Annual report of the number of pensioners in the United States Soldiers' Home, District of Columbia, rates of pension, etc., September 30, 1899. NOTE.-There are 8 pensioners in the Government Hospital for the Insane whose money is drawn by the treasurer. CHAS. W. TAYLOR, Captain, Ninth United States Cavalry, Secretary and Treasurer. Members on outdoor relief, from October 1, 1898, to September 30, 1899. Average number from October 1, 1898, to September 30, 1899....... 400.83 Total amount paid for outdoor relief during the year ending September 30, 1899.. $33, 963. 60 84.73 7.06 8.00 2.00 Annual report of members of United States Soldiers' Home receiving outdoor relief, Sep Twenty-four members on outdoor relief have died since date of last annual report. Twenty-nine members were dropped from outdoor relief after June 30, 1899, in compliance with resolutions of the Board of Commissioners, dated June 19, 1891, July 22, and August 19, 1899. CHAS. W. TAYLOR, Captain, Ninth Cavalry, Secretary and Treasurer. $10, 513. 35 Farm and dairy account, United States Soldiers' Home, from October 1, 1898, to September DR. 30, 1899, consolidated. 10, 513. 35 21 bushels sweet potatoes.. 14.70 Estimated value of vegetables in the ground, also of hay and fodder on hand, produced on the farm, September 30, 1899. 9,576. 72 Balance to debit of "farm and dairy". 936. 63 10, 513. 35 The herd on September 30, 1899, consisted of 1 bull, 44 cows, 3 heifers, and 3 calves; also 6 mules and 1 horse. CHAS. W. TAYLOR, Captain Ninth Cavalry, Secretary and Treasurer. Garden account. United States Soldiers' Home, from October 1, 1898, to September 30, 1899, consolidated. DR. To labor, fertilizers, seeds, tools, fuel, and implements..... CR. Balance to debit of garden expended in improvement of grounds.... $7,668.05 7,668.05 NOTE. This department has the care of the ornamentation of the grounds, lawns, flowers, shrubs, trees, and fruit. CHAS. W. TAYLOR, Captain, Ninth Cavalry, Secretary and Treasurer. REPORT OF THE INSPECTION OF THE SOLDIERS' HOME. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., September 18, 1899. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the inspection of the Soldiers' Home, District of Columbia, made during the week ending July 22, 1899, as required by the act of Congress of March 3, 1883. Lieut. Col. E. A. Garlington and Maj. Thomas T. Knox, inspectors-general, assisted in this inspection, and Mr. D. C. Spencer aided in the examination of the accounts. The various structures and well-kept grounds of over 500 acres made an excellent impression and showed painstaking care in maintaining the admirable condition of this institution. All the changes and repairs in progress, from the border fence of wire and hedge to the central buildings, where extensive additions like the new carriage barn and increased dormitories are going on, seem to be tasty and improving, so that altogether this institution never looked better, and the officers in in charge deserve commendation for their successful management. The most noticeable feature at the Home this year seems to be the extension or enlargement of the hospital and of one of the barracks, the King Building. The cost of these improvements will probably aggregate over $110,000. But such items as remodeling the roads and repointing the long lines of stone wall have been no insignificant items, and add to the general appearance of care and improvement. OFFICERS. The present officers of the Home are Brig. Gen. George D. Ruggles, governor; Lieut. Col. R. F. Bernard, deputy governor; Capt. Charles W. Taylor, Ninth Cavalry, secretary and treasurer, and Maj. Louis A. La Garde, surgeon. The fundamental laws designating the officers of this and the National Volunteer Homes are quite on the same lines; but the latter have no longer the deputy governors the law allows. It is the special duty of the deputy governor to look after the conduct, comfort, and care of the men, and promote such qualities as cleanliness, discipline, and contentment, and take charge during the governor's absence. At the Branches of the National Soldiers' Home the officer in charge of the finances is habitually second in command, which may threaten an undesirable condition during the absence of the senior officer. A young officer detailed as adjutant, it is believed, would be a beneficial addition which the inmates would particularly profit by; but perhaps it can never be expected. General Ruggles relieved Gen. D. S. Stanley in April, 1898. During the incumbency of the latter officer, many improvements were effected at the Home, the most notable being the erection of a fine marble building for purposes of amusement, at a cost of over $64,000, and since named Stanley Hall, and the installation of an electric-light plant, at a cost of about $18,000. Captain Taylor was detailed in October, 1898, to take the place of Lieut. E. F. Ladd, Ninth Cavalry, who was appointed major and quartermaster of volunteers in May, 1898, the deputy governor of the Home performing the duties of secretary and treasurer in the interim. Major La Garde, whose name became so familiar to the country in connection with some of the best and most dangerous medical work during the Cuban expedition, relieved Col. W. H. Forward in December, 1898, who during his nearly nine years' service at the Home did so much toward making this hospital a model in management, immaculate and famous for its neatness and skill and efficiency. A change is expected in the junior medical officer also, Dr. J. B. Nichols, a civilian, who has been identified with the institution very creditably for