Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-08-31
The Removal of Col. Sturxis.

The Removal Of Col. Sturgis.
THE LETTER OF TIE COMMISSIONERS ASKING SUCH
ACTION AND THE sECRETARY's ORDER
The following is the letter OF the commissioners
OF War, asking for the removal OF Col. Sturgis as
governor and the appointment of Gen. Hardin to
the command
WASHINGTON, August IS, 1882.
To the Honorable the Secretary or Var:
The commissioners OF the Soldiers Home find IL
necessary to report to you under the requirements
OF section 4S16 Revised Statutes, that an imme-
diate change of governors OF the home is required
In order that the interests OF the Institution may
no longer suffer as they now do and as they have
done for several months past.
Inc present Governor, Col Samuel u. Sturgis,
1th cavalry, after trial OF over year, we find,
possesses none OF the qualifications necessary TO a
proper administration OF the affairs OF the home.
Botn as commanding officer and in the perform
ance OF the executive duties incident to the posi-
ton, he has failed so signaly to give satisfaction
that this step becomes one OF absolute necessity
If the home interests are to be conducted economic
cally or to the welfare OF the inmates
HIS want OF cooperation with the Commissioners
renders the situation OF exceeding gravity and
our disappointment In this respect is augmented
by the injury which has resulted I'm the expert
ment OF assigning him TO the position The word
experiment" is used because it Will be well un-
derstood that in the selection OF officers for the
Home there must, to greater or less extent, be a
degree or chance 1t would appear that the law
anticipated, and directed accordingly, that the
officers shall be appointed or removed from time
to time, as the interests OF the institution may
require, by the Secretary OF War, on the recommen-
dation OF the Board OF Commissioners" We can
not always be sure that the Officers selected Will
prove TO be the best that can be obtained for the
position. Such has been our experience I'm the
case OF Col Sturg1s. He has maintained a studied
ave OF All voluntary communication with
the home for which we are responsible is more
than crippled thereby. There is no hope of any
remedy for this state OF things except change OF
governors, and this cannot be avoided; and we
cannot too urgently request that Col. Sturgis be
relieved.
The of1ce NJ secratarv nd cprar NJ tho Homo
IS now temporarily filled by Major Milton CogS-
well, the deputy governor, Capt j. ID. Stevenson,
quest on account OF ill-health. The assignment OF
competent officer to this position should be made
as early as practicable
The views OF the Commissioners are in accord
with the proposed requirement contained in
Senate BILL now before Congress- that the officers
Of the Home should be selected from the retired
list, giving preference, II possible, to those re-
tired on account OF wounds; and we therefore rec
0mmend that under section ,259, Revised Statutes
Br1gadier General Martin ID. Hardin, United
States Army, retired, be assigned to duty as Gov
ernor OF the Soldiers Home, TO relieve Col. S. d.
Sturgis, seventh Cavalry, and that Capt Benjamin
r. RlttenhouSe, brevet major, United States army,
RETIRED be assigned to duty secretary and
urer OF the Home, to relieve the deputy governor
OF these duties.
Very respectfully,
r. McFEELY, Commissary Of Subsistence.
K c. DRUM, Adjutant General, U.SA.
governor and treasurer OF the Soldiers Home.
&C. d. CRANE. Surgeon General. U.SA
THE OFFICIAL ORDER.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, ID. c., August %, 1882
In compliance with section 1916 OF the Revised
statutes, upon the within recommendation OF the
board of commissioners Brig. Gen. Martin ID. Har-
DIN, United States army, retired, is hereby APP
pointed governor OF the Soldiers Home relieving
COL samuel ID. Sturgis, It'll cavalry. who, upon
being relieved, will resume command OF his regi-
ment, and Capt BENZ, f. Rittenhouse, United
States army, retired, is hereby appointed secre-
tary and treasurer OF the Soldiers Home, relieving
the deputy governor OF the duties OF those Offices
ROBERT L, LINCOLN,
Secretary OF War.
IT rs NOT TRUE,
as telegraphed from this city, that the Secretary
OF War yesterday telcgraphed to Gen. Hardin that
he need not come to Washington pending the con-
sideration OF the question whether Col Sturgis
Will be relieved.