The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-23
THE MARION VETERANS
VIEWS or MEMBERS OF HoGAN's
ALLEY CLUB ON PENSIONS.
The Drinking shops I'm the Vicinity of
the Disabled Volunteers.


Correspondence Of the Journal
NATIONAL MILITARY HOME, Marion,
Ind, Oct PA member of the giit-edged
home organization known as the Hogan's
Alley Club, discussing the question of PEN
sions. caught popular favor from his hear,
ers by what seems TO all soldiers sound
logic in the premises. / give a synopsis
Of his side OF the question: II have read
he said. ''of the multiplied receipts accruing
TO the government from three months OPP
GRAFTON OF the Dingley internal revenue bill.
and It foots up nearly fourteen millions of
dollars over a corresponding three months
prior to the measure being adopted. This
is proper and right. and every well-thinking
man viii applaud not only the Hon. Mr..
Dingley. but every member of both houses
of Congress that sustained the bill and
caused it to become law, and inasmuch
as the government is rapidly filing up its
treasury would 1t not be a wise move on
the part Of our national lawmakers to not
only pay eff the debt accumulated through
the Spanisn-American war, and, when the
treasury is once more in normal condi-
ton, and the receipts from customs and all
other sources continue to swell the bulk of
our money, to curtail instead of increase
the country's obligations? This can readily
be accomplished and In one respect alone
the government could save IN the long run
very great deal Of money. refer to the
adjustment of soldiers homes and increase
of pensions. In my opinion IL the govern
ment would give to every honorably dis
charged soldier 81 a day pension, with the
understanding that he take care of himself
the use for soldiers homes would be OBJ
waited. There is no question but the enor-
nous total expense per annum Of running
the eight national homes now in existence
would more than allow each soldier 81 a day
as pension. In addition to this the men in
state homes, for each one of whom the
government allows 500 a year towards his
support, would cheerfully leave such home
and thus this output per year would be
saved to the national treasury. To run the
homes entails enormous outlay, and as
the members whose presence alone is neces-
sary to keep them in operation, nearly all
draw pensions. the additional expense to the
government by adopting bill allowing each
soldier 1866 a year would not be so great
as the surface appearance denotes. These
men are rapidly decreasing in number and
the country at large would correspondingly
be growing richer all the time and each
year would find thousands less to pay than
that of the previous year."
remove the taverns from the immediate sur
roundings of the home. That these haunts
are absolute pestholes cannot be denied,
and even the hardest drinkers among the
members would be glad to see them ex-
terminated. When the handful of sailor
men were paid their pension on Tuesday of
last week every tavern about the institu-
ton did thriving business, and in few
hours debauchery was rampant. There are
always a number of hangers-on in the
saloons and this mixture of soldiers and
buns manage to load up to the nozzle at no
cost to themselves. A single instance shows
the depravity of the owners and in what
manner they run their groggeries. Early in
the week an old soldier got into the hands
of these Philistines. He had not drank for
several months, but so persuasive were the
powers behind the bar that the initial drink
was taken. They knew their man, and once
the taste was on his palate his drinking be-
came general. When he left the home he
had upwards Of $50 in his pocket and gold
watch and chain. After four days spree
in the saloons he was conducted back to
quarters more dead than alive, with not a
cent in his pocket, and, or course minus
his watch and chain. The tavern keepers
kept their victim primed with liquor until
everything of value was gone and then he
was summarily kicked out. The Legisla-
ture can remedy this evil by legislating
all the drinkeries in the vicinity of the home
TO at least one mile and a half to two miles
from the institution.
buzz of excitement pervades the home
members over an order just issued by Gov
ernor Chapman appointing Captains c. F.
Huston, w. I. Highberger and Alexander
Alternately board to examine into the af-
fairs OF the Quartermaster and commissary
departments. They are charged to ascertain
the cause of irregularities In both depart
ments. The items have been specified and
the board is empowered 10 send for wit
nesses, papers. etc.
George w. Davis clerk in the adju-
tant's Office, has been transferred to the
new home at Danville, ILL.,, where he will
assume the position OF sergeant major.
A report just issued shows the total num-
Der OF members to be 1875: members pres
ent. 1885; absent, $40. During the last ten
days 2'IO6 citizens visited the home.
To give an idea of how Uncle Sans
wards are cared for in the eating line 1
present the menu for each day for the
week:
Sunday-Breakfast: Fried ham. potatoes,
bread, butter. coffee. Dinner: Roast veal,
butter and coffee. Supper: Preserved
peaches, bread, butter and tea.
Monday Breakfast: Boiled ham, potatoes
bread, butter and coffee. Dinner: Baked
beans, boiled shoulder. potatoes, bread, but
ter and coffee Supper: Beans, mush pre-
serves. bread, butter and tea.
Observation-Disclosures: Hash Drowned in the
pan, bread, butter and coffee. Dinner:
Bread pudding, pot pie. potatoes, bread
butter and coffee. Supper: Fruit. bread.
butter and tea
Wednesday, Breakfast: Beef a la mode,
potatoes, bread, butter and coffee. Dinner:
Vegetable soup, beets, potatoes SteWed
pumpkin, crackers, bread, butter and coffee
Supper: Fruit tea, bread and butter
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Irish stew, bread
butter and coffee Dinner: Ham and cab
bage, potatoes, beets, bread, butter and
coffee Supper: Fruit, hot rolls bread but
ter aud tea.
Friday Breakfast: Boiled mackerel fried