Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-20
over the land on which the hos.
pital was later built.
Washiu0ton a St0ckhOIdeP

| plCdl was IdteI UuIIt'
Washington a Stakeholder
George Washington, it is
thought. probably owned stock
in a tavern on the property ac-
cording to a check which turned
up at the Treasury Department
some time ago bearing that we'll
known veterans signatureD
/ The Welfare Department owns
a number of desks in the build
ing while the Navy Department
owns the chairs. The Navy also
provided a heating plant and
the Board Of Managers. deep
freeze. To make matters still
more confusing, the Veterans of
the Spanish American War. who
rent the home for regular meet
ings at SO night, payable to
the Board of Managers. keeps
its paraphernalia there. Butter.
it should be mentioned, comes
from the surplus stores of the
Department of Agriculture.
This year again the Welfare
Department as well as the Com
missioners just dropped the home
from the 1857 budget. Up to
the House it went considerably
lightened by the missing $35, 000
/ item. Nobody said anything
But when the bill was reported
out of the House, there appeared
this notation from the House
Committee on Appropriations
Committee Surprised"
"The committee was very much
surprised to learn that funds were
not being requested for the con-
tinued operation of the Tempo
rary Home for Soldiers and Sail
ors. The committee requests that
the home be continued in opera
ton and feels the department
(of welfare can absorb the cost
of operation within the funds
provided"
While the committee was
every much surprised" District
officials were not.
Precisely the same thing has
happened before since the mid
l940s-except that each year
Congress has provided the funds
According to several sources
when all has been said and done
the Senate Wall restore the item
with an increase of few thou
sand dollars this year.
Just who has carried the day
for the home each year?
More than anybody else. II
appears to be Watson B. Miller
former administrator Of the Fed
eral Security Agency and former
commissioner Of the United
States immigration and Natu-
ralization Service. He is the
boards legislative liaison between
the home and Congress.
Mr.. Miller describes his fight
over the years with the District
Government as friendly one
and kind Of fun for all Of us.
He calls the situation 'one yoI
can't see with the naked eye"
Support Sought
His main concern is continued
support Of the home. He is sym.
pathetic towards the District anc
its financial troubles but feels
Congress has treated the home
as something Of a separate
agency with funds coming out
Of the Welfare Department. II
has been satisfactory to me-" ht
says. His father. incidentally
took his physical examination
for the Spanish-American War
in the old home.
Just who does have jurisdiction
over the home has been the sub.
tect Of number OF investiga
tons by the District Corporation
Counsel's Office. The investiga
tons have never provided ar
answer to the question.
The home was organized as {
private corporation by a few
members OF the Grand Army o,
the Republic on September /
1888. 1t had several othel
homes" before winding up a
its present site. Its purpose wa.
to laid ex-Union soldiers anc
sailors Of the late rebellion, By
providing and maintaining
home, where those who may be In
need can be temporarily pro.
vided for with food and shelter
during their stay in this city.
Today, veterans of all war.
coming to the District can gel
the same type of temporary
shelter handed out to member,
OF the GAR. Roughly 80 pei
cent. according to ofiicials Of
the home, are referred by the
Veterans Administration. The