APPENDIX A Annual Report of the Board of Commissioners of the United States Soldiers' Home and Annual Report of the Inspection of the United States Soldiers' Home by the Inspector General of the Army (22 Stat. L. 564) 39 APPENDIX A OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, UNITED STATES SOLDIERS' HOME, Washington, D. C., September 1, 1937. SIR: The following report of the Board of Commissioners, United States Soldiers' Home, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1937, is submitted in compliance with section 1 of the act of Congress approved March 3, 1883, which requires the Board to submit annually to the Secretary of War for transmittal to Congress a full statement of the financial and other affairs of the home. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS The government and control of the United States Soldiers' Home is vested in a Board of Commissioners consisting of the governor, Chief of Engineers, the Judge Advocate General, the Surgeon General, The Adjutant General, the Quartermaster General, Chief of Finance. The Board of Commissioners, on June 30, 1937, consisted of the following-named officers: Maj. Gen. Frederick W. Coleman, United States Army, retired, governor of the home, president of the Board; Maj. Gen. Edward M. Markham, Chief of Engineers; Maj. Gen. Arthur W. Brown, the Judge Advocate General; Maj. Gen. Charles R. Reynolds, the Surgeon General; Maj. Gen. Edgar T. Conley, The Adjutant General; Maj. Gen. Henry Gibbins, the Quartermaster General; Maj. Gen. Frederick W. Boschen, Chief of Finance. Secretary of the Board, Col. John P. Wade, United States Army, retired. Changes in membership of the Board. There was no change in the personnel of the Board during the past year. Monthly meetings of the Board have been held and monthly inspections of the home have been made by committees of the Board as required by law. ADMINISTRATION OFFICERS The officers of the home designated by law are a governor, a deputy governor, and a secretary-treasurer, selected by the President of the United States. Other necessary officers are employed by the Board of Commissioners. The officers of the home on June 30, 1937, were as follows: Maj. Gen. Frederick W. Coleman, United States Army, retired, governor; Col. William M. Morrow, United States Army, retired, deputy governor; Col. John P. Wade, United States Army, retired, secretary-treasurer; Col. David S. Stanley, United States Army, retired, quartermaster and purchasing officer; Lt. Col. Austin J. Canning, Medical Corps, United States Army, acting chief surgeon. MEMBERS OF THE HOME The following statement shows the number of members present on June 30, 1937, and the admissions and discharges during the year: On rolls June 30, 1936-- Total to be accounted for. Discharged, died, and dropped...... On rolls June 30, 1937. The members on the roll are accounted for as follows: Present at the home.. Absent with leave.. At Fitzsimons General Hospital, Denver, Colo... At St. Elizabeths Hospital. At Walter Reed General Hospital. On outdoor relief... Total... 1, 473 969 2, 442 973 1, 469 1, 263 157 3 29 2 15 1, 469 The daily average present during the year was 1,283.2, a decrease of 36.75 as compared with last year. There were 119 deaths, 101 of which occurred in the Soldiers' Home hospital, 6 in barracks, on grounds, or nearby vicinities, and 12 away from the home. The wars in which members participated, the number participating in each war, and their average age June 30, 1937, are shown by the following table: The oldest member is 97 years of age, the youngest 26. The average age of all members of the home is 68.26. One thousand one hundred and seventy-five, more than threefourths of the total, were born in the United States. The conduct of the members of the home has been excellent. FUNDS The permanent fund of the home is deposited in the United States Treasury and draws interest at the rate of 3 percent per annum. The income from interest was $72,920.81 all of which was credited back to the Soldiers' Home permanent fund (trust fund) by the Treasury Department under the provisions of the act of April 9, 1935. No part of the permanent fund may be withdrawn from the Treasury except upon resolution of the Board of Commissioners stating the necessity and approved by the Secretary of War. The assessment of 25 cents against the pay of each soldier of the Regular Army resulted in a credit to the permanent fund of $443,879.85 as compared with $77,301.13 credited in the fiscal year 1936. The following statement shows the receipts to and disbursements from this fund during the fiscal year: Balance in the U. S. Treasury, June 30, 1936---. Credits to the permanent fund by settlements of the Military Division of the General Accounting Office- Credits on account of Boggs memorial fund.. Credits from effects of persons dying while subject to military Interest credited__ Deposited by treasurer, U. S. Soldiers' Home. Withheld pay of warrant officers and enlisted men (act of Feb. 13, 1936)__ Total to be accounted for. Withdrawals__ Balance in the U. S. Treasury, June 30, 1937... - The credits to the permanent fund were $453,796.11 more than during the previous year, as shown by the following: Fiscal year 1936.. Fiscal year 1937.... $486, 205. 09 940, 001. 20 The following is a statement of the receipts and disbursements by the secretary-treasurer during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1937: 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 disbursement of pension funds. by the secretary-treasurer during the year was $329,191.70. 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, 1937, was 1,892 a decrease of 3 compared with last year. The principal diseases causing admission to the hospital were those of the circulatory, respiratory, and diseases of bones and organs of motion. The sanitary and 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 three such patients, June 30, 1937. The daily average during the year has been 4.419, a decrease of 1.751, as compared with last year. The number of deaths was one. Insane members of the home are treated in St. Elizabeths Hospital. There were 29 under treatment on June 30, 1937. The daily average during the year was 35.81, which was a decrease of 2.31 as compared with last year. The number of deaths was three. |