The Evening critic., 1882-08-28
THE SOLDIERS, HOME COMMAND.
How the Removal of General Sturgis
From the Command ofthc soldiers
Home Was Brought About.


Tho New York HeTdd OF Saturday has tho
following dispatch from Washington:
Senator Conger, OF Michigan, to-day called
on tho Secretary OF War to demonstrate against
the order removing Colonel s. d. sturgis, as
Governor OF tho Soldiers Homo. Tho Senator
called attention TO tho action OF tho Senate
passing BILL after protracted Investigation
OF tho Affairs OF the Home, which provided
against tho removal OF tho present Governor
until his regular term had expired,
and that this bill was on tho Speakers
table awaiting the action Si me house, lou n9 Tne
this removal, but that ho looked upon tho law
as requiring him to act In accordance with
whatever recommendations might be made by
tho Board of Commissioners. Tho board, how
ever, had led the Secretary TO suppose that tho
Senate bill contemplated the removal OF Gen.
eral sturgls by providing that hereafter
tho retired list OF tho army. Tho
fact that tho Senate had adopted an amond.
ment which provided that this provision OF the
tion OF the present detail, was not mado known
TO him by tho Commissioners. They havo
thus succeeded In placing the Secretary OF
upon Congress pending action taken as tho
result OF an inquiry which developed gross
abuses, and which was designed to correct
them.
Tho position In which the Secretary has been
placed is the more embarrassing from tho fact
that this amendment excepting General Stur'
gs was inserted in the bill for tho very pur-
pose OF preventing tho members OF tho board,
who wero incensod at General Sturgls for testi-
flying fully when called upon by tho Senate
Committee, from uniting to punish him by
forcing him out
Senator Congor asked to see tho recon-
mendations submitted by tho Board OF Com
miosioners for the removal OF General Sturgis.
The Secretary thereupon sent for AdJutant-
General Drum, who Is member OF tho board,
and he appeared with tho papers In tho case.
From these 1t appeared that the recomenda-
tion for tho removal OF General Sturgis was
signed first by Gen. Drum and next by Gen
MacFeely Surgeon.General Crane did not sign
this portion OF the paper, though ho did moi
another Recommendation for the change of the
secretary and the treasuror. Tho Board had
made the point that General Sturgis did moi
cooperate with them, and had failed to attend
their meetings. Senator Conger thereupon
informed the Secretary that General sturgis
had specially requested to be notified OF the
meetings, so that he might attend.
When the question turned upon tho char
acter Of the abuses OF which the mombers oi
tho board had been proved guilty by the Sen.
ate investigation Secretary Lincoln intimated
that he was not aware OF Its nature. Senator
Conger then took occasion to state the grave
points OF this testimony and very full discus
sion of the matter followed. AS It now stands
the cnse is this Tho Senate ordered an In
vestigation OF tho affairs OF the Home. Genera
Sturgis acted with tho Senate Committee anc
did what any honest officer would have done
which were brought out by the committee, ant
which most seriously compromised two OF the
Board Of Commissioners. To mako thu
matter worse General Sturgls has
nothing to do with inaugurating th'
Investigation of the Senate. II wa.
ordered six weeks before he arrived II
Washington TO enter upon his duties. He hat
no communication with any member OF tn
committee on the subject until he was sum
moned' as a witness. He thereafter cooper
ated fully with the committee In enablin
In
Home has been managed and tho disposition
| made OF Its funds ard Its products.