New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-06

keeping of the funds in his possession. The govern
trustees of the Home are: The Surgeon-Gen-
eral, the Adutant General and the Commissary-
General of the Army. They make all the regula-
tioDs for the government of the Home. They con
troll all the expenditures. They buy lands and build
buildings for it at their own will. They invest its
surplus funds to suit themselves. Some years ago,
for example, they invested $4,000 or 100000 III
the stock of company which was organized 10
erect a building for the Young Mems Christian As
sociation of Washington. The income from that
source Las been almost nothing ard the STOCK Is
probably not worth 20 cents on the dollar.
The managers of the Soldiers Home are in every
sense Of the term close corporation. They appear
to be accountable to nobody They audit the ac-
counts of the Treasurer, and nobody else ever secs
those accounts. The managers do indeed MAKE
annually, meagrc report to the Secretary of war
and it is printed These annual reports models OF
brevity; they contain absolutely nothing to throw
light upon the internal mana cement of the lnstltu-
ton The Home possesses Invested funds, but the
reports do not mention the amount OF these iunds
nor show in what securities thev are invested OF
what income they yield. For all that Congress OF
the soldiers-out OF whose small wages the Home
is Northumberland know, the securities may be
merely the pr0mssory notes of favored individuals
or may be d" wild cat" stocks, There IS much and
reasonable complaint among private soldiers De-
cause they are not allowed TO know how this great
trust is administered. They have no direct repre-
sentative upon the Board OF Managers. Why the
Commissary- General was ever made member OF
the Board is an en- gma and why an officer of the
line is not OH the Board is equally mystery.
Strange as it may appear neither the President, as
Commander-in- Chief Of the Army. the Secretary
of War has authority 10 order an inspection OF the
Home and its management Neither has power TO
overhaul the accounts of the institution 10 ascer-
tain whether its funds have been embezz'ed or
misappicd In a word, the affairs of the Soldiers
Home are a sealed book, except to the members OF
"A very close corporation.
As might be expected under such circumstances.
unfayoTabe rumOrs constantly circulated ie-
Carding the management OF tine INSTITUTION some
of these stories doubtless are exaggerated ana some
of them may not be true, while others appear 10
have at least basis of fact. For example, II Is sad
to be trnc that loads of comnlssary supplies
and garden produce have been hauled from the
ucme In wagons belonging to that institution, am
delivered at the reside OF prominent Army OH
GERS and other influential persons III Washington,
While it may not be susceptible OF PROOF that those
supplies were the property OF the Home, the clfcn-
stances have bad look. III there We're q
ystem or inspection and rgid accountant =
ity IN the management OF the Home IL
would be easy to explain the circumstance
mentioned and to correct tt abuse II one really
exists. Again il is said that great many tons OF
hay purchased every year out OF the iunu OF th
Home TO feed the stock which IL Kept there Now
Tho old soldiers do not take their exercise in
rages or on horseback. One does not see large
herds of COWS about the grounds. surely on 800
acres of land, with decent management, enough nav
Should he raised supply all that is needed for the
animals belonging TO the institution If such Is not
the case f shows of two things, either the all-
agement is iuefDcleht OF nav Is is"pPIopIa''u Vi
wasted.
These are examples OF the stories which cur
rent. and these are only entl oned because tDey are
believed by persons VINO have Cleaned some lnfor~
nation and who are entirely trustworthy. As an
officer Of the army said recently, 1t would do 10
harm and might do a great deal of good to nave q
thorough investigation OF the affairs OF the Soldiers
Home. | believe that there is much room Tor I'M
provement and great need OF reform there"