Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-03
ANNUAL VISIT MADE
G.. A. R. Officials at Tempo
rary Home for Soldiers.
SEVERAL A ADDRESSES
NEEDS OF THE INSTITUTION
TOPIC OF DISCUSSION.
The Women's Relief Corps Active in
Movement to Secure a Perma-
nent Establishment.

P. Tasker and his staff and officers of the
Department of the Potomac, G. A r., to
the Soldiers and Sailors Temporary Home,
1G6 Sd street northwest, was made last
night, and proved to be an occasion of
much interest and Importance. The visit
ing officers were received by Capt. A. A.
Maxim, superintendent of the home and
escorted into the meeting rooms, and were
greeted by Col. B. F. Chase, president; Col.
J. Tyler Powell, vice president of the board
of management, and J. H. Bradford, chap
lain Of the temporary home.
Col. Chase explained the workings of the
Institution, the necessity for it's exist
ence and its needs for better facilities. At
the conclusion of his remarks he called
upon Col. ]. Tyler Powell, who is also in
spector general of the Department OF the
Potomac TO extend a welcome to Depart
ment Commander Tasker and his aids. This
Col. Powell did and also called attention
to the band concert and entertainment TO
be given this evening at the National Thea
ter by the Spanish War Veterans and
urged the members of the G.. a. r. to at
tend the function, declaring that the vete-
rams of the war with Spain are closely al
lied to the venerable veterans of the G.
A r.
The visitors were then shown through the
building, which, though overcrowded with
inmates, found to be In cleanly and
orderly condition. A thorough inspection
was made of the sleeping rooms, the bath
room, the kitchen and the food supply.
The Addresses.
On returning to the board room Depart
ment Commander A. p. Tasker in an earn
est address said:
This closes our annual visitation of the
season, but to none of them did 1 go with
such heartfelt feelings as to this home |
know fu1l of itc ranrpSpntS
one of the most worthy Christian and phi
lanthropic charities anywhere. The work
in this little soldiers home is a labor of
love. Our Master looked among the lowly.
He remembered the lowly; and the blessed
ministrations of our Great Chieftain we
will do well to emulate"
Senior Vice Department Commander B.
p. Entrikin spoke feelingly of the former
American fighting men who were compelled
to seek refuge and food in the home, and
urged that more fitting and commodious
quarters be provided for them.
Junior Vice Department Commander
Thomas NJ. Martin spoke along the same
lines, as did Assistant Adjutant General
L. Vanderhoef and Rev. ]. II. Bradford,
who has been chaplain of the home for the
past seventeen years.
Judge Ivory G. Kimba1l, past commander
of the Department of the Potomac, G. A.
r., spoke earnestly of the needs of the old
soldiers who seek a place of shelter in the
temporary home. Mr. R. NJ. Calhoun of
Post No. also spoke and expressed the
hope that Congress in it's wisdom would
provide ways and means for the acquisition
of a new and fitting home.
Nearly the entire staff of the department
commander, in full uniform, were present.
At the conclusion of the speaking they
spent some time looking through the
premises.
Sick Soldier Guest.
In one of the rooms, which is temporarily
used as hospital ward, is young soldier
of the with Spain, whose life is SAID
to be fast ebbing away. The young man
served with honor in the Santiago cam
paign, and the consumption, from which
dread disease he is dying, was contracted,
it is said, in the military service. He is far
from home and friends, and is receiving
the best treatment that can be given to him
by Capt Maxim, the superintendent of the
home, with the limited facilities at his
command.
During the course of the meeting word
was received from Commander John Lewis
Smith of the Department of the District OF
Columbia, Spanish War Veterans, and De-
partment Adjutant G. e. Rausch, who were
to have been present, that they had been
unavoidaby detained at another meeting.
But it was stated, the Spanish War Vet
Grams are with the older veterans of the
civil war "in their just and merciful fight
for a larger home and better accommoda-
lions for Uncle Sans soldiers"
Action Of the w. f.. C.
Mrs. Ida ]. Hart, president of the Wo-
mans Relief Corps, Department of the
Potomac, has issued circular letter, and
IS taking active measures to aid the off,
GERS of the Temporary Soldiers Home to
better conditions in that place The Wo-
mans Relief Corps has been actively inter-
ested in the home for the past two or three
years, it is stated. and has greatly assisted
in ameliorating conditions there, but the
time has come. Mrs Hart says, when
something more vigorous than occasional
basketsful of delicacies or bundles of cloth
ing must be attempted.
Il want to see a fine temporary home
here she said TO Star reporter. THE
Woman's Relief Corps has been working
on that for a long time. l do not care so
much where the home is located as that L
want a home, and right away. l remember
that there was placed upon the Capitol
front at the close of the war a legend,
There is nothing too good for the soldiers
who saved the Union words to that eff
feet. Yet here In Washington but for the
almost unaided efforts of the Grand Army
posts and the Woman's Relief Corps vet
Grams who come to the city and are strand
ed would have to go to the workhouse or
the almshouse.
II consider it q burning shame. Congress
has not done it's duty by our veterans in
the District 1t has built beautiful homes
for the veterans in the north, the west and
the south, but here in the District of Co
lumbia, the capital of the country, the old
soldiers who are stranded in strange city
are treated almost like tramps--not with
half as much consideration as are the stray
dogs and CATS for they have a home big
enough for all corners.
II consider that Capt. Maxim. the super
ntendent of the home, has done wonders
with the small appropriation that he has.
but we must have more money and We must
have a larger home. The corps of my de-
partment are taking action rapidly as
the matter Is laid before them. l issued a
circular letter soon as l could after the
first business meeting, of which the follow
ing is a brief:
Appeal for Support.
1.-THE legislative committee of the Sol
| dIers and Sailors Temporary Home B. F.
Chase, chairman, has asked the cooperation
| and support of the Womans Relief Corps,
| together with other patriotic bodies of wo-
men, for the purpose of raising funds to Sc
| cure permanent quarters for the home.
"'Bishop C. C. McCabe will soon deliver
| lecture in the Metropolitan Methodist Epis-
| copaI Church, corner Az and streets
northwest, subject THE Bright SIDE of Life
1 IN Tjhhy Prison /" Proceeds of lecture to