Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-07-27
Miseellanv.
Soldiers Orphans Home.

One distinguished popularity of Cop
perhead spite is its readiness to bring
odium upon every loyal and patriotic
enterprise, by the most inexcusable mis-
representations, and willingness to con-
denim upon the most flimsy evidence
a case in point is the recent effort of
the Dubuque Herald to bring the late
officers of the Soldiers Orphans Home
of this State into disrepute, by stating
that they had about SO 900 in the
treasury, while they turned over about
$1,000 when the State took charge OF
the institution. We regret that the
Waverly i'hG'air, paper not apt to
run off OH tangent, has been led to ac-
cept the representation as true.
1t will be recollected that a joint
committee was appointed by the last
General Assembly to visit the Home at
Cedar Falls and Davenport and report
upon their condition and the propriety
OF their control being assumed by the
State. or this committee Hon. l.. w.
Hart, senator from this district, was
Chairman. Upon consultation with
Mr.. Hart we have learned the follow
Ing facts concerning the funds referred
to by the Herald.
The committee made their investiga.
aiVIi aDoul tbC -uIil vi lit
officers of the Home at that time were
G. G. Cole, President, =. =. ingalls, and
James Wright, Vice Presidents, and b.
II. Allen, Treasurer. The amount re-
ported by them on hand was about
S37 900 in U. s. Bonds. They also re-
ported that there were uncollected sub
scriptiOns to the amount of about $iO,-
600, a portion of which they thought
might be collected. In all probability
but very small portion of these sub,
scriptions was ever collected. In this
county, for instance, no part of 1t was
collected. The fact was, as soon as il
became known that the State was to as
sumo control, subscriptions ceased al
most entirely, and ii became difficult ts
collect subscriptions. At that time, the
committee reported the estimated ex
pensos of the Home 100000 per year,
and as the number of inmates was
constantly increasing, the expense nec-
essarily increased proportionately. No
action could be taken by the Home AS
sociation upon the offer Of the State un-
til its annual meeting in June, and 1t
was about the 18th of June before the
property was actually turned oyer, or
about four months from the date of the
statement received by the committee.
lIlio louI IL Is IdlI 10 eb-
innate the expenses at from $4,000 to
$2S,OO0. These expenses had to be
borne from the funds on hand, since
contributions ceased almost entirely
1t is stated that 81 900 was turned over.
1t is easy to calculate upon this basis
how much swindling was done. II
there has been the least wrong, we de-
sire to have it exposed but the propen-
Sity to accuse uniustly when Marty
ends are to be achieved by it, is 80
strong that we find it indiscriminately
INDUCED in, even within the ranks OF
our own party. Journalism ought to
be elevated above this, and accuse only
when the evidence shows unmistakable
guilt.
The late officers Of the Home owe 1t
to themselves to make clear state
ment Of all the circumstances connect
ed with the transfer of the property to
the State. 1t is reported that the val
ue of real estate transferred to the State
was about $S5, neutrality-suspicious. Bul-
letin.