The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-06-03
BASIS OF SOLDIERS
HOME CRITICISM
SEEMS TO LIE IN NATURAL DIS
CONTENT WITH LIFE THERE.
Rations, Clothing and Requirements
of Place as Sampled and Seen by
a Journal Man Who Was an Unex-
pected Guest at the Home at the
Hour for Dinner.

Incidental to the discussion over the
pensions of Soldiers home inmates,
there has been some criticism Of the
rations and allotments given to the
veterans there. This criticism has
arisen not only among certain dissatis-
fed soldiers, but from outsiders who
have no connection with the home.
Certain specific charges have been
mentioned; that no milk was furnish
ed, that the supplies of meat and other
necessary commodities have been cut
down to minimum so that the pres
ent quartermaster can make a record
for money saved; that the tobacco
given out Is the cheapest that the mar
ket affords, that the men have not
been furnished overshoes, that the
clothing is the same both for winter
and summer, and that outsiders are
hired to do work that soldiers them
selves could do.
In order to test the truth of these
assertions a Journal reporter called
| just at the dinner hour without the
| foreknowledge Of anyone at the quar-
tiers. He had the same dinner that
was served to the soldiers. The dining
room was spotlessly clean, as were also
the knives and forks and other table
accessories. The dinner consisted of
corned beef and cabbage, baked beans,
baked potatoes, milk, coffee, and cake
and apple pie for dessert. The din
ner was we'll cooked and the quaint
ties served were amply sufficient for
each person. Milk ts not served every
day, but the amount served averages
| about pint day at the end Of the
week for each soldier. = Before the
| present com1nandant took charge Of
the home In 1899, the milk bought each
month amounted to about ATS gallons.
For practically the same number Of
soldiers the number Of gallons bought
each month at the present time is al
most triple that amount. One Of the
soldiers, in speaking Of the general
feeling among the inmates, said: "Of
course there are always some who are
never pleased. SOME cranks wouldn't
be pleased If they were served a full
course dinner each day, hot from the
West Hotel. For myself, don't like
the tobacco, but I manage to buy it
some place else. You see, we all have
our kicks coming, and when it isn't
one thing it's another
In fact, one Of the strongest and
most prevailing complaints is that
about the tobacco. Peoples prefer
fer, and 1t seems to be an impossible
problem to solve. However, as it is,
the soldiers take what is given to
them. # some are pleased, that is
about all that can be hoped for. Per-
haps is would be possible to give a
ferent brands. If so, all just cause
of complaint would be taken away.
II In regard to the fact that over
shoes are not furnished, the COM
mandant said that the walks are al
ways kept clean, both around the cot
tages and to the car lines. The quar-
| termaster opened the storeroom and
4 showed the shoes which are given to
the soldiers. They are heavy and
\ we'll made, in fact stronger than the
. regular army shoe. The uniforms
are Of heavy weight, it is true, but the
; underwear differs for winter and sum-
/ mer, the summer wear being a light
balbriggan and the winter wear being
i of heavy close-woven cloth.
III The rumor that outsiders are hired
for work, which the inmates might be
paid for, arises from the fact that
4 two men are employed in the garden
/ to do heavy lifting and carrying. The
q garden is a comparatively new under
4 taking and it is estimated that it
saves the home something like $1,000
l a year.
n Peter McKiernan, an old Minneapo-
81 lis policeman and an inmate Of the
q home, summed the whole matter up
Il by saying: "Of course, the life here
isn't the same that it would be If ]
u could suit myself, but If did that II
u probably would not suit the next man
z I guess they do as we'll for us as could
possibly be expected