No part of the permanent fund can be withdrawn from the Treasury except upon resolution of the Board of Commissioners stating the necessity and approved by the Secretary of War. The following statement shows the receipts and disbursements from this fund during the fiscal year: Balance in the United States Treasury, June 30, 1934. Credits to the permanent fund by settlements of the Military Division of the General Accounting Office_ Credits on account of Boggs memorial fund_ Credits on account of estate of Emma Mann-Vynne, deceased. Credits from effects of persons dying while subject to military Interest credited June 30---- Total to be accounted for. Withdrawals--- $3,043, 758. 60 229, 413. 54 357.09 121.73 69, 447.78 135. 53 20, 400. 44 3,363, 634. 71 675, 595. 07 Balance in the United States Treasury, June 30, 1935----- 2, 688, 039. 64 The credits to the permanent fund were increased by $21,814.62 as compared with the previous year, as shown by the following: Fiscal year 1934_. Fiscal year 1935- $288, 061. 49 319, 876. 11 This increase is due almost entirely to the fact that accrued interest to June 30, 1935, amounting to approximately $20,000, was credited back to the Soldiers' Home permanent fund (trust fund) pursuant to the act of April 9, 1935, which places accrued interest, as well as withdrawals from the permanent fund, on an annual appropriation basis. The following is a statement of the receipts and disbursements by the secretary-treasurer during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1935. With funds received from the Veterans' Administration pensions are paid to the members by the secretary-treasurer of the home under supervision of the governor. The total disbursements of pension funds by the secretary-treasurer during the year was $182,956.02. Retired pay and compensation are paid direct to members by the Finance Department and the Veterans' Administration, respectively. HOSPITAL The total number of members treated in hospital during the year ended June 30, 1935, was 1,783, an increase of 57 as compared with last year. The principal diseases causing admission to the hospital were those of the circulatory, respiratory, and digestive systems. The general health conditions of the home for the past year are reported by the chief surgeon to have continued excellent. Members requiring treatment for tuberculosis are sent to the Fitzsimons General Hospital, Denver, Colo., as beneficiaries of the home. There were seven such patients June 30, 1935. The daily average during the year has been 9.44, a decrease of 46.17, as compared with last year. The number of deaths was three. Insane members of the home are treated in St. Elizabeths Hospital. There were 38 under treatment June 30, 1935. The daily average during the year was 34.19, which was a decrease of 1.91 as compared with last year. The number of deaths was one. MESSES The various messes have been conducted in economical, efficient, and satisfactory manner. The food is well prepared and of sufficient variety. The per capita food cost per day in the general mess, in charge of the deputy governor, was $0.282975; in the hospital mess, in charge of the chief surgeon, was $0.485526; in the dairy mess, in charge of the quartermaster, was $0.335623. Each member of the home here and at the Fitzsimons General Hospital is furnished with a complete outfit of clothing, both winter and summer. The clothing is repaired, laundered, cleaned, and pressed at the expense of the home. The amusements provided for members are varied. In fall, winter, and spring months moving pictures are shown three times a week at the hospital and three times a week at the barracks. Band concerts are given outdoors in summer and indoors in winter. A few of the members play golf and tennis, the golf course and tennis courts being maintained without expense to the home. Facilities are furnished for cards, checkers, and chess. There is a large, attractive billiard hall and an attractive, well-stocked library. The library and hospital are both equipped with radio sets. All amusements are free to members. The library now has 18,651 volumes with a branch at the hospital During the year 37,889 books were issued. Religious services have been conducted regularly by Protestant and Catholic chaplains. HEAT, LIGHT, AND POWER A central power plant heats all buildings of the home, supplies steam required for cooking, heats water for all requirements, furnishes electricity for lighting the buildings and grounds, power for elevators and all machinery purposes and for the manufacture of ice. The quantity of ice produced in the refrigeration plant in the Grant Building was 1,605,000 pounds as compared with 1,688,200 pounds last year. The new oil-burning boilers at the power plant have proved satisfactory. GENERAL REPAIRS Through the Navy Department the home obtained without cost a 750-kw turbogenerator which had been replaced at the Naval Academy by one of larger production. This will enable the home to supply all current requirements even with one generator not in operation. Valuable aid was received from the Emergency Works Administration in furnishing labor for repair of buildings, roads, walks, gutters, and drains. The shops have given excellent service throughout the year. DAIRY The number of animals in the dairy herd June 30, 1935, was 198, an increase of 7 as compared with last year. The number of cows in the herd is two less than last year. The average number of cows milked during the year was 63, producing an average of 1,602.28 gallons of milk each. The average production per cow during 1907, 1916, 1920, and 1935, was 662 gallons, 1,226 gallons, 1,313 gallons, and 1,602 gallons, respectively. Production of milk was 100,944 gallons which was sufficient for all needs. Net operating costs decreased $3,475.53 as compared with last year. The net cost of production was $0.3358 per gallon. Every animal in the herd is registered. Of the 85 cows in the herd, 20 have received the advanced registration certificate of the Holstein-Friesian Association in the last fiscal year. The United States Soldiers' Home dairy herd is free from tuberculosis and other contagious diseases. The herd is tested for tuberculosis annually by the Department of Agriculture and has suffered no reaction for more than 22 years. The latest test was completed May 23, 1935. CHICKEN FARM The chicken farm produced 64,581 dozen eggs