Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-02-03
General Quite
Generally Crit icizes
Conditions at .Togus
Branch
CHANGES NEEDED
AND RECOMMENDED
Tubercular Patients a Menace to
Health of Other Patients in
Hospital-Should Be Housed
in Old Co. F Barrack-Daily
Inspection Required by Regu-
latiOns Not Made by Adjutant

Washington. D. c.. Feb. 2.-(SpeciaD.-
The new management of the branch at
Togus of the National Home for Disabled
Volunteer Soldiers receives vigorous
raking over the Goals from the inspector
general, Maj. w. p. Jackson. Rarely
has such blunt language been read in the
reports on these inspections. The report
Just printed by Congress in pamphlet
FORM as has been the custom for sew
eral years, starts right off with slap
at Capt. f. l.. Clark, adjutant and In
spector Maj. Jackson visited the Togus
home Sept. last, at which time there
were 1907 officers and members In the
home and as others who were absentees
The Report
The report speaks for itself and is
given officially in the following language
under the heading general remarks:
1.-The adjutant does not make the daily
inspection required by home regulations
AS this inspection has for its object the
discovery of insanitary conditions, lack
of policing, needed repairs. and nOn-com-
pliance with regulations, 1t should De re-
quired.
file In the library for the use OF members.
Proper means have been taken 70 pei
NIT motion pictures to be gwen out VI
doors during the summer
rent admission to the grandstand shouia
be demanded of members attending bali
games.
orchestra tend to dim the clearness OF
the moving pictures At some branches
a pianist plays during the pictures, the
orchestra playing during the intermission:
! Under this latter plan there Is no hsnt
in the orchestra pit to interfere WIN the
pictures.
/ "All persons other than members snoulo
be required to pay nominal admission
to the theatre. The present practice al
this branch appears to De 1or an oH cor
to pay for one ticket when present, put
members of his family are admitted Tree
at all times whether he does or does NOT
accompany them Tickets at this nrancn
are distributed to various companies 1oi
! issue to members. At one entertainment
I choice seats throughout the body OF the
house were vacant, evidently due TO non
attendance by the holders OF the tickets
! for those seats. 1t is believed that the
plan of admitting free any MEMBER n,
hermit the best seats to be always occu-
pied.
| "Paragraph SO of the home regulations
states that honorably discharged oinceIs
\
regular or volunteer forces of the Unit
ed States in any war in which the coun'
try has been engaged are entit,ea' II JUS :.
abled and not otherwise provided ior; tG
enter the home. There is an indlVldua
carried as temporarily at post who was
admitted for treatment in the hospita
on Dec 81, 1913. When his record was
received it showed that he had deserted
while an enlisted man in the army. anc
later on as an enlisted man in the navy
No blame attaches to the branch author
tiles for the presence OF this man IN tnlt
home. as the facts have been presence
by them to headquarters on two different
| occasions. and the man has been per
! mitted to remain by authority Of the
president of the board of managers The
man is not entitled to the benefits OF th(
home The fact that efforts were beine
made at the date of his original admission
to have his record cleared so as to make
him eligible for membership furnishes nc
| excuse for his continued enjoyment o.
the benefits furnished by the government
to others whose service was honorable.
| ct is recommended that the system Of
buying supplies for the post-fund store
and hotel by inviting written proposals
be adopted for this branch At present
part of the supplies are bought from
! certain dealers without inviting compe
tition.
The superintendent of the post fund
should purchase all supplies required by
the store and hotel. At the time or IN
spection it was noted that the hotel man
ager, a civilian employe. ordered the
meats that were supplied to the hotel.
/ "Post-fund buildings at this branch are
reported to be not insured. AT some o.
! the branches some of these are insured
Paragraph 4s9 Of the home regulations in
dictates that 1t is the intention that build
ings used for the transaction OF post-func
business be insured.
! 'The uniform clothing Of the members
: h,av, Sati9fa ctOrV
some of the companies the clothing OF q
number Of members was dirty. and thai
| of other members was too much worn t
! permit it to be kept in a neat condition
| An examination Of the records showed
that an average of about IS garments
was sent to the dry-cleaning plant eacf
week. In some companies as low as five
garments were sent during some weeks
much greater extent there is no doub
/ that there would be a great improve
ment in the appearance Of the uniform
clothing Of the members.
| Telephones have been installed in al
the barracks and water coolers have
been supplied.
I "A number of members are located or
the second and third floors Of the bar
racks forming the quadrangle. Inauir,
developed the fact that great many o.
them find it difficult to get up and dowI
stairs. The first floors Of these barrack,
are reserved for the more infirm mem
bers. More cannot be accommodates
therein without undue overcrowding. TIL,
comfort of the members quartered OF
the upper floors would be materially in
creased by installing the necessary mum
Der of elevators in these four barracks.
1.-THE bedding Of members is aired twic,
a year. At other branches blankets ar,
aired weekly; and, weather permitting
such should be the practice at THU
branch.
painting.
New toilets are needed in the ladies
waiting room at both the railroad sta
Itions.
Nearly all the closets in which ar,
kept the brooms. mops, and cleaning ma
terial were found to be dirty. Closer su
Continued on Pane @column q