Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-21
GET LESS LUXURlES.
Soldiers Home Board Find II Necessary
10 Cut Down Extras.
r,,,r OR TURN VETERANS OUT.
MINIS confronted the Management
netrrmincd 10 Exercise "re"'e'
,..onowv So as 20 Keep from Dis
.h,reing the Old Soldiers.

OHIO failure OF the General Assembly
.. rs recent session 20 make suoS'an-
49,, Increase for the next two years IN
H.. annual allowance for the support OF
~, soldiers' Home placed the manage
.-. NJ that institution In the embar-
.,r position Of having 20 either re-
- the number ~ old soldiers cared
nv exorcise greater economy. so as
,-l.., tho expenses within the limited
BOARD of Visitors, after fully con-
-,,.. the matter in all its phases.
....l.5 not 10 turn any of the veterans
nYt 10 cut off some Of the luxu-
,.~etofore given them, and thus re-
che cost Of maintenance. This
~ the board. taken with great
.,.. has occasioned considerable
.....o-,ion on the part of some OF
,,,,ates. and they are circulating
..taon asking for an investigation.
,...-,y one hundred Of the old soldiers
s,il TO have signed this paper, which
,,,her IN the nature of protest
a.. states that the trihing luxuries
'.,..,,, enioyed by the veterans have
.o greatly reduced The quantity Of
-,u, heretofore allowed has been les
med and II a veteran uses II with
,.s oatmeal be has TO forego the pleasure
- adding 20 TO his tea or coffee. Des-
s.rt usc! % be served TO the men twice
.,-.k and under the new regulations
F.Faan a l.
DO ,he recent action Of the Legislature.
lb. veterans used 10 be served with an
.,nl. every day; but now the fruit Is
.rir given out at rare intervals. More
si.satisfactiOn is expressed, however.
aver the fact that the allowance OF TO-
b,oro has been reduced than anything
rlsa Heretofore. the paper says man
,r, smoked and chewed was served
with a bag Of smoking mixture oox
- chewing tobacco. and box OF
.,,rres. but now they are compelled
e., moose between smoking and chew-
,. aud no longer receive both kinds or
,Rso-c Veterans who are not alto
,..,bor disabled and are skilled work
.1 also complain that big prices are
-,I for CITY workmen. while their ser
,.ces might be well employed ana they
,.0,l3 thus be enabled to earn n few
dollars for themselves, while saving the
homo n considerable sum of money.
THE PRESIDENTS STATEMENT.
NJ Norman V. Randolph, president OF
tho BOARD of Visitors Of the home, when
cen bv Dispatch man last night, said
che netitlon had not been presented TO
him as vet Continuing. he said;
..yba arrr0prlation Of $4,000 per annum
maze hv the LEGISLATURE was intended for
- lIH u
M veterans has increased so rapidly
tbaf the pressure brought on the board
fo admit men I'm the most destitute con-
Ht0u has induced the board 10 increase
this number 10 253 men. Believing that
fna legislature would make an additional
appropriation TO justify the retention OF
mis- number. we asked for an increase Of
$1,000 pcr annum from the State This re-
orost. although backed by special mes
sage from the Governor, was deIeated
both in the Senate and House pui
40 the last minute a special bill
was gotten through appropriating 1901
additional. so. instead of getting $lo.W
per annum additional, we only succeeded
I'm getting 5000 for the two years. or 80"
per year Increase.
WHAT WAS DECIDED UPON.
ct therefore became absolutely neces-
sary for w 10 either discharge some Of
the men now at the home or TO reduce
he expenses OF the institution. which
we're FOR the months of January and
February 5000 in excess of our income.
At the last meeting Of the board the
sfrictest economy was en1oined on the
Executive Committee, and II was decided
20 reduce the quantity of milk from
twenty gallons per day 20 fifteen gallons
aud TO reduce the quantity Of tobacco
20 lust one half OF what has heretofore
been allowed. Our tobacco bill exceeded
100 per month. and each man was given
d third Of "A pound OF chewing and four
~ tobacco b
.hew. per week. Dessert has been cut
m from twice a week, as formerly given
10 being considered that such Injuries
could very readily be dispensed with
The service IN the hospital will not b.
reduced We have an average OF fifty
men In the hospital at all times, and II
costs 20 per cent. more to care for m
inmate OF the hospital than II does foI
those who are able to move about.
ARE WE'LL CARED FOR
- am satisfied that the men in the
Soldiers Home live better than 20 pei
cent OF the mechanics of this city. and
90 least half OF the men in the home
arc better clothed, better fed, and better
housed than ever before in their lives
81 a rl.e. this is the class that do the
least work and the most grumbling.
" any OF the men desire discharge X
Wll Dee given them with pleasure. and
TRANSPORTATION Will be furnished them
back t1 their homes. We have more
ihan fifty applicants now waiting adj
mission. who will be glad TO take their
places.
In he early life Of the home we tried
employing some OF the men and paying
them Tor their service, but soon had 10
STOP Il. as hey not only expected to be
Iali Tor such carpenters work as they
we're able % DO more than a first-class
@iNsdn would charge, but demanded pay
l.f every service rendered, when even
Ntt service was conducive TO their own
comfort The board finally stopped the
employment ~ any man in the home, as
matter Of necessity.
SHOULD HELP IF THEY CAN.
We have always felt that each veteran
mould De- willing 10 DO what he could
POT Lhe institute without pay. The Board
g.. Visitors serve without compensation OF
e} hnf. not even receiving street-car
.i'ts expended by them In attending the
rihe az the home. We have done the
n,', We could 10 help these old men, who
were our comrades during the war. We
nave received but little thanks and much
e.'Ne. The latter seems TO fall to all
i-tn who Try 10 help their unfortunate
u'tihl-n Many Of the board, myself in
'ti, would like TO resign, as we are
Lit! oft swing our time and what ability
nave and 10 be forced to listen 10
constant Complaints
Ite state Of Virginia has appropriated
N i.e lpport Of this institution during
W. eleven years Of its existence $l73. S05. IS.
lee Camp and donations through
++.' lamp aggregate Sl4Q -63 "a -