Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-08-01
Commandant Horton, of Sol.
diers' Home, Submits Docu-
ment to Board of Control
ADDITIONAL BUILDINGS NEEDED
Commandment Recommends That the
Next General Assembly Appropriate
$4,000 for Improvements-Wate
Works Plant Wanted-sussests AL
terations in Pension Law.

The biennial report of Colonel c. C.
Horton. conmandant of the Iowa Sol
diers' Home, for the period ending June
80. 1903. together with similar reports
from Adjutant George F. "A. Walker
and Surgeon H. P. Duffield, and Chap
lain Jesse Cole, were filed with The
state board of control at Des Moines
Friday afternoon. The report of Col
onel Horton contains much valuable
Information, and excellen. recomman-
dations, and is published III full. While
great many improvements have been
made to the property during the past
two years. the Home is in need of adj
ditional buildings and improvements
and the commandant recommends all
appropriation, on the part Of the gem
eral general assembly, Of $4,000. The
principal item on the list is $4,000 for
an institution water works plant. The
report of the commandant is as fol-
lows:
Honorable Board of Control, loes
Moines, Iowa. Gentlemen l have The
honor to submit this my biennial re-
port for the period ending June 80
1903. Your attention is respectfully in
vited to the statistical report of Adju-
tant Walker, and to the report of Sur
geon Duffield for the numb err and corldi-
ton of the patients in the hospital, tc
that of Chaplain Cole. touching his
branch of service.
The discipline of the Home is gc,od
Cases of INSTRUMENTATION seldom occur
but when they do, if wilfull and per;is-
tent, they can only be met bya summary
discharge. All that is required at the
Home is conduct becoming a gentleman
or lady, and obedience to such rules and
regulations as are necessary for the
general good and safety of all.
Suggests Amendment to Pension Law
The law known as the new pension
law, which provides that The pensions OF
such members as have been twice con-
victed of intoxication or other mis-
demeanors, shall be paid over at once,
upon receipt of their check, to the COM
mandant, kept on deposit by him for
said pensioner, and paid out with the
consent of the depositoi., subject to
the approval of the commandant, UNI
der such rules as the state board of
control may provide, hal a beneficial
effect upon this class. also TO the Home,
as a number, who come under this ren-
atty, have taken their discharge. AT
no time have the drunltards in the
Home exceeded 6 per cent of the mem
bership present, and for reasons above
stated, will not at this time reach that
figure. As the law now stands the
penalty is without limit, even tho the
soldiers may have thoroughly reformed.
Il would suggest that the law be so
amended as to provide that in case
a soldier shall refrain from over indui-
gence in drink for the period of one
year. and shall conduct himself in a
gentlemanly manner, that the COM
mandant be authorized, with the ap-
prevail of the board of control td al
low such pensioner who comes under the
penalty of this law. So for the first
month, and 81 during the second month.
and that in case he shall refrain from
drink during the said two months fol-
lowing the said year, that he shall be
given full control of his pension, Eek
cept he have dependent, wife or minor
child. so long as he is not gully of
the excessive use of intoxicating liG-
uors. Such an amendment I believe
will have a good effect and offer all IN
ducement to lead a life of temperance.
Thanks G. A. r. and Allied Bodies.
Il wish TO express for myself and the
members of the Home our appreciation
and thanks for the many acts of kind
ness received from the hands OF the
w. r. c., department OF Iowa. J'ellies
for the sick, fruit for Christmas, and
cushions for the chairs have been a
great treat and source of comfort.
But most of all do m. old comrades
appreciate their thoughtful kindness in
providing a beautiful silk flag to spread
upon the breast of fallen comrades and
the regimental flag for The use on par
ade. To the ladies of the G. A. H.. we
return our hearty thanks for present.
room picture. The GRAD Army OF the
Republic have always stood loyalty by
the Home and to their interest and in
1luence are we in a great measure in
debted for the establishment and houn-
tiful maintenance of the Home.
The New Improvements.
"The buildings and Improvements, so
generously provided by the general as
sembly. have all been completed, save
the elevator in the main building, and
/ am of the opinion that this would not
result in the good anc comfort hoped
for The addition to the hospital and
erection of the nurses hall has proved
a great blessing. We now have room
for seventy-five or eighty more pa
tents. This will, believe, furnish all
posed, If necessary. to turn the old
mems building into a convalhscent
ward, where special diet can be s,arveS.
The new assembly hail is beautiful
building, and the vacation of the old
chapel gives us a new dormitory cap
able of holding from forty TO fifty beds.
The erection of the new laundry is a
great convenience, ana the old room
has been turned into clean and COM
Portable bath room. The renovation of
the old lavatories AMI closets, which
have been source of annoyance for
so long, has been greatly appreciated.
our cold storage building is complete
success and is satisfactory in every
way.
Improvements Needed.
'grhe kitchen and dining room at the
hospital are not of sufficient size to care
for the patients at the hospital and will
prove wholly inadequate to care for
the number when the upper story in
the aaiifinn is nccunilAd The inStr