The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-06
SOLDIERS IN PooRHoUsEs.
Conditions on Which They VIII Bs
Admitted to Marion National Home.

Aun1Iteu 10 allFlOn NAl1Onal home.
To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
I am pleased to think that all good citi-
zens of this great State, a very respecta-
lie portion of whom are soldiers, their sons
sc ns-in-law, grandsons etc, sincerely re-
greet to know there are soldiers in the poor
houses of the State; and mere especially
so if they are worthy, and there because
they can't help it; and would in business
way make other and better arrangements
for them. The newspapers inform that
on Friday last a bill hurriedly passed the
Senate wherein it is provided that soldiers
shall be taken from the poorhouses of the
State and boarded at the hotels. We are
not informed if first. second or third class
hotels ere to be patronized; whether extras
absolutely necessary are to be allowed.
May these soldiers buy clothing and have
it charged to the bill? The county doctor
cen give medical service in case of sickness.
Or account of their advanced age, there
will be much of it. May nurses be paid by
the landlord and charged in the bill? Are
soldiers who willfully deserted or were dis
hcncrably discharged to be boarded? May
they go from county to county, end hold an
order for board? Are soldiers who draw a
pension of $48 or more each quarter, and
who, on account of the drink disease sp nd
received, to be cared for? On account of
cur law, or construction of it, the insane
soldier, pronounced ncurable, and who is
without a home or friends to care for him,
IS bro ught from our State hospitals to the
ect nty poorhouses. This class, / predict, at
the end of each fiscal year, greatly OUT
Iumbers all other soldiers who are in the
pte1 houses. 1t is sincerely hoped that the
worthy champions of the bill will make
fortunate soldiers from the poorhouses to
the State hospitals, where they can be
letter cared fer at much less expense, and
sent to the poorhot ses. If this provision
is made and it may and ought to be done
of the soldiers would still say, well done,
Coed end faithful servants" All of the
foregoing questions or sugg estions should
in somewise be provided for in the bill
before it becomes law Bluff business.
rot be satisfactory to the one soldier In
the pcorho Sc, to the nine thousand nine
hundred aid ninety-nine who are not SO IN
Whether the bill becomes law or not
and fearing there may be soldiers in the
admission to the National Soldiers Home.
may l repeat what has been said 10 the
through the public press. but in more
specific way, namely. Upon request male
te the Governor. of the Marion Soldiers
admission to the home here will be sent
to any soldier desiring admission
every soldier in any infrmary who is not
able to earn his own living is not drawing
a pension in excess of SIG per month. is not
irsane, has an honorable discharge from the
service, and has not been diShOnOrtbly dis
charged from a soldiers home. or deserted
it, will not only be admitted, but trans
pal.tation will be sent to enable him to get
to the home. In addition to those who may
come from the infirTa aries, room will be
n ade for a limited number, if not all
soldiers who ara entitled to admission as
above indicated. We cannot take the n
sal g soldier becaus.. no provision has been
made at any of the homes for keeping
sane are Under the law o sent to tie Na-
tit r al ASylEm at Washington, but the in
s. ne soldier i may not be admitted adj tie, g the
asylum Soldiers who are repeatedly guilty
of an infraction of the rules of the home,
are dishonorably discharged. Soldiers re-
ceiving SIS or over per month are better
able to care for themselves. of course than
these receiving less, and the line is drawn
because we have not the capa city to care
fe all corners. 1t was never intended to
care for other than honorably discharged
The best barracks ever erected for soldiers
in the world are here at Marion, the beds
and bedding first-class and all the tinta
clean, TIE food of as great variety. and
able man would ask for, the clothing first
cltss, the officers were union soldiers, are
Notwithstanding all this, and the several
notices given, as before said, not single
al plicaticn has BEEN received fer admission
tc the home from or fer an inmate of a
reoll ouse in the State, which leads me 10
thirk first, that the number of soldis IS
itported 70 be in the poorhouses has been
PADDED and that the few there, COMPARE
lively, are made up first, of the unfortu-
nate insane, of those without honorable dis
charges from the service, those with dis
honorable discharges from the homes,
and last, by those who prefer staying
in poorhouSe near their homes
rather than in comfortable home among
strangers May / emphasize the request
that provision be made by joint resolution
or otherwise before the close of the pres
ent session of the Assembly, for keeping
inse ne Sc ,d;ers IN the State hospitals rather
than in the county poorhousas? Berg one
of the managers of the National Soldiers
Home for Disabled Volunteers, and a soldier
and citizen of Indiana / feel it to BE- my
duty to make the above observations
GEORGE W. STEELE.
Marion, Ind, March A.