The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-21
THE COUNTRY'S WAR LEGACY
The National Soldiers Home, and Sol
diers' Orphans HoIneat Knightstown.
Provisions Made by the Government and the
State for the Care of Disabled Vet
Grams and Their Orphans.

the National Soldiers Home, at Dayton, have
made a report of their observations and impress
sions, indicating the good points of each, and the
undesirable features of the management of the
first named. The report will be read with inter
est by all old soldiers, as well as by those who are
Interested in the welfare of the veterans and
their orphans. 1t is as follows:
HEADQUARTERS GEORGE II. THOMAS Posi-
No. IL. DEPT. OF INDIANA, g. A. R.,
INDIANAPOLIS. Dec. Is, 1889.
The following committee report having been re-
ceived and spread of record on the minutes of
the %adjutant, and the thanks of the post to the
committee having been voted. it was ordered by
the postt hat copies of the report be furnished to
the Indianapolis newspapers and that it be pub
lished in pamphlet form for distribution. It was
further ordered that the post quartermaster send
the sum of $25 to Sarah <. Pittman, trustee
Soldiers Orphans Home, Knightstown, Ind. to
purchase Christmas gifts for said orphans.
j. E. HASKELL, Commander.
WIN. F. KEAY, Adjutant.
To the Commander and Comrades of George H;
Thomas Post, No.I department of Indiana, Grand
Army of the Republic:
Your committee appointed to make inquiry
| concerning the Indiana Soldiers Orphans Home
and the National Home for Disabled Volunteer
Soldiers and to report as to the modes by which
persons entitled to the benefits Of these institu-
lions may gain admission thereto. and as to the
| CAlCEIbS Vic vi eAOh POLoOdOs l. "
some correspondence with the managing officers
of said Homes, respectively, concluded that our
duty in the premises could be better performed
by visiting said institutions.
Through the courtesy of Comrade Oran Perry
we were provided with a pass over the Pan
handle railroad. Comrade John L. McMaster,
mayor of Indianapolis, having accepted an in
vitation to accompany us, he was added to the
committee, and on the Sd inst. we spent half a
| day at the Soldiers Orphans Home in Rush
county, Indiana, near knlghtStoWn.
This institution became the property of the
State of Indiana, and was placed under the con-
troll and management Of officers selected under
State legislation, in 1867, as a ''home for the
maintenance of sick end disabled Indiana SOL
diers and seamen and their orphans and wild
ows. to be called the Indiana Soldiers and Sea-
mems Home"
Provision was made for the admission of
necessito1s or disabled persons vino had been in
the service of the United States, in the army or
navy, and the widows and orphans oe Indiana
soldiers and seamen; but the institution became,
in fact, a home for Indiana soldiers orphans.
By an act of 1869 the trustees were made the
legal guardians of the persons of such orphans,
and were authorized to indenture them during
minority. The institution has been made a sub
iect of partisan legislation. In 1879, and again
in 1888, the then existing boards of trustees
were legislated out of office and the institution
was plainly treated as part of the spoils of politi-
cal victory.
In 1879 an Asylum for eble-minded Chill
dl0b was oV N VII oSV IN ~
has been continued there. In 1885, under pres
sure, largely brought about by members of our
order, the act was passed looking to the partial
reform Of these abuses. By that act it was pro-
vided, among other things, that the board of trus-
tees shall consist of at least one woman. and
the male member or members thereof shall be
honorably discharged Union soldiers, and that
lat least one member shall be an adherent of one
of each Of the two political parties casting the
largest number of votes at the last preceding
general election"
Said act of 1885 provided for the erection of a
tight board fence across the play grounds for the
separation of the soldiers orphans from the
f~eeble-minded%c children; and it was expressed as
the intention of the statute to separate said sol
diers' orphans from the predetermined inmates.
not only at play, exercise, work and recreation,
but also in sleeping apartments, schools, chapel
exercises and dining apartments.
We were kindly received by the superintend-
ent, Prof. A. Fl. Morris, who courteously an
swered our questions and showed US over the
buildings and grounds. We learned from him
that there were zig inmates, of whom 1877 were
soldiers orphans, and 50 were feeble minded
children. Of the soldiers orphans there were 80
girls and IS boys.
Under the policy which has been pursued,
there have been many and frequent changes in
the officers of the institution. The present
superintendent has had charge since last August.
Up to the time of our visit he had placed out in
homes with private families, in different parts
of the State, six girls and ten boys. In finding
homes, preference seems to be given to farmers.
In the written contracts shown us, taken from
persons to whom orphans had been intrusted, it
was provided, with other things, that the or
phans should be granted by those to whom they
were thus given. the same privileges that they
allowed their own children. 1t seems that no
printed form of Sndenture has been provided.
but the superintendent has it in mind to procure
such blanks.
The fence provided for by the statute of 1885
has been erected. and as far as is practicable
the orphans seem to be kept separate from the
feeble minded; but it is impossible to keep them
wholly separate. They live in the same house
the orphans in the north wing, and the feeble
minded in the south wing. All use the same
corridors, of necessity. They eat in the same
dining-ro0m, with a movable screen between
them. They have separate hospitals. They be-
come acquainted with each other and are known
to each other as soldiers orphans and F. MS.
Professor Morris expressed to US the opinion
that it would be better if the two classes were in
separate institutions; and our preconceived opin-
ion to that effect was greatly strengthened by
our visit.
The Legislature, by the statutory provisions to
which we have referred, plainly manifested a be-
lief that there should be as much separation as
possible of the two classes of children. We found
that there could easily and cheaply be provided
at the institution sufficient accommodations for
the soldiers orphans, but that the accommoda-
tons are not sufficient i'll extent or arrangement
for the two classes Of children, all of whom are
most proper objects of the States bounty. We
were told by the superintendent, by letter. that
at the request of the attending physician, who
lives at Knightstown, mo further admissions
will be made until vacancies occur, or until fur
Their accommodation are made" We were glad
to learn, however, that thus far no applicants
have been refused admission, and we were en-
couraged to expect that any orphans for whom
we NAV seek admission will be received.
The schools for the feeble minded are within
the main, or brick building; those for the
soldiers orphans are in a separate frame build
ing, in which are four school rooms with four
teachers. The feeble minded children are
efficiently taught gymnastic exercises. The
soldiers orphans have no such instruction. The
provisions for industrial education are very
meager. The girls are taught sewing. There
are no facilities for the learning of mechanical
trades.
Under appropriations made by the General
Assembly, in the present year, a library has