The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-03-25
SOLDIERS ORPHANS.
More Disclosures Of the ,Wayiin Which They are
Treated in the Sch0olss Of PennsyIyania.

More Disclosures Of the Wayiin Which They are
Treated in the Schools Of Pennsylvania.
The Soldiers Orphans, School at Chester
Springs was visited by Gov. Pattison recently.
This school was in little better condition
than the others which had been examined,
and all the children showed evidence of
great neglect The Governor and the Attorney
General, however, were grossly insuited by the
children, who declared in chorus that they
were well cared for and didn't want any inter-
ference. On the following day the school at
McAllisterville was inspected Here the build
lngs were found to be entirely inadequate for
the proper accommodation of the pupils, and
the sanitary arrangements were very detective.
The children were found to be much better fed
than at Mt Joy, but some of the edibles were
condemned even by the cook, who, being eX-
amined by Attorney General Cassidy, said the
butter was very bad, and the flour was also bad.
The sleeping rooms of the larger boys are
susceptible OF much improvement, and the dor
mitory, in which 30 little boys slept in II beds,
IS utterly UNFIT on account of its crowded con-
ditlon, for the purpose for which it is being
used. The ceiling is only about five and a
half feet high on the average, about ~
feet long and II feet wide. The bedding
was generally clean, except in this room. The
external appearance was tidy enough, but the
overturning of the pillows and the examlna-
ton OF the sheets revealed much filth A num-
Der OF beds accommodated three girls each. Mr..
Smiley, the male attendant, was examined at
length. He said that no tooth brushes had
been issued to the boys and no combs to boys
who had clipped hair. The 14O boys in the
school used 10 towels while bathing. The boys
and girls bashed in rough-looking tubs not
much better dilan the Mt. Joy molasses tubs
The State Inspectors have not complied with
the law requiring them to visit the orphan
schools every three months.
On the 18th the school at White Hall was
visited by the Governor and Attorney General
This is not one of the syndicate schools: The
bathing arrangements were pronounced poor,
but the lavatory was in good condition. The
water supply and drainage furnished cause for
complaint, and some of the bedrooms were
crowded. Otherwise there was little to complain
and the school was in excellent condition when
compared with Mt Joy and Chester Springs
The salaries of teachers and attendants aggre-
gated $4,000, and the principal receives as much
as all the Mt Joy teachers combined.
The Grand Army has been uutiring in its
efforts to unearth the alleged frauds, and the
committee chosen for that purpose in their
report, say:
Our inquiries SO far, satisfy us that the enforce
ment OF the laws establishing and maintaining the
Soldiers Orphans Schools has been neglected by
those charged with their maintenance and 1t is not
surprising that, under these circumstances, those
who managed the schools should do so with an eye
only to the possible profits to be derived therefrom,
and not with desire TO properly care for, MAIN
taln and educate, at the expense of the state the
children of our dead or disabled comrades. The
remedy for the present deplorabe and disgracetul
condition of affairs, developed by the 1nvestga-
tons of the Governor and Attorncy-Generai, Is
entirely within the control of the Superintendent
of the Soldiers Orphans Schools and the Governor
of the Commonwealth, who may ut any time annul
any or all the contracts If any of the conditions OF
such contracts have not been fulfilled toy any con-
tractor. We feel assured that such an annulment
OF contract, agreement or arrangement of any kind
existing supposed to exist between the State and
the propretors OF these schools will have the hearty
approval of all good citizens
We suggest that the Auditor General decline to
approve any warrants for the payment of bills in
connection with these schools until proper con-
tracts have been executed and the laws otherwise
fully complied with and in this suggestion it is our
intention to include the regulations governing the
amount and quality of the clothing to be issued;
the quantity, quality, and preparation OF the food
for the children the extent of and the furnishing
OF the lavatory, the sleeping and other necessary
accommodations; the number and qualifications of
teachers and instructors employed, and for the
proper enforcement of all this intelligent, syste-
matte and frequent inspections of all the schools in
all their arrangements by the officials paid and en-
ployed by the State.
The report is signed by Louis Wagner, chair
man; William McClelland, A. c. Reinohl, En-
IA III. Ripple, and w. n. Jones.
The Soldiers Orphan Investigating Commit
tee of the G. "A. r. met at Harrisburg on the 18th
inst There was a full attendance of the COM
mttee, consisting of Gen. Louis Wagner, of
Philadelphia; Maj. A. G.. Reinohl, of Lancas-
ter; Capt. William McClelland, of Pittsburg;
Col L. III. Ripple, of Scranton; Capt. w. n. j.
Jones, of Williamsport, and Col. Thomas j.
Stewart. of Montgomery County The commit
tee detailed by the Grand Army Post at Union
town to inquire into the charges preferred
against Dunbar Camp Orphan School have de-
nounced the charges as false. They state that
the charges in regard to Mt Pleasant emanated
from recently discharged employee from the
school, who made the charges out of spirit of
revenge.
The committee appointed by Scott Post, of
Erie, Pa, to assist i'll the investigation of the
charges against the Mercer School, report that
an alarming state of facts exist, and that vast
political and ring influence has been keeping
the public in ignorance Witnesses, both boys
and girls, who have been before the committee,
state that the food is very poor and often so
stale and full of worms that many were
sickened at the sight but they did not COM
plain for fear of punishment. The Hammer
boys and others were recently so horribly
beaten by the principal with whitethorn rods
that they lay in the infirmary.
The MOmeyer girls, who say they were not
allowed to wear shawls. suffered from cold on
account of the tumbled down buildings. Undue
familiarity between the sexes and the visits of
boys to the girls dormit0ry were winked at. No
letters containing complaints were ever allowed
subject to cruel hazng and denounced as tat
tiers The system of bathing and the bedding
is also reported as being bad The mouths of
many of the eliminates were sealed by some
influence, and the committee had difficulty in
obtaining free statements.
On the 18th Gov. Pattison and Attorney
General Cassidy visited the Orphan School at
Jumonville. After dinner they drove to the
school, distance of nine miles where they
were met by Rev. Dir. Waters, the Superintend-
ent, and commenced the investigation i'm
mediately. In the dormtories they took up
the beds, examined the sheets and bed -tickin
measured the width of the beds and looked
closely at the ventilating facilities. They
found the school in an excellent condition, as
it always has been. The floors, beds, bed
clothing and chidren's clothing were as clean
as could be- and the rosy cheeks and pleasant
faces of the orphans bespoke good food, plenty
OF outdoor exercise and well-ventiated apart
ments.
Gov Pattison has not yet determined how he
would proceed against the men who have mis-
managed Soldiers Orphans Schools. He an
swered, in reply to an inquiry last week that
he had not given the matter that attention it
warranted, from the fact that he desired to visit
all the schools before he decided how to act. 1t