Page. Annual report of the Board of Managers, National Home for Disabled Volun- Report of secretary Board of Managers, year ending June 30, 1905 7 Percentage of number of members admitted from the different States to whole number cared for by the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers from organization to June 30, 1905 Statement of average present, sick, absent with leave, absent without leave, present, present and absent, whole number cared for, and gains Statement of average present and absent, whole number cared for, deaths and percentage of deaths to average present and absent, and whole num- Statement of average present, average present and absent, whole number cared for, and percentage of gains in National and State Homes for five Return, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, year ending June Statement showing what war, service, States in which enlisted, States Report of general treasurer, year ending June 30, 1905: Table A. Date of organization and law authorizing each Branch of the B2. Statement of receipts and expenditures, improvement fund, Western Branch, from 1886 to June 30, 1905... B3. Statement of receipts and expenditures, improvement fund, D. Statement of receipts and expenditures, general fund, National 51 Report of general treasurer, year ending June 30, 1905-Continued. Table E. Statement of receipts and expenditures, appropriation 1905, year E3. Statement of receipts and expenditures, appropriation "No year," year ending June 30, 1905........... E. Statement of receipts and expenditures, aid to State Homes, appropriation 1904, year ending June 30, 1905 F5. Statement of receipts and expenditures, aid to State Homes, appropriation 1905, year ending June 30, 1905.. F. Statement of receipts and expenditures, general depot, year G. Statement of articles manufactured, general depot, year ending H. Statement of articles transferred, general depot, year ending I. Statement of expenditures for salaries of officers and employees of the Board of Managers, outdoor relief, and incidental expenses, year ending June 30, 1905.... J. Statement of receipts and expenditures, general fund, Branches N. Statement of average present, period cared for, amount paid and deficiency, aid to State Homes, year ending June 30, 1905. N'. Statement of average present, period cared for, and amount paid, aid to State Homes, appropriation 1904, year ending June 30, O. Statement of average cost per capita, State Homes, year ending P. Estimates of appropriations required by the National and the State Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, year ending June ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE NATIONAL HOME FOR DISABLED VOLUNTEER SOLDIERS FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1905. To the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States. GENTLEMEN: The Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, in obedience to law, presents the following report of the institution under its charge for the year ending June 30, 1905: The Board has performed its usual duties under the law, holding quarterly sessions, visiting and inspecting the several Branches, attending to the care and discipline of the members, and supervising contracts for the erection of buildings and purchase of materials and supplies and the arrangements for the proper distribution of stores. The buildings of the Home at the several Branches are in good condition and are amply provided with modern heating and plumbing conveniences. The grounds have been attractively laid out in parks, lawns, and flower gardens, and are a source of pleasure not only to the members of the Home, but to thousands of visitors. The members are well fed, comfortably clothed, and receive the best of medical care. They are with but few exceptions contented, and gratefully appreciate the care extended to them through the generosity of the nation. While the law makes all of the members of the National Home subject to the rules and articles of war in the same manner as if they were in the Army, such rules and articles are not enforced with severity. The age and disabilities of the members are given consideration, and discipline is administered with such degree of mildness as is consistent with the maintenance of good order and the general welfare of the members. The military character of the Home has been preserved by a prescribed uniform for the officers and members, by the use of military signals for duty calls, music by military bands, appropriate daily ceremonies, and occasional parades. No member is, however, required to take part in any parade or ceremony when his condition of health or disability is such that possible injury might result, members being advised to report to the surgeon for examination in all cases of doubt. The several Branch Homes are provided with theaters and suitable halls for assembly purposes, and during the appropriate seasons of the year theatrical performances, lectures, and other entertainments are given free for the enjoyment of the members, the cost being defrayed from the post fund. Efforts are also made to interest the members in outof-door sports and recreations. During the year ending June 30, 1905, 34,053 members have been cared for. Of this number, 21,097 were maintained throughout the year. The gains in membership during the year by admissions, readmissions, etc., were 6,442; the losses during the same period from various causes were 5,976; a net gain of 466. In the State Homes, 30 in number, 19,677 members were cared for, 11,441 being maintained throughout the year. The whole number cared for in the National Home and in the State Homes was 53,730, an increase over the preceding year of 1,879. The following table shows the comparative statistics for the years ending, respectively, June 30, 1904, and June 30, 1905: Comparative statistics for the years ending June 30, 1904, and June 30, 1905. The slight increase in the cost of maintenance per capita is due to some extent to expenditures incident to the equipment and occupancy of the Mountain Branch, which have now ceased, that Branch being at present upon the same status as other Branches in the matter of expenditures. There is, however, a constant increase in the cost of maintenance which can not be avoided, on account of the increasing age and infirmities of the members, which unfit them for employment in capacities where heretofore their services have been useful, and necessitates the employment of an additional number of civilians. The same causes necessitate larger expenditures each year for medicines, hospital appliances, and medical care. No serious losses by fire have occurred during the year. The general health of the members has been good. The Home has not suffered seriously from epidemic diseases, although the prevalence of pneumonia at the Northwestern Branch during a portion of the winter approached an epidemic form. The number of deaths was 231 greater than in the previous year. The increase is, however, considered as normal and due to the advancing age of the members. Col. S. H. Allen, governor of the Eastern Branch, died September 19, 1905. He was appointed governor of the Eastern Branch December 16, 1897, and performed the duties of governor efficiently and faithfully until he became disabled by failing health. Under the provisions of the act approved February 26, 1881, as amended by act approved August 17, 1882, the treasurers of the several Branches have received from the pension agents during the year pension money belonging to members of the Home in the amount of $3,454,752.58. During the same period $2,624,417.53 has been paid to members present in the Home and $786,369.45 sent, at the request of the members, to their families and dependent relatives or sent to the members while on furlough residing with their families. MOUNTAIN BRANCH. The following is a statement of the condition of the appropriations for the construction of the Branch December 1, 1905: This Branch has been practically completed, the only building not yet taken over from the contractors being the memorial hall. This building is completed, except as to its interior furnishings and a few other small details. The completion of this fine building will add greatly to the enjoyment of the members in affording a means of entertainment which has been heretofore lacking. |