New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-07
HOMES FOR THE SOLDIERS.
POINTS FROM INSPECTOR-GENEfAL
BRECKINRIDGE's REPORT.
HOW THE VARIOUS BRANCHES OF THE NATIONAL
INSTITUTION COULD BE IMPRovFD-ouT-
DOOR RELIEF AN IMPORTANT SUB
jet WINTER CLOTHES THE
YEAR ROUND FOR SOME.

YEAR ROUND FOR SOME.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIpUYEl
Washington. Feb. 6.-Some remarkabie racts re-
ga riding the branches Of the National Home TOT
Disabled Volunteer Soldiers are disclosed IN re-
port OF the inspection OF that institution ny IN
spector- General Breckenridge, which has JUST pceh
sent TO Congress and a strong argument Is pre-
sentcd by these facts In favor OF the Generai Gov
eminent assuming the management 3enerai
breckenridge says that 1t is a large and rapiniy
Increasing establishment. embracing over iou'
thousand acres usually IN exceedingly choice Ioc"-
tons improved by four hundred ouiu''ss'
from handsome imposing and expensive Sl'"o'u,
TO buildings Il. designed for the purposes 10 ""''''
put and that It cares for over 5000 survivors OF
the last two wars. .
The profound sympathy and sentiment at the pa-
sis Of the original enactment establishing the Ma
tional Soldiers Home and the names OF those p't-
toning for IL on ts earliest card OF managers must
awake striking memories In the men WAC Ncd
and served during those exciting umeS' ''o"s'
sounding like ancient history to younger genera
ton To this petition appended such names
AS those of Ulysses s. Grant, William cullen Dry
ant. Henry W Lorgfelow. Horace Greeley John
A My George Bancroft. George p. Putnam the
Rev Dr. Claiming Peter Cooper. stephen n.
Tying Clara Barton Mrs. Benjamin f. WADE ana
many others. - IT,,
The following extra is relate 20 the most I'M
portant matters in the voluminous report WIN"
IN full would I'll four pages Of The Tribune;
The variety in the location OF the branches - az
most as noticeable as the places whGre ."e Ne is
none The site OF the buildings at doSgu on n hieh
hill and With graves in rock At ALL Ha o,bT Branch
on ne he s5t Ei seeboard the buildings
TALLY upon leased ground ana 'n Ghio ,s upon
beautifully rolling and apparently most heaitnluI
Site with especially noticeable 6ndngs dS i,b
TO G G fi but TSe
branch is poss!6E upon SUI 1 MON on the Msss
sinewa River in the gas region of Indiana mas
perhaps --LATEST site rather nm mdnTs G perc wrrn
age Of native Americans and generally the small
est death rate s,es typical OF their
spectve regions, the former ouilt OF o''0h' anu '
The admirable purpose Of this institution 1T, its
peculiar system and the rather Inadeauab o spnv
Tor admission. and its strict economy In matters
wholly affecting individual inmatses; ln"E rge e hi,
are doubtless clearly understood by the members
OF Congress who direct legislation affecting H.
OUTDOOR RELIEF URGED.
7, is evident that sleeping in cellars and around
dark closets the bathrooms, on the floor ana IN
tents Is no, exactly what the Government desires TO
Give permanently 10 any Of its disabled volunteer
soldiers The intention that leads 10 this anywhere
may appear excellent, but the habtua practice is
Objectionable. and the maximum nilmoer that the
branches will hold decorously need not and ought
not to be continuously exceeded. With over Two
thousand men sleeping away from the excessively
flied regular dormtorics. only a faint Idea may be
obtained how urgently and where relief is most
needed The benefits extended by the organic act
are not limited to indoor relief. hut outdoor RELIEF
is equally authorized ard promised. ana clearly II
granted at all il accord with the views or IN
terests OF every Official 10 bestow 1t wisely ana
adequately in these later days. Where IT has oeen
faithfully wisely and practically tried Il has proved
more economical 10 the Government and more sats-
factory 10 many OF the bencfciaries. especially
those with famlles-and one-third OF the members
arc married or have dependents
The money on hand TO he turned back 10 me
Treasury from las; years appropriation could be de;
voted to no better purpose, Inc oVcrGr 9"u,is an.
unsanitary housing that have prevailed at some
points 1t is believed. could hardly continue long
Under the professional scrutiny OF an unpassed ana
hygenic expert. who would test the Objectionable
expert tested some OF the food supplies. This Is
not lessening but growing Evil , 49,.
During the last four years ten new barracks nave
been given the branches at cost OF some s-nVoo.
capable OF properly accommodating about twelve
hundred such a comparison of tho number OF men
sowed in places OUTSIDE zoe OF 1hf wh must
indicate the careful and persistent attention that
how almost cruelty inadequate the provision made
is and must be II certain times and places. under
the present policy: at least during the present CEN
fury. and while old age; dccrepitude or misfortune
is crowdng upon the old soldiers faster than death.
The reception of these veterans into these branches
at al is. Of course an addition 10 the s., system Of
ly dsa bled soldiers. some OF whom nave no PEN
30 one seems longer to question that this sort OF
relief Is fully adopted as part Of the National
policy as the pensions themselves. however those
who are opposed to it or have seen none of the
field service this commentaries may speak Of i
as part OF the duty and burden OF the war. and, OF
IT be w 90 dc 20 and PSper bo %s
In the Home deserve the relief they receive do
their comrades who are in exactly similar cireum-
stances. and are not admitted only because there
is not room in the buildings at present or those
s all pc M can has be hte% ed rus for
new barracks, and il would be we'll II We could
Of The Home wait iii the contempatsd buildings
are all completed. But while the suffering and
Isl. and adequate house room does NOT 1t seems
wise and most consGerate 70 those who are In
ac, atihorizing outdoor relief though passed some
thirty years ago. shall be fairly and equltably car
nra G BY s% tb Is to overcfoW
these disabled veterans or exclude them utterly
stood to have been tred with fair success in the
lone for regulars and tho State Home OF Min
nesoia II costs less per member relieved. and per-
hans there less free theatres music. etc. in H.
There is no opposition or antagonlsm between the
two methods naturally; they work together side by
side. doing harm 20 none and nothing but good to
wherever the remedy rests and however it be
best effected tho situation doubtless deserves ana
il receiving the closest attention.
MEMBERS TO THE NUMBER or 1900
The average number Of officers and members re-
ported present and absent was 226sl. which is an
increase Of 97 the number reported for the
previous year. OF these average Of 1919 was
constantly present. and Asp constantly absent Tho
number Of rnea reported on the rolls at the close
OF the year was 7.779 present and 5.22j absent or
a total OF 23Ooi OF whom 1894 or 81 per cent. were
pensioners. The age OF me members ranged from
for;y-tpo 70 ninety four and averaged 6l.2 years
OF the whole number cared for. a. per were
native-torn and L27 per cent gn-born. an in
crease Of one-tenth OF ! per cent OF native born
oyer last year. I he fOreign-bOrn predominant in