The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-04
STATUS OF THE VETERANS
HOME AT YOUNTVILLE

CALL HEADQUARTERS, SACRA-
MENTO, Feb. 3.-The deed conveying to
the State the land and buildings of the
Veterans Home, Yountville, is in the
hands of Governor Gage, and may at any
time be accepted The documents were
examined and approved by Attorney GEN
eral Ford and found to be regular in all
respects.
The law authorizing the transfer of this
property to the State was passed by the
Legislature two years ago, but just at the
time the Veterans Home Association was
ready to make the conveyance in accord
ance with the law Governor Budd ex-
Guided from the general appropriation bill
the item of 100000 for the support of the
home for the two fiscal years. The attor-
ney of the board was consulted, and he
advised that q conveyance might leave
the Institution without any means of sup
port. The judgment of other lawyers and
the opinions of business men were in
Vlted, and the conclusion was reached
that 1t would not be prudent to change
the status of the institution, since the
allowance for the State support of the in
stitutlon had been vetoed. Governor Budd
adhered to the opinion that the law pro-
vided for the support of the institution,
ana gave as reason for striking the
allowance from the general appropriation
bill that the item was unnecessary.
Inc present Legislature will doubtless
clearly define the relations of the State to
the Veterans Home. The subject of allow
ance has engaged the attention of the
Ways and Means Committee of the AS
sembly. There is bill pending to allow
for ten years an amount not to exceed
s75, 900 year While the maximum of at
tendance is less than 1000 Mr.. Valentine,
chairman of the Ways and Means Com
mittee, suggests that the allowance au-
thorized by the Legislature should not ex-
tend beyond the period of two years.
He has signified willingness to recon-
mend an allowance of $50 per capita for
800 residents. This will allow a sum suft1-
cient to meet the present necessities. The
United States Government allows the
home 800 per year for each veteran re-
is suggested by members of the Legisla-
ture, who are giving attention to meas
ures of practical economy, that it would
be wise for the Legislature to allow
money to erect an additional building at
the home, which would accommodate 400
old soldiers. That allowance would en-
able the home to take care OF disabled
veterans now supported, to some. extent,
by the counties respectively in which they
live. The United States allowance is oSly
for those actually residing at the hon4e.
The counties cannot get the allowance
from the nation, but the State, by contri-
buting for example $50 per year would get
the additional 800 per annum from the
Applicants for admission to the home
are denied, because there is no room for
more except as the death roll PROVIDES
vacancies. Before long the QiSdpleo SOL
diers of the Spanish war will be repre-
sented in the applications, hence the
pressure for admission promises to in
crease rather than diminish.
Mr. Loup, president of the board OF d.
rectors of the home, Senator La Rue OF
Napa, and others are active in presenting
to the Legislature the facts regarding the
requirements of the institution. The ma
tional records, as well as the state rec
ords. are cited to attest the fact that the
management of the home is. highly cred
table Seven hundred and fifty veterans
now reside at the home.