are unpaid
subscriptions, the estimated amount of
which will increase this to over $40, 000
It is to be feared that the Institution
cannot be placed upon permanent
foundation by voluntary contributions,
and in viewio of this / submit the entire
subject to the General Assembly, and
respectfully but earnestly recommend
that prompt measuree be taken to secure
the object in view, feeling assured that
it will commend itself toyour judgment
and sympathies. sFs k8k
The United States General Hospital
at Jacksonville is one of the most com
plete establishments of the kind in the
country, aud is well adapted to the pur-
poses Of Soldiers Home. | have writ
ten to the Secretary of War and Sur
geon General for information as to
whether the Government would be will
ing to turn over this hospital to the
State of Indiana, to be used in the es-
Enlistment of such an institution,
should the State desire it The answer,
when received, viii be communicated to
the General Assembly. y aia5 20 ~ i' 4
OFFICIAL BONDS.
The public interests require that there
should be some legislation en- the sub