during the year. The average price of eggs issued to the hospital and home mess was $0.25 per dozen. The cost of production was $0.2328579 per dozen. The general sanitary condition of the home and grounds has been excellent throughout the year. Economical administration of both funds and supplies on hand has been continued throughout the year. Compared with last year's cost, there has been effected a savings of $65,085.89, due in part to reduced expenditure for beneficiaries at Fitzsimons General Hospital, where a number of members of the home were transferred to Veterans' Bureau facilities. Other savings effected were offset by the increased costs of commodities of all kinds and by restoration of salaries to a 100 percent basis. The officers of the home have performed their duties in a satisfactory manner. The welfare and comfort of the members of the home are the first consideration of all officials. Attention is respectfully invited to the inclosure herewith comprising reports of the governor of the home and its accompanying reports of the secretary-treasurer and the chief surgeon of the home. Very respectfully, THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE H. P. MCCAIN, Major General, U. S. Army, Retired, To the SECRETARY OF War. ANNUAL INSPECTION OCTOBER 16, 1935. Subject: Report of annual inspection of the United States Soldiers" Home, District of Columbia. To: The Secretary of War. 1. The annual inspection of the United States Soldiers' Home, District of Columbia, required by the act of Congress approved. March 3, 1883, was made by me September 12-18, 1935. I was assisted by Col. H. C. Merriam, 1. G. D., and Mr. Lewis S. Friedman, expert accountant, I. G. D. GENERAL INFORMATION 2. The report of the Board of Commissioners, United States Soldiers' Home, contains detailed information in regard to the administration, funds received and expended, personnel and other activities of the home, which will not be repeated in this report. ADMINISTRATION 3. The administration of the home is conducted by the governor with the assistance of a deputy-governor, secretary-treasurer, quartermaster, and purchasing officer, and a chief surgeon. Each of the above-named officers is assigned duties and responsibilities appropriate to his office. The personnel provided each officer to perform the work under his charge is adequate but not excessive to meet the needs of the home at its present strength. The offices of the home have been well administered during the last year, as evidenced by the many statements from members of the home during this inspection as to their care, comfort, food, hospitalization, and recreation provided by the home. This result has been accomplished with due economy at a cost of $1.43 per resident member per day, although the cost of labor, food, and supplies has been increasing rapidly during this period. Good business management and foresight were exercised to curtail expenditures and buy economically to offset the increase in salaries and cost of commodities. The miscellaneous supplies and obsolete equipment obtained from other Government departments at a very low cost or as gifts have materially assisted the home in reducing the cost of maintenance and future upkeep. There has been no new construction since last inspection but considerable necessary upkeep work in buildings was accomplished during the year with the aid of labor furnished by the Emergency Works Administration. It is recommended that The General Rules in Case of Fire, published by the governor of the home, be elaborated to provide for an orderly evacuation of buildings in case of a fire and positive means of assurance that all persons understand the rules and procedure, and that provision be made for the removal of patients in the hospital and aged members who may need help in getting out of buildings. It is believed that the best means of familiarizing the personnel at the home with the procedure is by periodical fire drills such as are required in public schools and other institutions similar to the home. The above action might avoid a regrettable catastrophe in case of fire at an institution of this kind. RECORDS 4. The personnel records of the home are neat and well kept and provide a ready reference of information on all matters pertaining to the status of all personnel who have been or who are at present members of the home. The property accountability records of subsistance stores, clothing, medical supplies, and other property are neat and well kept. Spot checks developed no errors. Inventories required by home regulations are made and adjustments based on inventories are recorded. ACCOUNTS 5. The accounts and records of the treasurer of the home were inspected and found to be in excellent condition. The balances shown were properly accounted for. The accounts to include July 1935 were audited monthly for the Board of Commissioners by a certified public accountant. Under the new system of making definite annual appropriations for maintenance and operation of the home to be paid from the Permanent Fund, the accounts and vouchers beginning with the fiscal year 1936 will be audited by the Comptroller General. Some changes in keeping records and rendering accounts to conform to regular Government practice will be necessary, as heretofore all original vouchers were kept on file in the treasurer's office. PERMANENT FUND 6. The balance as reported by the Treasurer, United States, in the permanent-fund account on June 30, 1935, was $2,688,039.64, a reduction of $355,718.96 since June 30, 1934, at which time the balance was $3,043,758.60. The balance on June 30, 1923, was $4,224,800.30. A bill (S. 1301) to provide further for the maintenance of the United States Soldiers Home was passed by the Senate of the United States during the last session, which prescribes that there shall be deducted each month from the pay of each enlisted man and warrant officer on the active list a sum not to exceed 25 cents, which sum shall be passed to the credit of the permanent fund, United States Soldiers' Home (trust fund) in the Treasury of the United States. This bill, if it becomes law, will, it is believed, with money received from other sources, provide sufficient annual income to support the Soldiers' Home. DISCIPLINE 7. The discipline of the home is satisfactory and is administered under the regulations of the home with kindness and firmness and |