The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-11-30
4r:rs Nor nNor,ay..

One item in the report of the state Trcasurar win strike the public with surprise. For the Soldiers Home at Mountain Creek only the sum of $s.s72.2E was expended during the past twelve months This is not enough. but 1t is all the law allows as it now sfai ds. The act pf the Legislature ap- proved october 6, 1903. appropriates SIPS ernually for ssrh inmate of the Home. the appropriation to be based on the number of inmates si the Home at the beginning of eaca quarter. The total appropriation for aay one year is limited to sle.Soo. sv that one hn7 dfed inmates would exnAast the sum set apart for this purpose.
 skfs sam is not adequate for the reeds ct the old veterans, and such . skiL rish appropriation is not really c,e6itable to the state. The inmates of the Homo arr not beggars or trBmps. and they are not dependent througl any fault or choice of their OVID. They are helpless veterans of a glorious cause. In most eases they are mea v ho were independent in other days but rho, through no crime or fault of their own. have come to the Home as tl- last resting place oh earth for tiNeir wcrA bodies. where ehev may escapc ea1fvIiEg and avoid eias hnai:iallon Of being objects Of ch srity from friends and rIietivea. When they were young and ~.sose they did th'sF duty as few others ever did, bat now old age and disease have come upon them, and. however aistastsfuI it may be to them. they haye gathered at M:untain Creek to end their days in reace and in fun confidence that their State will care for them while they i've and give them hoEcrsd burial when they have answered to the last roll-call and havs gone te join the he- roes who. have gone before.
 Are Alabama can afford to take good sarc of them. through ths efforts of one good Confederate soldier the first beginning was ns de towards founding q refuge foe Eeneless and helpl,ss Con .edernSes. Through the sfiorts of tii~ various CnaSSeerate organisations and the loyal dtN ction of shcFe who kre left. and of ths4r wives and their sons and their daughters, the Hone has been built up nntn # is credit to the state and to those who have aopf 50 much for It And by the ccn- iinl,e,I sfserts of lhsse same devoted aud ratrictic s1ns and daughters of A;ahaarsa no ess veteran haF fsit actual want. Tie snai. sum given by the State kss Teen continually supplement- sd by gifts from those who love the very name eG e'oafedsFata veteran and who are feternaned that Ihcre shall b no saaering among them as long as one gray head remains above ground.
 But the State of Alabama Is able to care for them properly and should do it. The paltry sum of ten dollars per month Is not enough. The stste can aFord more and ought to do it. It wlll not last many years at most. They pass away there as their comrades did on the red field of battle. and as others are passing away each day. The few remaining years of their lives should be passed in peace, knowing that their state will care for them. The Lesis- lature might well afford to double the appropriation when 1t assemblies. These old men have various expenses aside from food and clothing and they should not be allowed to want. The state is able to care for them, and 1t ought to do it. The amount now paid out for them is really a reflection on Alabama and should be increased at the first opportunity.