Annual Report of the Secretary of War

REPORT

OF THE

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOLDIERS' HOME.

THE SOLDIERS' HOME,

OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS,

Washington, D. C., October 17, 1896.

SIR: In accordance with the requirements of section 1 of the act of Congress approved March 3, 1883, prescribing regulations for the Soldiers' Home in the District of Columbia, I have the honor to submit the following report of the Board of Commissioners of the Soldiers' Home for the year ended September 30, 1896.

The changes in the number of beneficiaries during the year are shown in the following table:

This shows an increase of 96 beneficiaries since the last annual report. The number (1,098) on the rolls September 30, 1896, is accounted for as follows:

Present at the Home, 687, an increase of 65 over the preceding year; on outdoor relief, 326, an increase of 14; in the Government Hospital for the Insane, 18; on furlough, 62, and 5 suspended.

The daily average number of inmates during the year was 685. Last year the average was 678.

The total number of deaths that occurred was 67, an increase of 12 over last year. Of these 46 died at the Home, 15 on outdoor relief, 2 on furlough, 3 near the Home, and 1 in the Government Hospital for the Insane.

During the year temporary relief was granted to destitute discharged soldiers who were not entitled to admission to the extent of 11,276 meals, and 243 were provided with lodgings for a few nights each.

The following statement shows the amounts received and expended during the year, and the amount of the permanent fund of the Home deposited in the United States Treasury:

PERMANENT FUND.

Balance in the United States Treasury October 1, 1895
Settlements by Treasury Department for the current year..
Amount withdrawn for current expenses.

Balance in the United States Treasury September 30, 1896.

2,711, 124. 52

The foregoing statement of the permanent fund shows that the revenue of the Home from settlements made by the Treasury Department on account of forfeitures of deserters and dishonorably discharged men and court-martial fines decreased by $42,305.55 during the year. A part of this decrease in the income is due to the full payment monthly of all pay due to the soldier, which leaves very little retained pay subject to forfeiture by deserters and dishonorably discharged men. The current expenses of the Home, as shown by the treasurer's statement, were $3,809.21 less than last year, and the amount expended for permanent improvements amounted to $54,437.27, of which $53,797.58 was expended in the construction of the new amusement hall and increasing the boiler plant.

Some of the principal items of the current expenses were:

Subsistence...

Expense of hospital.

Clothing for inmates.

Farm, garden, and ornamentation of grounds.......

Extra-duty pay and monthly allowance to nonpensioners.
Commutation to members residing outside of the Home..

The treasurer's account of funds received for the inmate pensioners shows that he had on hand September 30, 1895, $46,626.04; that he received during the year $80,924.26, and paid to pensioners and legal heirs of deceased inmates $80,705.32, leaving on hand, deposited in the United States Treasury as required by law, $46,844.98.

The report of the governor of the Home shows that of the 687 resident inmates 563 are receiving pensions, as follows: 185 receive from $6 to $8 per month; 296 from $10 to $16; 59 from $17 to $20; 21 from $22 to $30; 1 $50, and 1 $70 per month.

There are 179 beneficiaries of the Home who served in the war with

Mexico, 142 of whom are drawing outdoor relief; and there are 455 who served in the war of the rebellion, of whom 116 are on outdoor relief, a total of 634 members who had war service, leaving from the aggregate number (1,098) on the rolls of the Home 464 whose service in the Army has been since the war.

The attending surgeon reports that 422 patients were treated in hospital; that the daily average was 77.18, and the average age of patients admitted was 53.03; that 2,353 were treated at sick call, and the proportion of deaths to 100 inmates per annum was 6.10, an increase of 2.19 over last year. The attending surgeon also reports that 10 patients from the Army, not members of the Home, were temporarily admitted to the hospital for treatment for inguinal hernia.

The sanitary condition of the Home and grounds has been excellent throughout the year, and there has been no prevalent nor epidemic disease among the inmates.

The act of Congress approved January 16, 1891, requiring the treasurer to keep the current funds on deposit in the United States Treasury has been complied with, and all supplies for the Home which could be conveniently purchased by contract were so purchased.

The library of the Home contains 6,056 volumes, and 12,964 books were issued during the year. Nine daily and 16 weekly papers and 22 monthly magazines are provided for the inmates.

The Home has been well supplied with good food and clothing and every practicable provision has been made for the comfortable maintenance of the inmates. The greatest difficulty, however, has been found to so administer the affairs of the Home as to produce contentment and harmony among its inmates. To break the monotony of a life which almost irresistibly leads to restlessness and discontent, and to temptations for overindulgencies and infractions of discipline, is a difficult problem to solve.

It is therefore hoped that the new amusement hall, which is now nearly completed, will afford (in addition to the library, billiard and pool tables, and tables for various kinds of games, already provided) such facilities for rational amusement as will materially add to the contentment and welfare of the inmates. To further this purpose an additional allowance of funds will be made by the Board of Commissioners. The beautiful grounds of the Home suffered very severely by the storm of September 29 last. Four hundred and fifty trees were uprooted or broken off, and considerable damage was done to the roofs of the hos pital, the Sherman, Scott, Sheridan, Anderson, and King buildings. The governor reports that 2,000 young trees will be planted this fall, most of which are on hand.

Regular meetings have been held by the Board for the transaction of the business pertaining to the Home, and the regular monthly inspections have been made as required by law.

Brig. Gen. Richard N. Batchelder, Quartermaster-General, a member of the Board, retired from active service July 27, 1896, and was succeeded by Brig. Gen. Charles G. Sawtelle, appointed QuartermasterGeneral August 19, 1896.

The accompanying papers are reports by the governor, the attending surgeon, and the treasurer of the Home; a statement of receipts and expenditures; statements of the permanent fund and of the interest account; statements of accounts of the pension money of inmate pensioners and their rates of pension; the debit and credit accounts with the farm and garden, and report of members on outdoor relief, all of which are required to be published for distribution to the Army, as

directed by the section and act mentioned in the first paragraph of this report.

Very respectfully,

The SECRETARY OF WAR.

NELSON A. MILES,

Major-General Commanding the Army,
President Board of Commissioners.

REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE SOLDIERS' HOME.

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, UNITED STATES SOLDIERS' HOME,
Washington, D. C., September 30, 1896.

GENTLEMEN: I have the honor to submit the following tables and my report upon the Soldiers' Home for the year ended September 30, 1896:

Number of pensioners present at the Home and rates of pension.