Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-10-15
Immediate Appropriation Of So,
900 Needed Owing to Ex-
ira Expenses.
NO REVERTED PENSIONS
Conversational Legislation Cutting
Them on Pronounced Unwise--
National InspcctOr Finds II
Most Economically Man.
nged of state Homes.

Montpelier. Oct. 9-The report OF the
officers of the Soldiers Home nj Benning
ton for the two years ending June so,
1908. to the Governor and General As
semhy of the state of Vermont Is sub
mitted by Hugh Henry. president OF the
board OF trustees. az follows:
conference.-the have the honor here
with to submit TO you the 18th biennial
report Of the Vermont Soldiers Home
In cur earlier reports we detailed at
length the nlnutia of the gift of the
Home property and from time to time
have given you the history OF the various
engagements and additions down to the
commencement OF the present biennial
period To repeat Il here would be to
encumber this report with a great mass
of material to which reference can easily
be made by you in these former reports
on file in the state library should occa-
sion require such reference.
II Is sufficient for the purpose OF this
report to state that In February. 1887, the
trustees OF the Trcnor W Park Homo
for Destitute Childrer and the heirs of
Trenor W Park Joined In the conveyance
TO US al a gif; the magnificent property
then known as the Hunt estate. costing
originally in all its appointments. incud
ing the expense of the fountain Che high
est in the WORLDLY 800 900; the property
TO be USED for the purpose of soldiers
hor'e so long az the need of such an in
stitut'on should continue and after such
need should cease. to be held for such
charitable or educational purposes as
the State may determine.
The buildings on the place at the time
OF the gift were considerably out of re-
pair from long un-occupancy and were
soon found to be insufficient in size: and
various enlargements and additions have
been made up to the present time, In
Guiding during the past year an addition
to the hospital costing, with the heating
apparatus. 81 221.S0. The hospital had be-
come so overcrowded n year ago that It
was the unanimous opinion of the board
OF trustees that this should be done at
once without waiting the assembling OF
the Legislature. Under the personal SUI
pervsion OF Colonel Harmon the addition
was erected In T. very thorough manner
at several hundred dollars less expense
than II contracted to builders and as
he received no additional compensation
for this service added to his manifold
other duties. 1t is eminently proper that
this Acknowledgements Of that service be
mentioned in this report.
The total amour, thus far appropriate ed
by the State for the maintenance Of in
mates, enlargement, and repairs, and
erection OF now buildings has been s242,
90, in which sum is included the s24. oDO
OF the APPROX Ration covering to Deem
nor 81. 1909.
AS the appropriations have always been
made as: "A sum not exceeding a speci-
fed amount as might BE necessary" we
have succeeded by wise economy in the
past In leaving at the close OF each bien-
NAL period some portion of the total
amount we were authorized to use I'M
touched in the State treasury: the lar
gest balance being at the close Of the
biennial period ending December 81, 1902
when we left untouched In the State
treasury 5000 of the s24 900 we had been
authorized to draw, hence the cost has
NOT reached the sum appropriated by
several thousand dollars. AT the close OF
this biennial period. however, owing to
renewal of Insurance for five years at q
cost Of s1,1JO. the addition to the hospital
shingling. stating and painting OF the
buildings. We shall have more than ex-
hausted our biennial appropriation and
we ASK (regrett!ns much tina. We have SO
to ask n specia! appropriation Of 5000
to be made Immediately ava!la b!lo to tide
us over TO the regular biennial appro
priatIon.
Until about five years age We received
from pensions retained OF inmates about
el50O year, which aided the State much
and was beneficial In effect on the in.
mates. Unwise legislation by Congress
has eliminated this and the act of last
Congress providing for payment Of pen
sion direct to the pensioner and takins
away all control OF the Home over the
sc-Ie will prevent in the future any In
come from reverted pensions. from which
we received last yenr s7S556 Sentiment
rather than sense seems to have been tn.
impelling motive in late legislation IL
this matter
June &c. 1905, there were on the rolls %
Of these GO were present. @ absent on fur
loughs. etc. The membership has no
diminished during the past two year
nor is It likely to during the coming bien
ntql period.
The cost per capita (Which include
every expense of the Homel for the yea
ending June 80 1903 has been s25s42 A
the United States pays 800 OF this, tn
cost to the State has been Sl5S.42.
The whole number received and care
for from opening OF Home to June u
1905 has been 634 Total deaths 30 Dur
ing the past year there were only e!gh
deaths.
In the fulfllment Of the trust conilde
TO our care we have endeavored to be "A
economical as possible and carry out tn
purpose named In our act OF incorporn
sion, maintaining comfortable an
pleasant Home for INDECENT and feehl
soldiers and sailors. That we have su,
ceeded to fair degree We are confder
from the expressed approval of Gener
Curtis, L. S. inspector OF state and n;
tional homes, who both by personal e,
press!ons and In his annua! reports re-
ommends our Home as one of the be
and most economically conducted OF II
State homes
We deem 1t the exercise OF pruden'
and good judgment to ask at your hant
Tor the years, 1909 and 1910 as was apr
2riated for the years, 1907 and 1903. while
Is the same that has been appropriate