The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-02-16

MISSISSIPPI MATTERS,
CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS HoMK
Legislative Committee Finds Every
thing in Good Shape at Beauvoir,

Your committee having in charge the
investigation Of the affairs Of the Old
Soldiers Home at Beadvoir beg leave to
submit their report as follows:
Your joint committee visited the
Home on January 10Th, spending the
entire day in going over the buildings
and grounds, and examining carefully |
into the care and treatment of the in.
mates, as well rs into the sanitary and
financial conditions of the institution
We are pleased beyond measure to be
able to report that the management Of
the Home by the matron, Mrs, NJ L.
Wallace, and other employees, is excel
lent In every detail, We found the
premises in clean, wholesome and SAM.
tary condition, and an air OF tidiness
and careful attention peryaded the en-.
tire Institution and was manifested in
the bearing and appearance of the In
mates. We found the soldiers well pro
vlded for and accomplishing, and the
conditions generally indicated that the
Home is being made as nearly as posi-
Bile n Home indeed, and that those In
charge have their hearts in the work
and their sympathies thoroughly en-.
listed for the veterans in their care.
This Home has grown rapidly from
two inmates at first, TO a total OF 90 in
the institution now. This is about the
limit Of present capacity and more room
is needed as applications for admission
are being constantly received, as cyt.
denCed by the roster herewith attached
and made a part OF this report.
The greatest need of the institution
at this time, however, is q hospital
and we urge that this is practically in.
dispensablc. About one-half of the
old veterans who come to the Home are
iniirm with age and disease, and ii is
becoming imperative that these should
be provided for in a hospital, where
they can be comfortably treated and be
separated from the well inmates. As
matters now stand, a patient has to be
nursed and treated in the bedroom with
other inmates,
Your committee therefore earnestly
recommend that a sufficient allowance
be made at this session for equipping a
hospital at the Home, and we think the
hospital should be established without
delay.
After carefully investigating the
Home and its needs, your committee
respectfully recommend that the fol.
lowing appropriations bemade therefor;
For a thirty bed, general hospital,
having a small but modern operating
room with necdful accessories, sun par,
lor for convalcscents, several small
rooms for patients about to die, lava
tories, diet kitchen, room for nurses,
drugs and surgical supplies, modern
plumbing, steam or hot water heated,
all outside openings to be screened,
81, 800;
For spring and winter uniform for
each inmate, $1,000;
For ain arte,ian well, or for such con-
nection with the Waits Home artesian
well as will furnish an ample supply OF
water for domestic purposes and fire
protection, $1,000;
For additional dormitOrics, wharf,
laundry, repairs, etc, the sum uneX-
pended Of the appropriation for 1901
and 1905, $685. 90;
For support fund for 1906, $lj, 900;
: For support fund for 1907, 1900.
Aside from complaints and sickness
to be naturally expected in such cases,
we found the health Of the inmates
good. DIR. II. M. Folke has been regu-
larry attending the Home and minister
ing TO the sick since its establishment,
and has never received any compensa-
ton for this generous work. We think,
however, that such sacrifice ought not to
be asked Of a physician and some pro-
vision for medical service should be
made.
In conclusion, your committee desires
to express it's appreciation OF the splen-
did care and attention bestowed on the
Home by Hon. T. NJ. Henry and his co
workers on the board of directors Of
this institution. Mr.. Henry visits the
Home in person regularly and keeps a
careful watch and supervision over all
OF its affairs. He and other members
Of the board have shown splendid fidel-
ity to this important trust, and their
work is inspired by the purest motives
of patriotism and b~encvolence. Mr..
Henry, by invitation, was with the com
mittee, and his thorough knowledge
and intimate acquaintance with the in
mates made him most helpful to the
committee in their investigation OF CON
ditions, needs, etc, Of this institution.
All of which is most respectfully sub
mitted. w. A. BOYD, Chairman,
A. L. KYLE, Secretary Joint Legis-
latiye Committee.
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Appropriation for Silver Service.
The appropriation committee having
charge Of the bill appropriating 5000
!, for a silver service which - to be
Atg-FA