The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-06-22
PENSIONERS IN DISTRESS.
Curious Revelations from the SOL
diers' Home at Hampton.

curious BcveIatfOns from the SOL
diers' Home ut Hampton.
Evidently something is going wrong with
the Soldiers Home at Hampton, Va, which |
Is presided over by Captain j. II. Woodfn,
who was appointed TO the place at the insti-
CATION Of Gen. b. f. Butler, formerly one of
the Home trustees. To-day four soldiers,who
had been inmates of that institution, called |
at the Office of THE CRITIC to state their |
grievances.
Milton L. Woodforth, 9th Connecticut |
Volunteers, says that he has family living |
in Connecticut and never intended to make
the Home u permanent thing, as he desired
only to get his pension allowed and then
return to take care of his family He left
the Home on the 10th of April last, on u 60
days leave of absence, and during that time
arranged his pension matters with the help
of an attorney. His arrears amount to
1900 He left the Home with the inten-
ton ascending in his application for n dis
charge to the governor. This he did, and
received his reply that no discharge could
be issued to him till after the expiration of
the 60 days. This time has expired and
still the Commissioner of Pensions declines
to issue the certificate till the official dis
charge has been received in accordance with
the requirements of law. Meanwhile
Woodforth is in desperate situation, hav-
ing relied on the promise that his discharge
would be forwarded when his leave was OFF,
Christian Stanze, a German of the I'd
Cavalry, also man of family is entirely
paalyzed in both hands and perfectly help
less. He left the Home, also, on leave of
absence on April Both, and few days later
requested Gov Woodfin to forward his letter
of discharge. Col Whitney replied that
he would comply with the request at the
expiration of the time. This time has ex-
PRED and now Stance finds himself penni-
less, with money still due him at the Home
and ut the same time unable to collect his
pension money from the Office here. He is
rated at $50 n month.
VIM. Corner, German, 18th Illinois Volun-
teers, was living on the outside of the
Home, but was cOnstructively an inmate.
! He also left on leave of absence to see about
his pension. lie is entitled to $3.50 arrears
and running allowance of "a month.
Michael ]. Dillon, 18th New York VOlun-
teers, has about the same experience He
left ON leave of absence and his time having
expired he is now here waiting for the Of
! fetal discharge, unable to collect his pension
money till it arrives.
| In all these cases the Commissioner said
that the law prevented the payment till the
discharges were received, and Woodfn con-
tended that the law as to fires does not go
into effect till July /, 1884, and hence the
fines may still be imposed at his discretion.
There is something in all this that needs
the aid of strong microscope. Here is the
law, approved February 26, 1885,
SEC. All pensions payable, or to be
paid under this act, to pensioners who are
inmates of the National Home for Disabled
Volunteer Soldiers shall be paid to the treas
urer or treasurers of said Home, upon secur-
ity given to the satisfaction of the manG-
gers to be disbursed for the benefit of tie
pensioners without deduction for fines or
penalties under regulations to be established
by the managers of the Home; said paymei t
i to be made by the pension agent upon cer-
tificate of the proper officer of the Home
that the pensiOncr is an inmate thereof
and is still living. Any balance of the pen
sion which may remain at the date of the
pensioners discharge shall be paid over to
him; and in case of his death ut the Home,
the same shall be paid to the widow or chill
drcn, or in default of either to his legal
representatives.
These soldiers make bitter complaints of
the Home management. For instance, they
charge that they have no discretion what
ever over the expenditure of their pension
money. 1t is gObbled up entire by the
Governor and then dOled out to them in
pittances in the form of wooden checks,
which must be spent for supplies OH the
premises with the sutler, because they are
worthless outside. They never can obtain
u settlement in full of their accounts. If
they want any extra allowance of money,
even after due, they allegc that they have
to pay discount of 40 per cent. to
get it, the transaction being man
aged by certain sharks, who hang around
with ready cash and take certified orders
from the inmates When there are 7S0 of
them, this business is likely to be profitable.
This is not the first time that Governor
Woodfiin has been the victim of such
charges. He should be compelled to for
ward these men their discharges in ac-
cordancc with law at once, and then a court
of inquiry into the money business would
be in order.