Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-05-24
CAPITAL CHAT,
Appropriations for SOL
diers' Home, Togus, Ne.
Maj. Moses Harris Has Consid-
cradle To Say at Hearings.
James W. Wadsworth, President Of
Board Also Talks,

Washington, d. c., May 23-(Spe-
ciaD The appropriations for the
Soldiers Home at Togus, Maine. as
determined upon ny the House Com
mittee that drew the Sundrv Civil
Bill, amount to $780, 700. The Appro-
priation Committee confined itself
simply to the necessities and did no,
grant anything material, outside OF
the necessities, which those who ap-
peared at the hearings asked The
Togus appropriations are summed up
under the following heads For cur
rent expenses, $4,000; for subsist-
ence, $4,000: for household. $82 900:
for hospital, $4,000; transportation,
$1,000: repairs, $4,000 and for the farm.
SIT, 500. The House will undoubtedly
vote the appropriations through in
| these amounts and it is not likely that
they will be materially changed In
the Senate.
Maj. Moses Harris. general treas
urer of the National Homes for Vol
unteer Soldiers and Mr. James w.
| Wadsworth, president of the Board,
| had considerable to say about the
| Togus home when the hearings We're
held before the appropriations COM
mittee MI. Wadsworth at the our.
| set mentioned that there We're 2O46
| inmates in the ToguS home January
81, 1909. and 1885 January 81. 1910
| Maj. Harris explained that under
current expenses there was an un-
| expended balance of $685. last year.
but that there would probably be no
unexpended balance this year under
|
| subsistence. Mr.. Wadsworth said
| there would be an estimated surplus
of $500 at Togus this year under the
| item of "HOusehOld" but Maj. Har-
| ris said it would not be as much as
| that.
| we have installed sewage dis
| posal plant there" added Mai Har-
| ris, which requires some expendi-
| ture. a man to take care of the plant
That will amount to perhaps $1,000 a
year"
| Chairman Tawrey, of the sub
| committee, which framed the Sundry
Bill, suggested that hospital eXpen.
SEES at Togus and other homes were
| increasing right along and wanted to
| know why it was.
| THE men are getting older and
| more feeble and require more hos
| pital treatment" answered Maj.
| Harris
1T can hardly be called hospital
| treatment" interposed Mr. Wads-
! worth. st is more nursing, taking
| care of these old men who can not
| take care of themselves. They do not
need hospital treatment so much as
proper diet, and great many have
| to be taken care of, dressed. washed
and kept clean" ~
| The Committee in allowing $50, 900
for repairs gives authority to make
some necessary improvements. which
Mr. Wadsworth represented as inn
| portant General Smith, the local
manager" said Mr.. Wadsworth to
| the Committee, gave certain items
of increase and the board. after hear
| ing the reasons allowed the estimate.
| The moving of some buildings 1t the
main item. painting the interior OF
some buildings and the hospital, GER
| tain matters there, moving the old
uuartermasters building, changing
| closets and drains in the barn, chang
| ing over the guard barracks. paint
| ing and doing a lot of repair work on
| the chapel. doing some work on the
| tailor shop and plasterlng and white
washing on three company barracks,
A, G. and P, which amounted to $751;
| $50"
| THE bathing facilities at this
branch" said Maj. Harris a little
have heretofore been provided by a
| general bath house which all the men
resorted to. The members are now so
| old and decrept that it is a hard
| ship for them to leave the warm
quarters and go out to this bath house
to battle and go back to quarters and
| this was intended to enable uS to
dispense with the central bath house.
The subcommittee. however, did
not grant the item of $4,000 estimated
for this improvement. Representa-
tive Walter I. Smith. of the Commit
tee, questioned pretty sharply the
proposition that it would cost $1,000
for each Of these twelve bathrooms.
This colloouy occurred between them:
| MIR. Smith-How many bathroom.
were contemplated to be put in for
the $4,000?
Mai. Harris-Twelve bathrooms.
Mr.. Smith-Dc you know whether
it was contemplated to put in tub
baths?
Mai. Harris-They are iron enam>
eled bath tubs.
Mr.. Smith--Not plunge baths, but
lust ordinary tubs?
Maj Harris-Yes, sir.
Mr.. Smith-How many to bath
room?
Mai. Harris-One to each room.
Mr.. Smith-Does it take a thousand
dollars to fit up bath room:
Mai. Harris-There are some alter
atiors necessary in the building to
put tubs in: it is not only for the
tubs. but to fit the rooms up.
The Board also asked for $500 fol
officers quarters at Togus. which the
Committee did not grant. These
quarters. Maj Harris represented
were needed to provide for "officers
who have recently been authorized by
the board and who have not hereto
fore been provided for. an adjutan'
and inspector and also commissary
of subsistence.
Mai. Harris explained that at To-
| o.nnipfad NOT Ior1 Un