Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-18
bRANCHP. 0. NEEDED
Among Improvements Desired
at Soldiers Home.
ANNUAL INSPECTION MADE

AsSPoAI Va W. II. OV1 uUA, AuSpCCIVA
General-Savings by Patients in
Hcspital-Suggestions.
A shelf in the vault of the Office of the
treasurer of Soldiers Home has been the
repository for savings-at this time
amounting to $2.6S65O-of patients in the
hospital. In the vault there has been
Kept funds belonging to men in the Gov
eminent Hospital for the Insane, now
amounting to $75S.75
w. II. Gordon. acting inspector general,
reporting upon the annual inspection of
soldiers Home, suggests that an i'm
proved system be adopted
The money is in envelopes with the
name and amounts belonging to each in
dividual,' Gen. Gordon comments. mo
book or other permanent record is kept"
The average cost Of keeping inmates in
Soldiers Home during the past fiscal
year. ending June 30, has been at an in
crease of S2.66 per man per month. This
is total increase of S36, $50 a year for
the support of the inmates. The average
cost per man per month during the pc
Rod is S3f p, of which amount $11.47 is
for subsistence. The expenditures Of the
institution Were over half million dol
lars for the term.
These figures are given i'm the renorr
OF Lieut.. Gen. S. B. NJ. Young, L. S. A,
retired. governor of the home and presi-
dent of the board Of commissioners.
Wants Branch Post Office.
branch post office is needed at the
institution, according to the recommend
alton of Acting Inspector General Cor
don whose findings are part of the re-
port of the board of commissioners. He
points out that messenger wagon and
two men make two trips daily to the
main city post office to get the mail.
The only other suggestions he makes
are that fire eXtingushers be tagged to
show the date of last recharging. and
that the old lavatories in the hospital be
replaced.
He points out that only two complaints
We're preferred by inmates of the home,
although opportunity was given them to
nave the ear of an inspector. These COM
plants We're both insignificant.
Discussing the increased cost of SUBJ
sdstence for the inmates. the inspector
general makes the following comment:
The yearly per capita cost for SUBJ
slstence alone. including the general and
hospital messes. was S137.6S. as against
S129.S4 last year, 1871 cents per day,
as against 1916 cents last year. The per
capita cost for maintenance during the
fiscal year was SHOT, as against 1919. IS
last year, or about SLIP per day, as
against oh last year.
Projected improvements.
Extensive improvements were under
taken. soutlined in Gen. Gordons report,
as follows:
"Tha IN pfc do from, n
allotments were: Completing reconstruc-
ton of heating plant including compile
ton of tunnels, placing of hot-water and
steam pipes therein; rebuilding dairy
constructing three new buildings and re-
storing those damaged by fire: recon-
structing interior of King building, ia
Guiding new plumbing fixtures, new ele-
Vator, outside stairWayS and general re-
newal and overhauling; pointing exterior
walls of marble buildings, including Adj
ministration, Scott-Sherman and Annex,
and Stanley Hall; completing RECONSTRUCT
ton of ventilating system in Sheridan,
Scott-Sherman and Annex buildings, ana
cleaning, repairing and overhauling walls,
floors and ceilings in those buildings in
cident to cutting and tearing away
caused by the installation of conduits,
machinery. etc; oYerhauling elevator at
hospital and at Toulouse; continuing
work on laying terra Gotta pipe in and
closing up and covering over open
water courses; providing new screens
for doors and windows in Anderson
building, and repairing foors.~ walls and
ceilings throughout that building: eX-
tending exterior and improving and en-
larging interior lighting system in Sher-
idan, Scott-Sherman, Annex, Stanley Hall
and Anderson buildings; resurfacns
soads throughout the Soldiers HL3pne
grounds; oiling surface of about ga miles
of roads; overhauling, extending and re-
newing toilet fixtures in Grant building
and Quarters No. i; purchase of trees and
shrubs; purchase of cream separator for
side of annex to provide sleeping porches
for inmates"
Good Discipline Maintained.
The discipline maintained appears to be
good. in the opinion of Gen. Gordon. The
principal offenses committed consisted Of
absence without leave and drunkenness.
Total number of arrests, 2iS; trials for
drunkenness, 40: for absence without leave,
90: total number of members offending,
173. Per cent OF members committing Of
lenses to average number of members
present, 1886. Last year this percentage
was 9.34.
The amusements provided for the mem
bers consisted of vaudeville, moving pic
lures, band concerts and lectures. There
is no charge for admission. Three NOV
ing picture shows and three concerts per
week are given during the season. Octo-
Der to May. In the summer five concerts
per week are given. The expenses for
amusements during the year amounted to
Sl.Gl9.37, as against $1,1S1 for the pre-
vious year. There are also facilities for
playing billiards, chess, cards, pool and
golf.
There are two chaplains-Roman Cath
Ollie and Protestant Episcopal-each at
$50 per month. and the Catholic chaplain
has an assistant at $50 per month. There
is only one chapel, which has a seating
capacity of $50. The regular services are:
Two or more Sunday services, services
on holidays and feast days. and Memorial
day services. Reported average attend
ance at services: Protestant. 80; Catholic
$50. The chaplains also conduct funeral
services and visit sick members The
hos lot, Sc.