Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1909 — Mutiny at State Soldiers’ Home. [ARTICLE]

Mutiny at State Soldiers’ Home.

Excitement still reigns at the State Soldiers’ Home as the result of a misunderstanding. Saturday evening when the pensions were paid to members of the institution, and few ( members refused to abide by an agree ment to pay to the home a proportion of their pension money toward J the maintenance of the home. At its last session congress passed a law providing that no state intitution for the care of veterans should take pension money from its members; providing, also, that if this were done ( the government would withhold frcm that state the annual maintenance which is now paid to different states. | Indiana receives SIOO a year for each veteran in the Soldiers’ Home. The inmates Saturday refused to surrender their pensions, and a debt of approximately $3,000, which had been incurred by tbe institution with the thought that the pension money would he available was pressed for settlement. In the quandary Commandant Smock wired Governor Marshall to ascertain what should be done, and the governor replied as follows: “Pensioners are not required to give you any of their money ; If they do not and the legislature fails to pass the bill making an increased allowance, the board will be compelled to discharge down to the number the institution can support. Leave the matter entirely to each soldier. “THOMAS R. MARSHALL, “Governor. ’’ On receipt <3 the telegram, Commandant Smock called the inmates in a general meeting and explained the situation to them. In the light of the debt of $3,000, the inmates agreed this time to surrender their money as usual. As a result of the mutiny among the inmates of the home, C. P. Hill, representing the veterans, went to Indianapolis Monday and called op Governor Marshall to ascertain the rights of the inmates concerning the established rule in the institution by which the authorities have been compelling the inmates to surrender for the support of the home all their pension money over $8 a month. Governor Marshall toltf Mr. Hill tha the practice of taking the pension money, as the officials have been taking it, is contrary to law, and that it shall not be tolerated. “Hereafter," he said, “the inmates will not only not be permitted to surrender a part of their pensions, but it will not be allowed.” The attention of the governor waß called to the practice by congress, in a communication which said that unless the practice was stopped, the federal government would withdraw its support The communication was made the burden of a special message to the legislature by Governor Marshall, whereupon the house passed a bill Increasing the per capita maintenance fund from $12.60 to $16.00 a month. The bill is still pending in the senate. « Prom the time It was established the home has allowed unmarried mem ! hers to retain $8 a month from their pension and pay the excels into the home for their maintenance. Married members whose wives are also in the home, are allowed to retain sl2 a month, the excess going to the home. Where a veteran has a wife outside of the home, tbe excess over $8 is sent to the wife or dependent members of his family.