Missouri Valley times., 1901-06-06

capita tax decreased from s4a55. 5.3s to S3,-
1871. or sl,393.4i.
membership and per capita tax in the
iuture. Our securities and interest there
! on is our only source of revenue. This
| decreased from 1896 to 1900.
| IN lS9S the department held interest
bearing securities amounting to 5000: N
1873 there was paid on this loan sl6oD. IN
lNo. slCo making the amount of loan out
tai revenue paid the running expenses
and provided contingent fund of 5000.
The per capita tax for the next five years
VIII not exceed that of the last five years,
We must devise some wa. to make two
ends meet. Circulars to other depart
ments asking for information have been
sent out to this end. One of the ques-
trartments have rooms In the state house;
another is allowed $500 for printing; Il
third. S,aO expenses.
Some Recon- III ~ntlation,.
The salaries of assistant adjutant gen
erals range from $1,000 to $500 Including
cents to 81 year. Thrty-one depart
ments pay over "a cents. In Iowa com
bining the office OF assistant adjutant
general and assistant quartermaster gem
cral would save 500 n year; cutting off
/ compensation of the council of admins
tration would save at least 500. Dscon-
firing commander would save 500. ard II
should be discontinued know of no
better place to commence than with the
present retiring commander.
How can we increase our revenue with
out increasing our per capita tax? In
New York the department is Il depart
nent of state; handsome quarters are
furnished; relics and mementoes are pre-
may be urged as an objection to adopt
Ing the same course In Iowa that it would
entail heavy expense upon the state In
years to come; but the total annual en-
pense would not exceed quarter OF the
levy in Polk county for the soldiers re-
lief fund. The most important part of our
tant general. a stenographer assistant
should be supplied; the office could then
be kept open
Indlgcnt Veterans.
Complaints having been made to the ct-
feet that many INDECENT old soldiers and
their families are not provided for as they
should be. to ascertain to what extent
they We're being relieved. addressed a
circular letter to the auditors of each
county requesting them to advise me the
amount of levy for soldiers relief fund,
amount paid for disbursement, number
Of old soldiers In the poor houses. All
suasion on my part would induce them
to give. up the desired Information.
found that two counties make no levy.
one county relieves old soldiers from the
Tor relief recommended by the post,
ninety-one counties levied a tax for the
relief rel {, OF E. old soldiers amounting to s137.
commission, distributing some s4,T7O. IS.
All other counties nothing. l have been
able to ascertain only an approximate
cost of the Soldiers home and the Sol.
diers' Orphans home.
comrades. see to 1t that your county
makes a levy sufficient to support desti-
tute comrades and their families.
The comrades of this department are
not unmindful of the fact that during the
past few years there has come from ap.
p,icants for pensions numerous com
pa pants. the volume apparently increas-
rejected, and still larger number held
without final determination for what is
regarded rel as an unnecessarily long time.
TO To-, remedy m VT these conditions the law Of
June 27 $50, was passed, under which
every needy soldier suffering from any
a,sabillty DIS, n,,nt,y ought to have pension, the
ought not TO be long delayed. app''fn''1n; In my
Judgment, the principal difficulty and the
most most. prolific sr source of such Complaint
arises arises from the strict construction Of the
pension laws by the pension department.
rather than from the law Itself | am
persuaded, comrades, that we cannot
come to regard our unfortunate comrades
and the more unfortunate dependents Of
those who have died as enemies of the
government and whose way to the pen-
sion sion, Office n the doors Of which are sup
the liberal legislation Of our national rep
iesentntives. should be barred by tho
erection of ironclad rules in the constrlc-
,,., e,u., OF PENSION laws and the resolving of
every doubt against them. The pension
laws appear In an inexpicable jumble
Tho Roll Is Depleted.
The report of DIR. George A. Newman.
assistant adjutant general for the depart
ire',. T., OF Iowa; showed considerable loss
cunning 81 OF the year there were 434 posts
IN good standing i'm the department., ac-
ronn'ns cord. ,5 to the records. but during the
'93 posts in the department. Two OF the
posts surrendered their charters and the
resi- res, OF the decrease is accounted for by
hnd tne lact ha,, that POSTS from which no reports
dropped from the rolls. At the beginning
OF the year there We're on the rolls a total
OF i4'mS . on members :, and at the close of the
We're made as follows: Gain In member
ship by muster In, 3l7; by transfer. la2.
ny relnstntemsnt trt,, 5l9; and by reinstate-
total of 1886. The losses of the wear we're
by death. ISL: by dlshonorable Discharge.
=: by honorable discharge so: by transfer
.,. i.s. ny SUSPENSION, 81. s37 by Delinquent re-
6; Ss;APenaed Pc, IN charity during the wear
N,O41s, aud there was relieved of mem
bers or their families 93 and of other per
sons not members AZ. There remains Mt
the close of the year a total of 2l49 mem
bers under suspension and there wer.
or cropped P ard during the Year 80 The finances
items during the year: 20
l!alance 10Th encampment. . sSa5 rs
Sale of supplies. Observation-Disclosures. Y1o ia
Per capita tax. first term ,55 10
Per capita tax, second term 1 XII 20
on loans. anS............... 9oS M,
Refund on horses. national en-
. campment. ....................... 5000
,,.i.e VI olel iil'ei, etc................. 9U0
''ieeiesl OH utl'oSltS............. 20.0D
!, Total receipts .s4aos9l