Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-11-15
WANTS CHANGES hAD[
Board of Control Recommends
Change in Law Regarding
Soldiers Home Officers.
Present Law Compels Appoint.
ment Of Civil War Veterans.
Appropriations Asked.
. Board Visits the Home for In.
spection--The Institution
Now Crowded.

and Hon. John Cownie, of Soutl
Amana, members of the state board o
control, arrived in the city Thursda.
evening from Eldora, and spent toda,
nual inspection. The forenoon was spen
in looking over the buildings, and espe-
cially those that have been completed
and occupied since the last semi annua
visit.
The board finds that the Home is bad
i sly crowded and the indications are that
before long, or as soon as winter really
sets in, the institution will be unable to
care for the numbers who seek it as a
place of abode for the winter. The mem
bcrsllip present today is $50 men and
sixty-six women, While absent there are
eighty-two men and fifteen women. The
furloughed members are returning
every day in larger numbers than can
be accommodated, While applications
for membership are being turned down
by the score each day. An applicant has
to be in pretty bad shape physically now
to gain admission, and 1t is necessary
for prospective member to show that
he is utterly unable to care for himself
to be admitted.
The biennial report of the board of
control was filed with the governor to-
day, and in 1t numerous recommended
tions are made concerning the Soldiers
Home in this CITY, Compared to the ap-
propriations asked for this institution
the board is quite modest in its request
TO the legislature, because the Home has
been well taken care of in the past. A
change in the law relative to the APP
pointment of officers Of the Home is
recommended so that others than veter-
ans of the civil war may be selected IL
It is deemed advisable to do so.
The board asks for total appropria-
ton of s75.lo0. to be used for various
purposes. which are given in detail in
the Des Moines dispatches in this issue.
Other features of the report of special
interest are the following, including the
recommendation for a change in the
laws relative to officers.
It appears that there has been an
increase in the number of inmates
present and absent of more than 1901
during the biennial period, and it is said
that 1t seems reasonable to expect that
the increase will continue.
1.-THE new administration building is
equipped for offices of the commandment
ndjutant, and contains also the post
Office. reading room, and library. The
east wing of the old peoples building
Is completed and occupied. Young wom-
en- are employed as mattresses in the
Ching rooms in place of the old soldiers.
This has resulted in a marked improve
ment Of the service and meets with the
approval of the members of the Home.
a building has been erected for the &C.
Of these young ladies.
The enforcement of the law enacted
by the last general assembly, providing
for Withholding pensions from those
twice convicted of drunkenness, has re-
suited in some of that class of members
taking their discharges, and the Home
has been benefited thereby
Section 2,6o4 of the code requires that
the commandant, adjutant, quartermas-
ter and surgeon of the Soldiers Home
be persons who have served in and have
been honorably discharged from the
,earty sympathy with the spirit and ,
SoIlscSSE " tAdt pAoNlSious anu DcliSNSl
hat it has thus far operated for the ,
benefit Of the Home and its members.
Ne can not ignore the fact that the
lumber OF persons with the statutory
qualifications is diminishing rapidly, and
hat 1t might even now be difficult to- I
md discharged soldiers or sailors well
TIED by natural endowment, training j
md experience to perform the duties of l
ONE of the places indicated who could
'e secured for them. That Is especially
rue Of the position of surgeon. To rec
gnize deserving veterans, and to giyei
MEMBERS of the Home officers whose ex- Z
'erience especially fits them to under
tand and sympathize with the men,
ers, is certainly most commenda Bile, I
ut the first consideration is the COM h
ort, welfare and happiness of the MEM S
,ers. and they can be best promoted by s
he faithful service of thoroughly COM q
etent, skillful, sympathetic and trust v
worthy officers. We recommend such t
hanges in the law as will permit the ap- a
ointment of persons to the offices L
AIMED who are likely to render the best s.
nd most satisfactory service to the
lembers of the Home and the state, o
reference, when qualifications areI t,
qual, to be given to persons who have 81
cen honorably discharged from the II.
rmy or navy of the United States" fe
RUNS ARE ASSIGNED. e.
o-sh,..e%ern Trainnnen Are Marked