The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-09-24
ABOUT THE HOME.
A FEW WORDS FROM ONE OF THE
MANAGERS.
A Backward Glance and Glimpse Into the
Future-An Interview With Maj. NJ.
Looscan of Houston Regarding
the Institution.

| A0Aao Voudy 10 uho SollleueTdUe Home
i'll this city, inaugurated several years
ago by the gallant John b. Hood
Camp of Confederate veterans, and
maintained by their efforts aided by
humane contributions of brave hearts
in all quarters Of the country.
When the last legislature accepted
this noble charge from its supporters
and it became a state institution all
Texas was proud and all other states
applauded.
One of the most recent develop
ments in regard to the institution
was the appointment of Major M.
Looscan of Houston as one of the
board of managers of the Home, and
incidentally it may be remarked
better appointment could hardly have
been made.
The Office is one which is not
scrambled after by the grasping null
titude. 1t doesn't pay much. In
honors it is liberal, but the salary
that goes with it will never make any
man sordid millionaire. In fact at
is an office Of large honors but of very
small emoluments," yet it is just such
! an office as just such man as
Major M. Looscan would de-
light in. 1t gives him
a magnificent opening for the escape
of that vast sea of kindness and of
sympathy that fills every recess of his
great big heart, and it will pay
enough for him to see that every mo-
ment of the fading lives of those old
heroes is made as peaceful and as
happy as it is in the power of mortal
man to make them.
Major Louscan is well pleased with
his appointment. He has visited the
Home, and to reporter who ques-
toned him on the subject he said:
eyes, / have visited the Home and |
have nothing but satisfaction to eX-
press at anything l saw there. There
are some eighty inmates at the present
time and about the same number of
action of the board. The institution
of course is very much overcrowoed,
but that can not be Obviated under eX-
listing conditions. / found everything
scrupulously neat and general good
order existing. 1 think the Home in
the past has done much good, and that
it's officers have conducted it's affairs
with marked ability. The act of the
twenty-second legislature which pro-
vided for the creation and maintain
ance of the Home, provides for the ap-
pointment of five managers, all of
whom shall be ex-Confederates.
Prior to the creation of the state Home
the institution was managed by a
board composed exclusively of citizens
| of Austin. Since the passage of the
act creating the Home there has been
a vacancy created by the resignation
of w. B. Walker, Esq, who is son
of Lieutenant Colonel James Walker
of the Second Texas Mounted Rifles,
one of the most gallant men who ever
| did service in Texas and with
| whom / served in the early
days of the war, which position he
obtained by promotion. The citi-
zens of Austin desired that Mr..
Walkers successor be chosen from
another quarter of the state, not that
they doubted the sincerity or integrity
of the present board, but they thought
as the home was state institution it
should have state representation.
The appropriation set apart for the
maintenance of the Home is derived
from the sale of certain properties and
the accumulation of rents accruing
from others; the proceeds received
from escheated estates, together with
the application of certain fees in eX-
cess of expenses accommodating in the
office of secretary of state, agricultural
department, etc., and from various
other sources, in any event not to ex-
coed $65, 900. The present quarters
of the Home are very much
crowded, and no more permits for
admission can be passed upon until
more accommodations are provided
by the completion of the four new
brick cottages which are now in
course of construction. Considering
the expenditures that will be incur
red incident to the erection of build
ings to accommodate the veterans
now seeking admission, doubt if the
amount set apart for the home will be
ample to meet the demands, but the
legislature will, am sure, make such
additional provisions for the mainte-
nance of the Home as from time
to time it may deem prop
err. Governor Hogg has taken
great interest in the future of the ex-
Confederate veterans of the state, and
is very anxious for the success of the
Home. The veterans consider them
selves very kindly treated by the adj
ministration, and seem to fully appre-
ciate the earnest effort of the governor
which resulted in procuring for their
INDECENT comrades an institution for
their maintenance. 1t is undoubt-
eddy and indisputably the duty of
every state and county to provide for
those disabled in the cause which they
espoused and believed to be right,
no matter in whose behalf
| the final arbiter of war may decide;
and hope to see every state which
| advocated the cause of the lost Con-
federacy make ample provision for
| the unfortunate veterans who en-
dured the privations and dangers of
war that the principles which the
| Southern states honestly and sincere
ly advocated might be perpetuated.
When visiting the Home / met many