The National tribune., 1886-03-04

were again thrown open 10 all destitute chill
dren of permanently disabled soldiers. Again,
in 1884, the Legislature decided that the schools
must be closed, fixing June /, 1882, as the date
when admissions must cease, and June, 1885, as
the date of discharge for all children. But at
the following session of the Legislature an in
fuence was brought to bear which extended
the date of admission to June 1, 1887, and fixed
the date of closing the schools on June 1, 1890.
The State of Pennsylvania has up to the pres
ent time appropriated S, ,665, S4179 for the care
of soldiers orphans. Over 5000 have been
reared by the State, and over 10000 have been
| on the rolls At the last report there were
about 1000 new scholars, with applications for
500 additional children approved. AS the State
did not own or manage the schools, but paid
certain amount per week for each child ad-
mitted, it will readily be seen what kind of
interest the propretors of the schools lad in
the children. When the schools were first es-
tabllshed Superintendent Burrow fixed $50 as
the maximum attendance, but children out of
all proportion to this order have been pushed
into these institutions. For instance Mercer
school has 342 children on its rolls, although it
has accommodations for less than 80, and Mt.
Joy has 337 children in attendance. though its
capacity was rated by its owner at 275.
1t is charged that large amounts of money
have been made by crowding children into
these schools. Of course, under the present
system-seeing the orphans are fed by contract
one school the better it is from pecuniary
standpoint for the owner. 1t is charged, more
over, that these children have been provided
with wretched accommodations, and that gen.
orally their condition is very ptiable.
Another point made is that many children
not only not soldiers orphans, but in many in
stances not orphans at all, have been put into
these schools in order to enable the owners to
draw the per capita allowance There will, of
course, be searching investigation made into
all these matters, the Grand Army having taken
it specially upon itself to make complete and
thorough examination.
There are now 10 schools in operation, as fol-
lows:
Name Of School. County. ODners.
Chester Springs, Chester Geo. w. Wright.
Jas. l.. Paul.
George Pearson.
Mercer...... ....-.Mercer. ........ Geo w Wright.
$. +. Thompson.
John !. Gordon.
r. r. Wright.
Mount Joy. Lancaster. .... Geo. w. Wright.
John /. Gordon.
James l.. Pau.
McAlisterville......Junat ......-.Geo w. Wright.
John J. Gordon.
Dayton. Armstrong. Stock Co of 13.
Mansfield Tioga. ........... Mrs. Allen.
Uniontown Fayette ........Rev A. F. Waters
White Hall Cumberland Maj. Moore.
Hartford. ..Susquehanna Prof. Sweet.
Soldiers Orph' ms. Philadelphia
The last named is the only ono Of the num-
ber that is run as charity. The others are
operated as business enterprises but none of
them compare with the charitable institution
in the creature comforts provided for the chill
dren.
In Philadelphia last week number of vet
eran soldiers and sailors filled the Common
Council Chamber to consider the recent charges
made against the management of the schools.
Their purpose was to inquire into the way in
which the appropriations of the schools were
expended and to also make arrangements for
an investigation into the management of the
schools