St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-02-15
THE SOLDIERS, HOMES.

THE SOLDIERS HOMES.
The proposed changes in the law gov
erntng the management Of the national
homes for disabled soldiers are not in
tended to cast any reflection upon those
who have heretofore had and who now
have control of those Institutions. In
deed, it would be impossible to find in
situations of public character in the
management of which there is less to
condemn than the soldiers homes.
The governors have been chosen from
among the officers on the retired list of
the army. They have not only been
honest and honorable men. but have
enforced as strict a discipline as was
consistent with that consideration and
kindness that is due to disabled veter-
ans Of the war.
The duties devolying upon the gov
ernors of the soldiers homes are pecu-
liarly delicate. A majority OF the in
mates of the homes are men who have
not been accustomed to ask for charity.
1t is the ain of these institutions to
keep them from such necessity. even in
the eXtremitieS of poverty to which
disease and old age may have brought
them. The institutions are not asylums,
but homes homes that have been
earned and paid for by the inmates and
their comrades In armS-for which
many of them have sacrificed an arm,
or leg, or have suffered grievous and
disabling wounds or disease. They
have as much right to reside IN them
as the millionaire has to reside in his
mansion, and are as far from being
pauperS as the retired merchant or
banker who spends his declining years
in the enjoyment of the profits of his
labors.
The proposed changes in management
relate only to the financial affairs OF the
homes. Heretofore the board of man
ayers has had exclusive control of all
the affairs of the homes, financial as
we'll as disciplinary. These managers
consist of Maj. Gen. Schofield, com.
mander-in-chief of the army; Adjt. Gen.
RuggleS, Quartermaster General Batch
elder, Commissary General Hawkins,
Surgeon General Sternberg. and the
Judge advocate general. all men of the
highest personal and off cial standing.
Heretofore the board of managers has
held exclusive control of affairs. but it
is now recommended by the appropria-
tons committee that the board make an
annual report to the secretary of war, to
be submitted by him to congress; that
an inspection of the records, disburse-
mentS, discipline and management be
made annually by the Inspector general,
who is to report to congress; that the
disbursing officers give bonds approved
by the secretary of war; that their ac-
counts be rendered monthly to the war
department for transmission to the
treasury. and that all laws req uiring
the board of managers to make quarter
ly visits to the homes and audit accounts
be repealed.
These changes proposed are strictly
in line with busineSs-like policy.
They cast no reflection upon the past
conduct of the institutions; they inter-
fere in no way with the management;
they impose no unnecessary burdens
upon the officials. Nor do they interfere
in any respect with the strictly military
character of the homes, but rather EN-
phasiZe that character istic.
The country. as well as the old SOL
diers, is to be congratulated upon the
success that has attended the establish
ment of these homes. No scandal has
attached to their management except in
one instance, when a man who was
more OF Il politician than a soldier had
been entrusted with the superintend-
ency of the Milwaukee home An ex-
MI obi ,.ff iat Z,
has been sufficient to deter all others
from attempting to follow his example.
AS the years pass the wisdom of the
establishment Of these homes becomes
more and more conspicuous. The in
mates are not all dependent. Many, as
they become ln6rm, find themselves
bereft of the comforts of home. They
have no one to care for their physical
necessities. At the homes they find
congenial and sympathetic society and
all the necessary comforts of life. The
only trouble that has been experienced
at any time has been due to the proxim-
ity of liquor saloons, and the tendency
of few of the inmates to squander their
pension money at such resorts. This
has been overcome to large extent by
disciplinary methods-by denying to
those who get drunk certain privileges
extended to others, and by extending
privileges to those who refrain from
such debauches.
Every patriotic citizen will approve of
every measure that ten DIS towards bene-
fitting the, national homes for disabled
soldiers. and the pending measure seems
to be calculated to improve their condi-
ton.