Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-11-09
CALLS 1T WASTE OF MONEY.
General Breckenridge FavOrs Helping
Veterans ut Home Rather Thnn
in Costly buildings.

Washington Nov S-The Soldiers Home
at Eanville, ILL.,, and many other similar
institutions which have planned extensive
improvements are menaced by inspector
General Breekinridge of the army, VINO
has plan that will upset the schemes
secure large appropriations at the com
ing session for The enlargement OF Sol
dsrs' homes in their respective locaiities:
The annual reports of the board OF MAJ
ayers of the United States soldiers homes.
secr to be given. to congress. will show
that all the ZONES are Tiled TO tue luil
limit of their capacity and that in certain
communities there are many worthy ahd
dependent soldiers entitled to those priv
hegea who have to be turned away be
cause of the present overcrowded condition
CT these homes. Additional appropriations
for new quarters will consequently lie
asked for by the board and will OF course
rtceive the earnest support of those rep
reseptatives who have homes located in
their districts.
y noteworthy instance OF this kind Is the
rev home which Congressman Joseph Can
Lon. as chairman of the committee on APP
preparations. had established last year at
his home in Danville. ILL., An appropria-
ticn of S4a0.W 900 for new buildings for tEiS
home will he recommended by the board
and will doubtless receive the earnest sup
port of Mr.. Cannon.
But these recommendations will run coun-
ter tC a new proposition which General
Breckinridge will submit when this sub
Jecl Is taken up for consideration. rms
toEtcmplateS the use annually OF abOut
SlS00O0 from the regular appropriation for
the support of homes for allotments 10
those dependent soldiers who cannot be
provided for in the homes because of lack
o: accommodations.
As n result of the annual inspection of
the various homes which he recently COM
pleted. General Breckenridge concludes that
some provision should he made for worthy
and helpless old soldiers who are entitled l
to th" same privileges as inmates of homes
but are denied them solely because of a
lack of facilities. He accordingly believes
that they should be taken care of in some
Way. but appreciating that the government
right be imposed upon if too liberal in
the proposed allotment policies his plan
will restrict the proposed beneficiaries to
those who have been inmates of Il soldiers
home for at least one year.
There are a number of men at present
in homes who would much prefer to be out
side and live with their families if given
the proposed allotment of s. or $40 Il month
the equivalent of what it costs TO main
tain them in the homes. In this way
General Breckinridge estimates that a suf-
tlclent number of vacancies will be made
In the homes to provide for those who are
now unable to obtain admission.
A potent argument he will use In sup
port of his plan and in opposition to fur
ther appropriations for new buildings l.
that within a very short time the full limit
of soldiers to be maintained will have heen
reached. and that within eight or ten
wears the government will have on it's
hands lot of costly buildings which will
have to be disposed of at auction because
there are no soldiers left to occupy them.