some years, and is to be succeeded by a graduate of Johns Hopkins. This is probably the first time in the history of this institution that threefourths of its officers were changed in one year, and seems to have been caused to some extent by the exigencies of the service due to the Spanish war. It is submitted that a tour by officers recently detailed here to some of the latest and largest Branches of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers might prove suggestive and beneficial to both parties. MEMBERS. The average number of officers and members present during the nine months ending June 30, 1899, was 809, which is 54 more than reported for the Home year ending September 30, 1898; and the average number absent during the same period, including 399 members on outdoor relief, was 481, which is about 37 per cent of the total membership, or less than 7 per cent without including men on outdoor relief. At the National Volunteer Homes, which do not grant outdoor relief, the per cent of absentees averages about 20. But it is a question why the benefits and economy of outdoor relief authorized by law should be withheld from them. The highest number of members present was 841, on February 25, 1899, and the lowest, 775, on October 1, 1898. The total cared for during the nine months was 1,731, or only 10 less than were cared for during the preceding twelve months. The age of the members present at the Home on June 30, 1899, ranged from 22 to 93 years and averaged 55 years, and their length of army service ranged from two months to thirty-one years and averaged fifteen and one-third years. Over half had served less than twenty years, and these represent that class of soldiers who have either been rendered incapable of further military duty by reason of disease or wounds incurred in the line of duty or who have been invalided and disabled in one of our wars, and unless these conditions exist soldiers must have served faithfully twenty years or over to be entitled to the rights and benefits of the Home. (Sec. 4821, Rev. Stat.) On the morning of July 18 the members of the Home were formed and inspected in front and to the eastward of the main barracks, where they were protected from the rays of the sun. Of the 787 men reported present, 417, or about 53 per cent, stood in line. This per cent is less than at most of the Volunteer Homes. The remainder were accounted for as follows: Firing party, 23; band, 14; sick in hospital, 81; extra duty, 164; orderlies, 5; invalids, 63; working as punishment, 14, and kitchen police, 6; total, 370. The men looked contented and appeared to be well cared for. A copy of the field return of July 18 is shown in Exhibit A. Apparently the turn-out at this annual inspection is hardly as complete as it might be. Particular mention should be made of the death of the old sergeantmajor, Thomas Evans, who for so many years has run the adjutant's office and all the multifarious details of the daily life of the inmates so smoothly, industriously, and efficiently, and now, at 76 years of age, passes away full of respect from all who knew him. His name and character will be known in the Home for many years. DISCIPLINE. The behavior of the men during the past nine months covered by this inspection appears to have been good and shows a great improvement over the conditions reported for the preceding twelve months. The total number of offenses committed during the nine months was 249 by 190 members, against 413 offenses by 364 men during the previous year; and 615 members of the average present, or 76.5 per cent, committed no offense. Evidently these worthy men deserve due protection from such as would intrude with any chronic disorderly conduct upon their honorable Home, and excluding the unworthy seems in every way commendable. Drunkenness and its congener, absence without leave, formed the principal breaches of discipline. As to the former, there were 73 offenders and 99 offenses, and as to the latter, 95 offenders and 128 offenses, though the pass privileges are liberal and passes are granted whenever wanted, provided the applicant is not undergoing punishment. In 1895 General Stanley, then governor of the Home, recommended that the law creating a prohibition zone of 1-mile limit outside the boundary line of the Home reservation be annulled, claiming in effect that the dozens of secret dens, called speak-easies, which had sprung into existence since the enactment of the 1-mile limit law were more demoralizing than barrooms, which could be at all times subject to the observation of the police. These dens, however, seem fairly well suppressed now; at least nothing has been heard of their existence for some time; yet the evils of drunkenness and absence without leave remain the principal offenses with which the officials have to contend, here as well as at the Volunteer Homes, where they have canteens or beer halls. Perhaps absolutely irreproachable conduct by every individual constantly even in such a petty matter as an occasional absence may be almost too much to expect. Certainly the gratifying improvement is qualifying, and if further improvement is practicable it will doubtless be obtained under the present experienced and considerate management. There is a variance of opinion as to the effect of these beer halls; but at military posts, the post exchange, it is claimed, has been an aid to discipline; and as the larger number of members have become acquainted with the post exchange during their service in the Army, it may do no harm to consider the advisability of establishing an exchange, wet or dry, at this Home. |