The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-10-13
LEGISLATION WAS
UNWISE SAY
TRUSTEES
Payment Of Pensions to Home
Inmates Criticised
DECREASED INCOME $500
Sentiment Rather Than Sense Inn
polling Motive In Late Act Of
Congress.

The report of the officers of the
Vermont soldiers home at Benning-
ton for the two years ending June 3d.
1908, to the governor and general as
sembly of the state of Vermont just
submitted by Hugh Henry. president
of the board of trustees, is as follows:
Gentlemen: We have the honor
herewith to submit to you the
eleventh biennial report of the Yer
mont Soldiers Home.
In our earlier reports we detailed
. at length the pinutia OF the gift OF
the home property and from time to
time have given you the history OF
the various engagements and addit-
ions down TO the commencement of
the present biennial period To re-
peal II here would be to cucumber.
this report with great mass of ma
terial to which reference can easily
be made by you in these former re-
ports on file in the state library
should occasion require such refer
ence.
1T is sufficient for the purpose Of
this report to state that I'm February
1901 lllE AlubNNto VI AAlt lAthOA W
Park Home for Destitute Children
and the heirs Of Trenor w. Park join
ed in the conveyance to us as gift
the magnificent property then known
as the Hunt estate, costing originally
In all its appointments, including the
expense of the fountain 1.-THE highest
in the world) 100000; the property
TO be used for the purpose OF sold
iers home so long as the need OF
such an institution should continue
and after such need should cease, to
be held for such charitable or educa-
tional purposes as the state may de
termine.
The buildings on the place at the
time of the gift were considerably out
OF repair from long unoccupancy and
were soon found to be insufficient In
size, and various engagements and
additions have been made up 10 the
present time. including during the
past year an addition to the hospital
costing with the heating apparatus
S2.221.S0. The hospital had become
so overcrowded a year ago that II
was the unanimous opinion of the
board OF trustees that this should be
done at once without waiting the as
sembling of the legislature. Under
the personal supervision Of Colonel
Harmon the addition was erected in
a very thorough manner at several
hundred dollars, less expense than II
contracted TO builders, and as he re.
,ceived no additional compensation for
this service added TO his manifold
10 a.. Ia
that this Acknowledgement Of that
service be mentioned In this report
THE total amount thus far appro-
priated by the state for the mainten-
.ance OF inmates, enlargement and
erection OF new buildings has been
S242, 900 In which sum Is included the
$4,000 Of the appropriation covering
to December 81. 1905
AS the appropriations have always
been made as. A sum not exceeding
"a specified amount as might be neces.
.sary.' we have succeeded by wise
economy In the past In leaving at the
close OF each biennial period some
portion OF the total amount we were
authorized to use untouched In the
state treasury; the largest balance be.
ing at the close OF the biennial period
ending December 81, 1902 when we
left untouched In the state treasury
$4,000 OF the $4,000 We had been au.
thorized 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
Ave years at cost OF $3.50 the ad-
dition to the hospital, shingllng, slat'
ing and painting OF the buildings. we
shall have more than exhausted our
biennial appropriation and We ask
(regretting much that We have so TO
ask n special appropriation Of $4,000
10 be made Immediately available TO
tide US over to the regular biennial
appropriation
Until about Ave years ago we re-
ceived from pensions retained Of In
mates about $500 year which aid.
ed the state much and was beneficial
In effect or the inmates. Unwise
legislation by Congress has eliminat'
ed this and the act Of last Congress
providing for payment OF pension dir
ect TO the pensionor and taking away
all control of the home over the same
will prevent In the future any income
from reverted pensions from which
We rec lyCd last year S1eb.56. Sen
timent rather than sense seems 10
have been the lmpelling motive In
late legislation In this matter
June 80. 1905 there were ON th'
rolls %. OF these 60 were present y
absent on furloughs. etc. The mem
bership has not diminished during the
past two years nor is It likely to dur
ing the coming biennial period.
"The cost per capita (which IN
cludes every expense OF the homel iol
the year ending June 30, 1908 ma
been s25S.42. As the United Statel
paws 500 Of this. the cost TO th'
state has been Si5S42.
THE whole number received an'
cared for from opening Of home Z
June 30. 1908 has been 63i. Tota
deaths 30 During the past yea
there we're only eight deaths
In the fulnllment of the trust con
fided to our care we have endcavoi
ed to be as economical as possible
and carry out the purpose named b
our act of corporation. maintainln
comfortable and pleasant home To-
INDECENT and feeble soldiers and sal
ors That we have succeeded to