The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-19

Tho Inspection by Gen. BreckinrIdge's
Onic.rs oi she Homes Tor Disable Vol
unteer Soldiers over % 900 Members.

unteer Soldiers over . ,OU0 Members.
WASHINGTON. April lU.-1he sharp discus
sion in Congress Of the Affairs OF the National
Home for Disabled Volunteers lends uddi-
tloual interest ~ the report on this subject
made only u few weeks ago Uy the Government
nspec ting officers.
1t appears that the maximum number pres
ent during the year AT the various branches
OF the homo was l5.425, the minimum a ,9J,,
and the average lU.417. But il we add tie
average number present for longer or shorter
periods, We get All average total of members,
present and absent, of ~, 2O7.
There is d steady increase, too, in the number
of OLD and needy soldiers cared for. During
the past six years it has averaged 702 al
nually, and last year this average was ex-
cecdti by 81. There would DO many mole
present hut for tho lack vi accommodations.
The branch homes are overCrOwded, and ut
ono OF them tents ARE greatly rcsorted to. rs
many rs $50 veterans were reported as sleep
lug on floors, 40 IN sttics, SIS ia Easements and
Dl2 In places not originally intended for sleep
Ing purposes. There seems to be little doubt
that, although the nuuihcr OF veterans is now
RAPIDLY dwindiipE. yet the fact that 50 many OF
them are arriving ut ages at which they are
less able to take care OF themselves increases
one method of obtalning collateral hep is
that afforded by what is known as outdoor re-
age amount Of about aG.sS per month was thus
granted, and this is much less than the cost OF
maintenance at the homes.
The provisions. however,. made by Congress
are most lireIaI. AS will ho seen by the fact
That the sum appropriated for the last fiscal
was for special construction. leaving 81. 236,-
$40 for routine expenses. And this last sum
increased from various sources to S2,4il.45s.
60 that the total available. including special
construction, exceeded $1,000, 900.
Il further appears that the per capita cost OF
present was SIPS. rs, and that this was a re-
duction Of, Sl2.G3 from the year preceding.
That would Indicate a saving II S!0S.l4l on
tho basis of the average numter present In
this respect the ilnanci,l condition of the
homes Is gratifying. especially as there had
been u decreased appropriation for mainte-
nance from the previous year and AN increase
In pop Snnids q, 1hsr SoS was sb iHFt so,ns sfoTn TO
Increased to nearly $500, 900.
Mention may be li'.do Of the permanent
r rana' ws sES Of Ffrhl@ DnISh h IN : Ping i. 1r, siDsn y 1872 5lo.
600, Of which there stlll remains sos. 800 in
state bonds and Sl.C55.17 ON deposit. An.
tho bequest OF $1,000 eft by q former mem
Der OF the h"ia.. Daniel Stinson OF New YORK,
of which 5, 49, S remained on hand. Leaven-
worth gave s5u, 100 In city Londs to the branch
near that city, and This has been used for is
Wprqyeine4t; the balance at the beginning of
AS to the barracks. the iloor space for each
occupant averages about 90 square feet and
increase Of 1872 members may be yearly eX-
peeted, T. is thought that there should b. some
outdoor relief IS proposed. it is also urged
tina! future purchases OF bcdsIeads should he
Of the present hospital size. that Is, 80 instead
clothing and food are favorable. The food is
and well cooked, and the large
Iairab!e. But there Is a difference in cost OF
food at the several homes, the prizes varying.
pound for coffee, from ~ to 81 cents for tea,
anu from 30 to az cents per bushol for pota
toes. OF course, the time of year adds to
other causes 10 prod ace these extremes. The
average annual cost per capita of maintenance
i sli7.64, With Sa5,97 ut the southern and
sl39.34 AT the Pacific branch.
one gratifying feature OF the homes is that
the hospitals arc very well conducted, and
moe IMPORTANT, since it Is felt that the homes
themselves wIll. In large part, become one day
virtually hospitals for the accommodation Of
live there, During the year reported upon
there were !,O0O deaths. aid the rate was about
absent. and about AZ OF the whole number 40
cared for.
,even in number, known US the Eastern Cen.
trial. Marion. Northwestern. WesteIn, Pacific, |
and Southern; The Eastern branch is under
isn. Luther stevenson. and Its increase IN av-
erage number or mcmUers was 90 over the pre-
.edin. year. A credit balance OF about sl,429
penditlres. The amusemeuts were supplied
a thsa.re; band and orchestra concerts, a
,HSr 4 pf G5sr 4 ha a1lHFAF 4il a G lait yidld dnf a pool son .G2%:
l5ie pront; going to ihe General fund.
IffF'a AASAfiNH hhAt af@' aNNA aAitS " ~ u IL /
Thomas. Here the, amusemeuts are about the
,amo as those already spoken or, with the adj
iltiOn Of boats. The site around Martindale
lake IL very beautiful. The band consists OF
.hirty-four musicians, Of whom thirty are civil
an. There. Is a large library OF lD.7l2 vol
ines, with. 2O2 newspapers and 30 other Pc
iodioals. One part OF the library was es alb
ished by. the mother OF Lieut.. Putnam. and
N annual service IN his memory is held.
The Marion branch has been under Gov. !.
4. Chapman, ana the StinsOn Memorial Hall,
Il the date Of the report, was about to be
.pened for plays, concerts. and other amuse-
ncnts. The Harris Library Is named IN honor
4 Col. anu Mrs. l.. A. Harris. The North.
Western branch has been under Gov. Cornelius
Wheeler. The theatre has II capacity OF 61s,
nd members are adGitted free OF charge. The
verage increase last year was l4l.
Tie Western Ia under Gen. A. j. Smith, The
esults OF the heeley euro are tnyOrsbly spoken
I at this branch. From March 20, 1902, To
he late, OF the report. l,j26 cases had been
by the cure for al oholisin or NOR
hinIsIn, and tho ratio Of lapses was reported
o DO IL 10 per cont. The Pacific branch is un-
er charge OF Gov. j. q. Roland. and It's In
rcase in membership was 23J, the largest In
ny ~ the branches, while the net earnings OF
no farm were. over 10000. The Southern
rgetically conducted. The principal offences.
Is mt other homes, are drunkenness and absence
leave, hut discipline Is enforced.