The National tribune., 1885-12-24
THE NATIONAL B0ME.
Meeting at Washington of the Board
Of Managers.

Last week the Board of Managers of the Ma
tional Home for Disabled Veteran Soldiers held
its annual meeting at the Riggs House, in
Washington. All the active members were
present: Gen. William B. Franklin, President,
Hartford, Conn; Col. Leonard A. Harris, First
Vice President Cincinnati, O.; Gen. John A.
Martin, Second Vice-Presdent, Atchison, Kan;
Gen. Martin I. Mcmahon, Secretary, New York
city; Maj. David c. Fulton, Hudson, Wis; Gen.
James s. Negley, Pittsburg, Pa; Gen. John G.
Black, Washington, d. c.. Gen. Thomas W..
Hyde, Bath. Me. The President of the United
States, the Secretary of War, and the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court are er-0ticiO men,
bers of the Board, and are often consulted re-
garding matters connected with the Home.
Chief Justice Waite manifests an especial inter-
est In the welfare of the institution, attending
the meetings of the Board whenever possible.
One vacancy exists in the list of active mem
bers, created by the death of Gen. George b.
Mcclellan. AS his term would have expired
in April next, the vacancy will not be filled till
that time. The members of the Board are ap-
pointed by Congress, three each year.
The Managers report that all the BraH ches
of the National Home-Dayton, O.; Milwau-
kee. Wis; Hampton, Va, and TOgus Me.-are
crowded to their utmost capacity. There are
on file over 1900 applications for admission,
which it is now impossible to grant, for want
of adequate accommodations. Work is pro-
enworth, Kan. Some of the buildings are al
ready finished and over 100 inmates have been
received. By Jan. /, 1885, 300 more can be ad-
mitted. When completed the capacity of this
Branch will be $500. The project to establish
a Branch in California for disabled soldiers on
the Pacific coast, is strongly favored by all the
members of the Board, and only awaits the ia
vorable action of Congress.
There is regular increase in the number of
applications for admission to the Home. Year
by year the veterans of the war are growing
old and becoming less able, by reason of their
1nfirmlties, to support themselves. This In
crease may be expected to continue for lO or 10
years, after which time there will be gradual
decrease, as the ranks are thinDed by death.
The Board says that Congress must look the
matter squarely in the face Either 1T must
say that it will only provide for a fixed num-
ber, or it must show greater 1ibcra!ity i'll pro-
viding for this increase. For the present fiscal
year Congress appropriated Sl,412000 to this
object; for next year the Managers ask 81 $780,
600, to enable them to meet the increasing de-
mands upon them. The most rigid economy is
practiced, but it is not considered just to sup
port 10000 men on an appropriation only sutfi-
Gent for 5000 1t is not manly or patriotic to
carry out a parsimonious policy toward these
disabled soldiers. The people ofthe country will
fully indOrse fair and liberal treatment for
them. During the year ended June 30, 1884,
the increase of inmates over the previous year
was per cent During the year ended June
80, 1885, it was II per cent, and the current
year it will be even greater.
The Board visits each Branch Home once
year, and holds two meetings each year in Wash
ington. There was not much of special interest
in connection with the session last week, little
being done except routine business and making
the necessary appropriations, out of the fund
appropriated by Congress, for the ensuing
quarter.
The following amounts were appropriated
last year by the Board of Managers: