The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-14
MOUNTAIN CREEK
 SHORT OF MONEY Only $633 Left for Remainder
 of Year DEBTS HAVE BEEN MADE Commandant Brooks Makes Debts of $2e45 Which Were Not Reported to the Executive Com
 nittee.
DEBTS HAVE BEEN MADE

Montgomery. November 3-(Special)- In a report on the condition of the finances of the Confederate soldiers home at Mountain Creek. made to the gov ernor today by Examiner J, T. German, 1t is shown that because of the use of the funds for maintenance for other pur- poses there is only left for the support of the sixty-seven inmates for the bal ance of re year S633. This will be en- tirely inadequate, and in addition the in- mates need winter clothing of all kinds and will have to have attention. It IS shown that Commandant Brooks made debts S2945 which were not reported to the executive committed, and that after paying from the maintenance fund $l2fS he still owed s1672 which the committee had not been apprised of.
 While 1t is not charged that MT. Brooks did anything wrong, he did allow the mat ter to lapse to such an extent, it is said, that the old soldiers are now in pad shape on account of lack of support. The debts made are regular and the eommah- dant holds vouchers, but he Is criticised for not making them known at the tune as required by the laws. -
 The report shows that the sl2o year for each inmate appropriated by the state is not enough and 1t should be in- creased to $175. The full report tollows'
 Gormans Report.
 "Hon. William D. Jelks, Governor or Alabama
 "Dear sir: In obedience to instructions
 ;.f office. I have examined the books. accounts and vouchers of Hon. A. J. Brooks, ex- commandant and ex-secretary and treas urer of the Confederate Soldiers Home, from April 1, 1904 to October 3, l9Oo ana respectfully submit the following report: 'rhe Confederate Soldiers Home was established April l, 1904 under an act oi the legislature, approved octoper D, l'oo. It is located near Mountain Creek, In Chiffon county and contains eighty acres of land which, together with all the lm- movements thereon at the time, were donated to the state by the Jem Falkner Camp, No. 1882, U. c. V.
 '"rhe eighty acres of land have been enclosed by a substantial wire fence, ten comfortable residences a commodlous hospital and a handsome auditorium with a library and hall for religious ser vices, have been erected. The residences are all well furnished A fine system of waterworlxs Is in operation and the sani- tary conditions are satisfactory.
 Value of Property.
 .sThe total value of the property is esti- mated at S65, GOO. The state has not ex- pended this amount on the home. The land and improvements donated to the state were worth about $30OO, and part of the building since erected and improve ments since made were paid for by dona- tions and contributions.
 .The home will easily accommodate 100 or more inmates The home is under the supervision of a board of control, composed of one trustee from each con gressional district and three trustees from the state at large, appointed by the gover- nor with the governor as ex-ohicio pres ident The three trustees from the state at large constitute an executive commit tee to manage all business delegated to 1t by the board of control
 Section Ii of the establishing act pro- vides for the election by the board Of control of a commandant who shall also be secretary treasurer and who shall have control and management of the home. Such commandant is required to execute bond in the sum of $2000, and he must collect and disburse all the monies of the home, under the rules and regulations prescribed by the board of control and he Is held strictly accountable to the board. The board fixes the compensation of the officers of the home and that of the commandant was fixed at $50 per month.
 Duty of commandant
 Under the rules and regulations adopt ed by the board the commandant must purchase all necessary supplies for the home, and section of said rules and regulations provides as follows: He shall furnish the executive committee on the fret of ment of expenditures for the past month.' Hon. A. J. Brown was elected command ant and held the position from April l. 1904. to October 5, 1905, when he resigned and was succeeded by Dr. M l.. Fielder. Section of the establishing act appro- priated s25 900 out of the state treasury for necessary buildings and improve ments, and section 10 of said act appro- priates s125 annually for the support and maintenance of each inmate in the home limiting the annual appropriation to sl2, 500, which would support 100 inmates, but sixty-seven is the largest number who have been in the home at any one time. This appropriation is drawn quarterly and is based upon the actual number of inmates in the home from the first day of the quarter.
 Financial Showing
 MT. Brooks kept separate accounts of the improvement and the maintenance funds, and vouchers are on file for dis bursements of each of these funds. At the close of business on September 30, 1905 his accounts showed as follows:
 IMPROVEMENT FUND. To amount received from
 state as per auditors
 warrants -. ......... s25,OoO.O .Oo To sundry amounts re-
 ceved from sales of
 property ......... ....... 2l340 By total disbursements$2 $25, ,419.Se To balance ............ 206. 4e
 s25. .419.s9 s25. s9 By balance brought
 down ...... .... 2O6 49
 MAINTENANCE FUND. To amount received from
 state per auditors
 warrants ...... ........ ss.65o25 To sundry amounts re-
 ceived from sales of
 property and donations. 2670l By total disbursements. s9,94773 To balance ................ Nf7
 - ---
 s9,94773 s9,94773 r.L