and our and to my anxchange of opinion upon questions of policy, with tw two wing such achou as will result in the correction of existing and wave and the promotion of wore effort for the future within the lines

In response to the questions submitted in the foregoing letter, many replies have been received from officials connected with the management of national and State homes, and others interested in their welfare, which give promise of an increasing interest in the study of the subjects under consideration and a cordial co-operation along lines of mutual interest. We present these communications for the consideration of this Conference, and suggest their publication as an aid to the study of the important problems to be solved.

STATISTICAL INFORMATION.

Accurate information covering important statistics relating to all homes for soldiers and sailors should be compiled and published in convenient form for distribution among those who are charged with the duties of management, in order that the benefits resulting from comparison and the official recital of experience may be made available.

The financial and vital statistics relating to the several branches of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers are fully set forth in the annual reports of the board of managers having control of the affairs of these institutions. Similar information is contained in the reports of the several homes under State management; but there is a lack of uniformity in these several reports, which hinders a ready analysis of their respective conditions. Your committee advise action to secure uniformity in statistical reports pertaining to all institutions, including those which are maintained by private contributions.

This action may be secured through the co-operating effort of the boards of managers and trustees of the homes, to devise appropriate forms of tables for publication in the annual Proceedings of this Conference. Your committee have received several reports from State homes, but the failure of officials to respond to requests for reports prevents a consolidated exhibit for the use of this Conference.

The following tables exhibit the condition of the branches of the National Home at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894:

STATISTICAL TABLES EXHIBITING THE POPULATION, AND THE TOTAL EXPEN

DITURES FOR LANDS, BUILDINGS, AND IMPROVEMENTS, AND SHOWING THE COST OF CURRENT SUPPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1894, AT THE BRANCHES OF THE NATIONAL HOME FOR DISABLED VOLUNTEER SOLDIERS.

Average length of residence of those in the Home who died

7.16

SUPPORT.

Per capita cost for current support, exclusive of items for construc

ACCOMMODATIONS.

The board of managers report that the conveniences of the several branches of the home are exhausted, and that only two of these branches can be properly enlarged; to wit, the Marion and Pacific branches.

Admissions to the home are suspended either on account of a lack of room or when there is danger that the funds appropriated for the current support of members is insufficient.

INSPECTION.

The inspection of the several branches of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers is secured by the War Department for the information of Congress through the office of the Inspector-General of the Army, and for the information of the board of managers through an officer reporting to said board. Application was made to the War Department for a report of the latest official inspection, which was duly forwarded by J. C. Breckenridge, Inspector-general. The report received covers a period from October 3 to Dec. 23, 1894, and is a comprehensive sketch of existing conditions.

The officers conducting the affairs of the branch homes are credited with an encouraging degree of enthusiasm, zeal, and general efficiency; and the provisions for the comfort of inmates seem to bear a proper proportion to the means provided for their acquisition.

These facts do not obscure the force of the statement contained in the following sentence from the report of the Inspector-General : "The men are now growing old and decrepit, and are possibly fading away faster than State and national governments can build permanent structures for them."

And added to this statement we find the following: "However commendable the majority of the buildings may be, there is a limit to their capacity which has been decidedly overstepped."

Your committee can add nothing to increase the force of these official declarations. They should be emphasized by press and platform until those who hold in their hands the powers of remedi legislation are stirred to action.

STATE HOMES.

State homes for the shelter and care of dependent soldiers and sailors who served in the Union army and navy have been established in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin, and Vermont. All of these are in operation except that of Indiana, for which provision has but recently been made. Shelter is provided for an approximate number of eight thousand inmates, and the institutions are in a degree auxiliary to the National Home.

Provision for the care of the indigent and maimed Confederate soldiers have been established in Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Florida, Maryland, and Missouri. The first five named of these homes are supported by State appropriations, and the others by private contributions of citizens of the respective States.

Statistical information in regard to these homes is not available for this report; but every source of authentic information gives evidence of the necessity for studious activity, in order that the stigma of neglect may not be charged against the fair fame of American citizenship.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

The especial thanks of your committee representing the interesting subject committed for its consideration are due to its associate members, Messrs. Randolph and Dudley, for the report on Confederate homes and opinions on questions of common interest, to General W. B. Franklin, president of the board of managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, for his co-operation in the work of the committee, to the Inspector-General of the War Department for his valuable report of inspections made, and to those governors of national branch homes and commandants of State homes who have responded to the requests of the committee for reports and information.