St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-12
Future of the Home.

A growing public sentiment demands that
legislation be enacted and appropriations be
made to purchase all the state soldiers homes
and transform them into rational homes.
The progress of recent events tends mani
festly in this direction, There are now nearly
5000 inmates of the soldiers homes of the
country state aud national. This number OF
veteran de peudents exceeds the total strength
of the regular army. and it is rapidly lncrea1-
ing. The nation. not the states, pledged its
honor TO care for them in their old age The
states have assumed the function because
common decency and common humanity
Joined in the demand that il be no longer
neglected Meantime, however the duty o I
this state TO go on with the work is manifest
opinions only seeming to differ as to its pros
pective magnitude. This board, at the very
inception or its operations, made an estimate
that the ultimate maximum capacity of the
institution. at period say ten years distant
from its establishment, should be LOCO men.
Observation and experience have since tended
to confirm this estimate, with the possible
exception of the disturbing influence of the
disability pension bill which has so recently
become law that its results In the member
ship of soldiers homes cannot be positively
told. The total number of applications for
admission TO our home filed. up to this date,
has been 300. 1t is due to the lack Of means,
and 10 the wise division of our functions
not to a lack OF need or material, that our
population is not 600 to-day instead of 40
But the causes which have brought these
men to the condition which demauds this
help. are constantly operating III an aug
mented degree. If there are. as estimated
$1,000 ex- sOldfers now resident in Minnesota
each advancing year adds 10000 years TO the
grand sum-tota of their possible disability ~
practically deducts 10000 years from the ag
gregate of their productive capacity, for the
youngest Of them are beginning to feel the
premonitions of 1nfTmity Patriotism and
humanity demand that more ample pro-
vision be made for this coming throng OF
well-credentialed claimants on our Denef-
icence.
Appropriations.
We respectfully ask the legislature for an
appropriation OF $4,000 for the fiscal year
ending July II, 1892, and 800 900 for the fiscal
year ending July II. 1893, III addition to the
$40, 900 per annum appropriated under the
general law, for the support of the Soldiers
home. We also respectfully ask the Iegis-
lature for an appropriation of $4,000 for the
fiscal year ending July 81. 1892, ana $4,000
for the fiscal year ending July 81, 1893, for
additional buildings for the soldiers home.
Relief.
The total expenditures from the relief fund
for the fiscal year ending July 81, 1890 were
S46 012 62-being an increase OF nearly S11-5O
over the preceding year. The demands were
so great during the autumn and winter
months, that the fund was practically eX
hausted by June l, 1890. The allowances
>were cut down to the lowest possible point
and tue payments were made from the fund
legally at our disposal, but properly belong
lag 70 the next fiscal year, being of the tax
collections Of 1890, which constitute the fund
tor disbursement during the fiscal year end
ing July 81, 1891. of the total amounts dis
bursed. $3.50 Il was expended for postage. for
secretary and county agents. necessary print
Ing, stationery and other expenses. leaving
SIS, 453. Is expended directly for relief.