New-York tribune., 1873-05-16
THE NATIONS PENSIONERS.
.AsYLUMs UNDER MARTIAL LAW.

were sustained 40 public expense, aud where men, hon
orably discharged from the military marine service
and unable to support themselves account Of wounds
sickness enderly cared for by the State from
which they entered the service without any Of the hu
initiation attending the acceptance Of ordinary charity
Of state aid is usually given When the war had
iled the country with crippled soldiers, it thought
that they should be the wards Of the nation and
tional Asylum for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers was
founded with central branch at Dayton, Ohio, North
Western branch at Milwaukee, Wis. Eastern branch at
Augusta Me- end Southern branch at or near Hampton,
Va the principle Onlw hch these asyums were founded
addressed itself TO the patriotism OF the people. AID
through the efforts of the Board Of Managers, all the
State institutions OF similar character dscOn-
tlnued except that OF EewJersey. The Board of Man
ayers Of the National Asylum the President, the
Chef-Justce, and the Secretary Of War; ex-ofco; and
Gen. b. +. Butler, President; Gen. j. II. Martindale,
First Vice Presidents Jay Cooke Second Vice President;
Lewis b. Gunckel Secretary Gov. Frederick smyth,
Dr Erastus b. WOlcott, Gen. John s. COycnder, Judge
Hugh L. Bond, and Gen. Thomas o. Osborne. The
Deputy Governors other officers OF the asyums
appointed by the Board the entire control and
government Of their inmates, subject to the rules laid
down for their guidance II properly conducted the
institution would be Of which the country might
well be proud and for which he disabled soldier might
well be thankful.
Some of those however, who have tried residence in
OF the national asynms do not speak well OF their
management, and many have left them to take refuge
In almshOuses, thinking the latter the less OF two
evils. The Soldiers Retreat Wards Island city
institution which il under the direction of the COmmis
soners Of Charities and Correction, aud which Gen.
Butler has styled "almsnOuse" contains many vol
unteers from this city who, having had the opportunity
OF knowing OF what they speak, pronounce much bet
ter home disabled soldiers than any branch Of the
National Asy luIn.
TRIBUNE reporter talked with one OF these crippled
heroes. He said: "The managers seem TO have in-
tended TO establish, under the mask Of Home mill
ary despotism to be governed by officer who, with
absolute power should act both judge and jury in the
trial Of offenders and condemn and punish pare
evidence. The inmates OF these National Asylums
deprived all social privileges Of civil life and sub
jcct 10 harsh and eXacuug military discipline. The ten
deucy Of the system Of government adopted is TO dvest
the inmate Of his manhood destroy every spark Of ambi
ton iu him. and degrade him To the level OF menial
The Board Of Managers leave the details Of government
with Deputy Governors, whose acts and judgments they
approve without question as TO their justice. They Ut
tcrly DISREGARD the appeals Of inmate for redress
They oxturt trivial Oenses, heavy fines, which they
collect from the pension money placed under their con-
troll"
Conversations with others brought forth the same ex
preston Of opinion. They said that between the asy
lum" and the retreat" the choice was simple one
At the latter they say, they have better beds, more
liberty and about the food without the military
orders dress pardes, grand reviews, fines and punish
the latter Here every pcusloitT cOulIOlS III
own pension Is fined for absence without leave, and
has colOnes,i majors and captains TO salute The
officer in charge hasthe respec and esteem of those
under care, which they say is not the In all OF
the asylums. Willie they spoke favorably Of the city
institution to which they cung In preference to that
provided by the nation they all regretted that there
was 10 state Home, similar to that maintained by New
Jersey. -
The reporter then visited the NevJersey Home for
Disabled Soldiers SevenJhaye, Newark. This insttu-
ton has been operation years. The following Is
its board Of officers: President, the Hon. T. H. Veghte
Treasurer the Hon. NJ. l.. Ward; Managers, the Hon.
| Daniel Haiues the Hon. c. :. Olden, the Hon. W. A.
Newell, Col. f. II. Wright Surgeon and Commandant,
Col. o. N Dougherty Superintendent, Major VIM.
Wakenshaw; Chaplain the Rev. Isaac Tuttle; Matron,
| Mrs. Wm Wakenshaw Tle following are the terms OF
| admission of patients:
No person admitted the Home lpOn the certificate
Judge Of e Court Of Common Pleas upoa proof mae to ms SAILS
faction by the testimony writing Of respectable physician and other
evidence q the particulars w; j. tlft @ @ hs'
charged om service That be disabled from wound OF
while s.l service, sickness disability con
t'3i'l AeI,l % H. ~ m & ~ tt .niTcent tr i confort
anI has Bot tae 9ony 20 procure cure oi i 'I' at i i. oT
resident Of th STATE and was such at the tine he ea Re ssf,ie
statement writing signed by himself setting forth the patlellafs
Of bis nativity Of bis eic the time Of making aPpica-
uon and al the time oi entering the service lhe .Ll reg
Tie time bis and the time Of his scare his consent
& 1ea @ E 10 he nav De entitled from the state or tie United States
be will himself properly submit the rules regulations and
i Tie psut so admitted will he entitled all s benefits Of The
stegnce and with whatever may suitable aud promote
bis health aud eoba to bis comfort ae9ol3es MN ,h e and
luton Board Of Maage for the causes loloEns w: J. For
cure his ora support D. or comply with the HI,
" Relief may granted persons outpaien who having some
means. Sufficient for comfortable support with le ueces@ care
an ai'e'Ro9 ca. & pc more P& & g e % 45eH he proof Of
nj tho
Of tue Peeuaary efeu' snces Of himself aud his
| hmily relations.
| Col Dougherty surgeon and commandant, said that
the fourth clause the second section OF the terms of
| admission was merely nominal and had never been
enforced the institution having been supported entirely
from the State appropriation This has been $4,000 per
year which was than adequate during the early
history OF the Home Last year the expenses amounted
to over $4,000 and the deficiency made up from the
accumuIatons OF previous years. An additional appro-
pration of $4,000 asked for this year, and portion
of it was granted by the Legislature. The reporter was
conducted over the grounds and through the buildings
Thief latter cheapy constructed but pleasantly To-
Gated and are comfortable and scrupuiousy clean
A library aud reading room seemed to be well patron
lied and the bin OF fare each day in the week which
was posted the kitchen for the guidance Of the cooks
showed that the inmates were well fed clothing ana
even tobacco and other uxures are all provided Tree OF
charge The rules by which the Home Is governed are
| few and simple, being as follows
Fr will be allowed 70 leave the Institution without
| psssi uei by the Superintendent.
allowed the premises under the
he brought into tue premises wn
ont subieetn NJ tbe offender o immediate expulsion
expected to perform such labor as requested
Of them by Of the Institution Empores shall sign
by which they shall be strictly bound
and Shoat shall be considered euue TO compens
| ton Int
mates must retire 10 their beds ~ that hour the Sard
will aud all sseutees to the sopnn
|
T0 The inmates strict rules Of orer aud good be-
hvior All dsoriery quareome shall BE- expelled oh
| With. .,
of liberty allowed 10 the inmates
ensnt With the observance regulations II tue desire Of
nler and pleasant