Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-06-08

seems TO be the one upon WHICH iiloi
of the veterans agree than any other
proposed. 1t is cause for rejoicing and
congratulation that the present com
missioner of pensions is inclined to take
a liberal and broad view of the provi-
sions of the pension laws. and the bene-
fetal effects of his ruling are already
apparent.
Soldiers Home.
Tn company with the committee or
this department on soldiers home, your
commander visited this institution in
February of the present year and a
thorough examir alton of the institution
was made That committee will submit
n report which will give the result OF
their visit in detail, and at greater
length than is necessary at this time.
1t is only necessary to say that the At
fairs of the institution are in excellent
condition. and the administration of
the commandart. Col. c. G. Horton.
cannot be too hghly commended. In
company with the committee your
commander visited the legislature on
the day following their visit to the
Home, and had hearing before the
committee on appropriations of both
houses, to whom they urged the neces-
sity of more hospital room. additional
accommodations for old veterans and
their wives, and Improvements in the
main building for the comfort and
safety of the occupants. The legisla-
tire sent special committee of three
OF its members to visit the Home. and
il is with sati sfaction that we report
their hearty er dorsement of, all recon-
naendations made. and appropriations
were voted in accordance Herewith.
The population OF the Soldiers Home
has been steadily increasing year by
year until it has exceeded all eXpecta-
tions, and the prospects are II Will not
he less for several years to come. but
more helpless and dependent, and re-
During gre:tter measure OF ala ana
care. The veterans of Iowa must al
ways stand as the sponsor and near
est friends OF the Marshalltown Sol
diers' Home.
Veterans Preference Bill.
eIn pursuance OF recommendations
made by my immediate predecessors,
a committee on legislation was APP
pointed to procure needed legislation
at the hands of the general assembly.
An act known as the veterans pref
erence bill, giving honorably dlscharg-
ed veterans Of the war of the rebelilon
special privileges in regard 10 APP
pointments, employment, and removals
in the publ, departments and upon
public works in the state of Iowa, ana
in the counties cities and towns there
of, was drawn by the chairman OF
that committee and introduced in the
lower house by Comrade +. J. c. Beat
err. a emember of that body and passed
With but one dissenting vote, ana the
senate unanimously, after some I'M
material amendments, which were con-
CURED in by the house. A copy OF this
bill has been published for informa-
ton as circular and distributed to
each of the posts. Additional copies
may be Obtained from the assistant
adtutant general. Comrades should re-
member that this bill Will not aid them
in securing positions for which they are
not qualified, or in holding places. the
duties of which they are incompetent
to perform.
Membership Dues.
Our continual decrease in member
ship and consequent loss in receipts,
has given warning that unless some
other way than the per capita tax
could be evolved to provide revenue
our expenses would soon exceed our
receipts. '0n this account. following
the custom of some of the other de-
partments. your committee on legfsla-
ton drafted a bill making an appro-
priation of $3.50 annually to meet the
incidental expenses of our headquar-
tiers, and soliciting its passage. Tho
bill passed unanimously, and the in
come from this source. together with
the per ca pita tax, will meet the needs
of the department for a time, at least.
Hegimental Records.
1T has long been apparent that Iowa
was behird other states in securing
Individual record of those composing
Iowa regiments. and an effort was
made In the last general assembly 10
take the initiatory steps to procure
such record. A bill was introduced
for that purpose and passed the house.
but failed of passage in the senate.
The reasons for it's failure were not
that 1t ws,s not deemed wise, but from
a misunderstanding of the scope and
was that 1t should give the individual
record so far as 1t could be obtained
Of each soldier who enlisted from this
state; but the bill as drawn contem-
plated much more. and included the
history o.. all the organiZa tons as well.
This somewhat confused the members,
and 1t being late in the session. it was
thought best to let 1t go over until an
other session. when 1t is hoped we shall
be more successful. To partially
the failure TO secure the record
desired, there was added to the sche-
dule prepared In the bill providing for
taking the census for 1905, the name.
and regiment of all soldiers
now living in Iowa, together with
their present postoffice address. This.
e properly prepared, and separately
bound, as 1t no doubt will be, will be
Of great benefit in ascertaining the
address of our comrades, and will be
the first step in securing the perma-
nent record so much desired. In this
I desire to express what
know you all feel, our profound graft
.ude to the Thirtieth general assem-
ply for the generous treatment accord
ed us in most of the legislation asked
FOR. A disposition was manifested on
all sides to do for us Whatever was
consistent with their duty to us and
The state. / trust this encampment
Will make suitable acknowledgement of
heir action"