The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-26

Z
inmates of the Confederate Home, the
sum of $4,000 and for he year ending
February 2Sths 1899, the sum of 3d.
O00" In addition 10 the amounts APP
propriated for maintenance, there was
also the further SUN fol- buildings. etc :,
for the year first named S13,660, and
for the second year $500.
The State of Virginia appropriates
$4,000 a year for 200 men. They also
receive private donations, and Lee
Camp in eight years gave $4,000 to
this object. besides $4,000 to the care
of widows and suffering Confederates
not members of the Home. There are
number of brick cottages, and they
estimate $4,000 for cost of building and
furnishing a house for so additional
men.
Finally, in Missouri, the Home has
heretofore been supported by the Con-
federate Home Association, contribu-
lions being made on given day in the
year throughout the State. But Mis-
souri, has now taken charge, since March
LIST. 1898, on account of the same con-
dtion of increasing need presented in
North Carolina and throughout the
country An experimental appropria-
ton of $24,00 for support alone, was
made, as buildings and land were al
ready in use. 1t has $50 inmates, of
whom 80 are women and children. Re-
port is now made of its progress to the
Legislature of Missouri.
You know the condition of affairs in
our own State. Our pension law was
intended to give S100 year to those
totally incompetent to perform manual
labor; $75 to those who had lost LEG
81, +hr I-nn oh %1,n ~
$50 for loss of leg below the knee. or
arm below the elbow, and $50 to those
who had lost an eye or were otherwise
disabled. But by reason of increase of
numbers beyond the increase of revenue.
those amounts were never paid and il
has gradually decreased until the fourth
class, which includes more than four
fifths. with the widows. has received
only the pittance of S15 per year, or
less than the ordinary allowance to the
outside poor, by the county commits
sioners.
1t is to the everlasting honor of
North Carolina that the number is large
and increasing. You know. with me.
why that is so. with our sublime record
Many are on the edge of self-support
and little timely help will prevent
them from seeking the Soldiers Home.
and in default of entrance there, of
spending their last days in q county
home, which means county poor house,
Some poor fellows are already there.
What are those to do whose wounds
disable them from labor. whose prop
erty has been gradually exhausted.
whose relations and near friends are
dead whose trembling limbs and eyes
4 straining with anxiety. bear them in
| vain to the Soldiers Home. which is
shut against them? What hanpy re-
lease when the signal comes that re-
moves them from the poor house. with
its scant fare. evil associations and
SLIGHT of the world. TO that fair lind
where Pettigrew and Fender and Branch
and Grimes and Ramseur and Gordon
and Daniels. yea, and Jackson and Lee
! abide forever?
Comrades. we must ask the General
] Assembly of North Carolina. confessed
~ one of the most representative bodies
of her most eminent citizens ever gath
cred in one body: we must, | say. asl,
for two things. in the name of Justice
to the faithful soldier. mercv to the
suffering patriot. honor to the fair
name of the State. One of these is the
increase of pensions and the other the
extension of the operations of the
Home.
/ Three and a half cents on the 500
value of property is the present rate; the
addition of a cent and half, making
the tax five cents, would hurt no one;
one thousand dollars of property would
pay but Is cents. and that would add
nearly 80 per cent to the portion OF
the widow, and the suffering old man.
to whom but few years remain, in which
to lift his heart in gratitude. Let us as
one man ask and fear no evil
We speak as unto patriots loving the
best interests of all the people, and oul
words are those of soberness and rea-
son.
The extension and improvement of
the Soldiers Home is of the utmost i'm
portance. 1t is the only one of the
States charitable institutions that has
not been improved and fostered It's
management, under the painstaking
unselfsh, and wise control of VIM. c.
Stronach, himself gallant and chival-
rous Confederate soldier. has won for
him the gratitude of every surviving
veteran of Moore's roster. But he has
labored with great odds against him
i The buildings were slight and old, and
makeshifts at the best. Every conceiva-
bic expense in decent comfort from en-
trance to burial, must be met for $500
| for an enrolment usually of over 100
and attendance of 10; thus making a
per capita little more in some counties
and not as much in others as that OF
the Poor House.
Since September LIST, the appropriation
has been exhausted private benevo-
lence has come to its relief; the women
God bless them, have helped its empty
Golfers; yet it has been necessary to
borrow from the Savings Bank money
: that is owing to-day.
/ The buildings have had patching, but
they need thorough overhauling; proper
water and sewerage facilities should be
: supplied hospital accommodations. and
at least one substantial brick building
, Surely accommodations should be pro
vided for $50 men as an average, fol
200 are ready to seek its shelter to-day
But if we were to provide in proportion
. to the embattled heroes who stood under
J the colors of North Carolina regiments
we would need far more, instead OF
: providing for less than Texas. Arkan
| sas, Louisiana, Virginia and Missouri.