Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-02-20
ARE GREATLY PLEASED.
Members of G. A. r. Soldiers Home
Committee Gratifed With lnstitu-

TONS Showing.
The members of the G. A. r. Soldiers
Home committee, who spent Wednes-
dav at the Soldiers Home on their an
mail visit of inspection, returned to Des
Moines Wednesday evening, where TINS
afternoon they have hearing before
the appropriations committees of both
houses. The members expressed them
selves as having enjoyed the day at the
Home very much indeed, and as being
greatly pleased at the showing made by
the institution.
In speaking of the recommendations
of the committee, Col. l.. b. Raymond,
of Hampton, one of the members said:
THE recommendations of this commit
tee will be closely along the line of the
bill already introduced, altho we will
recommend a few minor changes. AS
YOU know, the principal needs of the
institution are a new laundry, new
kitchen, q hospital building for women
and an addition to the heating plant.
The change that will be recommended
by this committee will not affect In any
way the new buildings, but Will be In
the matter of the appropriation for the
civilian help. The bill already intro
duced asks for per capita monthly
support fund of $40 for the civilian help.
After looking over things today and
talking with Judge Robinson we came
to the conclusion that it would PROBABLY
be better to ask for an increase In the
support fund for the membership, max
ing a per capita of SIS instead of s14.
and out of the extra amount pay the
civilian help. The change in this will
make a difference of q little over $1,000
in the bill, and Will practically increase
the support fund $4,000 per year instead
of $4,000, as would result from the $40
civilian help fund
1t costs the state of Iowa today prac-
tically SOS per year for each member in
the Home. The Home secures for each
members support $16S, as the United
States government makes a per capita
appropriation of $780, which is paid into
the state treasury. When the Home
employed no civilian help, to amount to
anything, the present fund was amply
large, but now, with seventy-five civil
ian employees. receiving better wages
than those paid the members that We're
doing the same work in some lines. the
present appropriation is not sufficiently
large to pay expenses. The Soldiers
Home is different than any other state
institution in many ways noticeably in
that it has no contingent fund. Out of
the support received 1t has to pay for
all breakages. all repairs that are con-
stantly being required. and for the gem
eral expenses of running a mammoth
institution. Almost every other state
institution has farm, that is worked
by inmates, and is more than sufficient
ly large for the institutions needs, and
as a consequence derives some benefit
from the sale of products of the soil.
Here the condition is different, and the
small farm that is conducted is not any
more than large enough to supply the
institutions needs. Again. the work on
the farm, altho done by members, is all
paid for.
Since the advent of the young women
In the dining rooms the expense has
been increased considerably, and in
stead of paying SIS per month for the
work formerly done by members, this
class of help is paid $12 monthly. Aside
from the increase in expense in the way
of wages there are seventy five more to
feed, and this number, at time as the
present, when all edibles are extremely
high. is pretty large item in itself.
At the chapel. in the afternoon, an In
formal campfire was enjoyed by the Wis
iting committee and members of the
Home. Commandant Horton made a
short address, as did also Department
Commander George Metzgar Col. Ray
mond and e. B. Woodruff, Of Knoxville.