The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-03-05
The Soldiers Orphans Investigation.

There was meeting of ex-soldiers
and sailors in the Common Council
Chamber of Philadelphia, on Friday
last, an investigating rommittee ap-
pointed and the following resolution
adopted
"Whereas, Public charges are made
that the soldiers orphans homes and
schools of. the State of Pennsylvania
have been dishonesty and fraudulent
y managed and the children depri we'd
of the proper care, support and nurture
which it was intended they should re-
ceive therefore, be it
"Resolved, By the soldiers and sail
ors here assembled, that we most
earnestly request the Governor TO have
an immediate official and searching in.
vestigalion made, and if the investiga-
ton should find ::tbose or any other
charges well founded to have all par
ties implicated prosecuted to the full
extent of the law
The Philadelphia Times referring to
the action at this meeting thus says ::
The committee of the Grand Army
of the Republic that is about TO in
vestigate the speculations and abuses
of the Soldiers Orphans Schools of
the State, need only read the letter
purporting 10 be from ex-senator
Wright, head Of the school syndicate,
to the principal of the Mount Joy
School on the Both of January, 1884,
to guide them in tleir inquiry. The
letter is published in the Record as a
genuine letter from ex Senator Wright,
and is as follows
MERCER, Pa, January 80, 1884,
l find the last coffee bought
very poor, and have this dav ordered
other to Mount Joy. While I do not
,cdnt the poor MrOacn ota I do not
rant you TO use IL nert peek. See
that it is put out of the way, sure. 1t
Is not a fair sample of what we usually
use by any means You will likely
have some visitors from the G. A. X.
encampment, which meets at Lancaster
city next Wednesday, February 6.
You need not be surprised if members
drop in on their way to or from the en-
campment. / need not say more, only
see the cook and all other departments
and hare no mistakes any,ohere.
much tear trouble tiom this encanap-
ment for Mount Joy Jf.trozen feet,
toe nails dropping of, itch, etc, Nth
your four month record of deaths,
etc, do MT Uarn up our G. 4. r.
friends I shall feel that I am no pro-
phet All these matters are sure to be
investigated and brought up at the en-
campment so get in shape to meet
charges and receive risitore. l forgot
to caution Sherbin in writing him yes
terday about next week. Talk it over
with him and matron, and get 10 work
and in shape.
Unless the foregoing letter is a bald
and malicious forgery, it is conclusive e
of the guilt of Wright and his partners
as systematic robbers of the orphans
Of our soldiers. There is not a keeper
of a prison in Pennsylvania who would
be tolerated for day after such con-
fession Of his treatment of the crimi-
nails committed 10 his care and:when
the most beneficial charity of the State
is thus prostituted TO inhumanity and
greed, and the confession made with
out an expression of regret beyond the
fear of exposure, the only questions
for the Grand Army committee to con-
slider are-first 10 what extent fraud
and abuse have been pracliced and
second, how Wright and his tbieving
syndicate can be most speedily broken
in their contracts and their plunder
recovered by the State.
No citizen of ordinary humanity
can read tine Litter published as from
Wright, without sense of shame for
a great Commonwealth whose nohlest
charity has been proslituted to The
meanest aims of theft and cruelty. The
ills OF 'frozen feet, toe-nails dropping
off, itch, etc." are discussed without
the least semblance Of shame, and they
and the -four months record Of
deaths are referred to only to make
sure of their concealment so that the
same atrocious barbarism and its pro-
fits might be continued indefinitely.
There is no demand, no suggestion
even, for the correction of these start
ling abuses, but only the cold -blooded
demand OF speculator in the orphans
woes he has himself created, to conceal
his crime and the orphans sorrows
from discovery.
Assuming that the letter quoted is
genuine, and its genuineness has not
yet been disputed-the only material
inquiry for the Grand Army committee
is as TO the extent of this cruel robbery
and the measure of restitution to be
made to the State. The payment of
all moneys to the Wright syndicate
should be stopped at once. and the
proper authoriy should summarily re-
woke all its contracts There is no
need to wait for further inquiry TO re-
woke contracts and suspend payments,
unless the letter we have quoted shall
be proved a forgery, and no such init.
nation has yet been made in any quar-
ter. Perfunctory Investigations a.
mount to little, and even earnest inves-
legations may be defeated by the plans
! suggested by the Wright letter to the
Mount Joy principals but if that letter
is genuine, it is ample TO Justify the
promptest and mCsI radical action by
the State officials TO end the syndicate
contracts and halt the heartless specu
lalors in cruelty TO the orphans of sol