Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-09-14

statement is. The work in question il
skilled labor, some of it being teaming
pipe-laying, and other things, requiring
experienced help. If, therefore, the
soldiers could do such WORK and were able
to earn such wages, why are they in th {
Home, which is not intended as q refuge
for those who are able, but are
too lazy to work. That is all
| think 1 need say on that line.
70 be sure number of the
inmates are at work here and receive pay
therefor, but their labor is always some.
thing light and suited to men incapaci-
tated from ply. ical toll. And as to the
statement of John Moore, who afirme
that agreed to pay him $40 month
and only gave him 81, why he knows as
we'll as do that do not fix the scale of
wages, but simply pay what is ordered in
the rate-sheets furnished me by the
Board of Managers. 1t was nothing to do
with mel simply paid him what he
was entitled to, and 1 promised him
nothing that he did not get.
Now as to the rations wherein all the
trouble seems to lie. can give you my
word that the assertions are false.
personally inspect at least once q week
all matters pertaining to the table, and
in addition to this supervision l have
three inspectors and commissary, If
any OF the men had made the slightest
complaint would have Immediately at.
tended to 1t, but, no; not sign OF
trouble have I known until
saw it in the columns of the Tribune to-
day. Do you not think, sir, that would
at least have had little Indication that
trouble was brewing. Now, as regards
the quality OF the meat supplied, it is all
furnished by Suits, of Santa Monica, who
caters to the Arcadia and all the leading
families in this part of the country. The
price is fixed by contract, and his offer
was not accepted because it was the low
est, but because WAS informed he was q
good and reliable man. You will find
that there is no question as to the guam
tity OF rations supplied-the Government
expects that the men shall have plenty
of good food. and why should take it to
be in my province to stint them? My
only orders are against reckless waste.
LET me read you another of the accu-
sstions," said tho Colonel, as he slowly
conned the following lines penned by
the imaginative Tribune man:
There have been deaths at the Home, too
but who has heard of them? The bodies are
bundled into paupers' graves, and the men
who would have been given soldier burial in
the rush Of war times are denied those honors
when IN time of peace there should be abun-
dant time for the last sad rites"
"Have you visited our little grave
yard ?" remarked the Colonel.
The reporter nodded and Governor
Treichel continued: 81 think you have
found it as neat little plot as could he
expected, with a headstone over the
grave OF every man who slumbers be-
meath the sod. The funerals are con-
Quoted with as much observance ss l
think can be desired. The bodies are
encased in good, solid ceffins, with sheet
iron cases, and every interment l, Sur
geon Haas and the clergyman who has
been attending the deceased, are pres
ent. l cannot think what more can be
wished.
AS to why there is no church here, my
only answer is that the construction of
the Home is only just in it's infancy, and
that we are finding shelter for the men
before we do anything else. The Tribune
appears to think that everything is fin
ished and on an established basis here.
A very amusing thing in this morn
ing's scare was the statement that l was
appointed Governor of the Home by
President Cleveland. Any one acquainted
with me and my record knows
that have been a Republican
Office holder all my life. And
even if l we're Democrat that would
have nothing to do with it, for the man
ayers appoint the Governor irrespective
of politics.
l do not think it necessary to weary
you with any further details in my
answer to the aspersions cast at me and
my conduct. AS to the personal state
ments made by the men, all can say is
that they are nearly all drunken, dis
gruntled individuals who have been set
at work on this by some spiteful in
dividual. The Rev. Corydon Millard,
whom the Tribune describes as "a brave
chaplain" was sent to me from the
Hampton Home with the Endorsement
that the Governor there got rid of him
because, to use the exact language, Sin
seven years he had had his share of
him." Grady treated as we'll as 1
knew how, but he was hard character
and on one occasion threatened to kill
one of the inmates. As to Scmerville,
he ought to be arrested for purloining the
Governments Clothes"
This concluded the reporters inter-
view with the Governor, and in making
his way across the grounds the scribe
obtained the following particulars of
chaplain Millard's record: He was a
Chaplain in negro regiment, was kicked
out of the Methodist Episcopal church
for drunkenness, and out of the G. A. r.
in Milwaukee for misappropriating funds.
Quartermsster Wise is in possession of
documentary evidence of all this, and
can furnish it if desired. Among the
many inmates who testified to the salts
factory condition of the Home, the re-
porter noted the names of Comrades
Tuttle, Wise, Roberts and Goodale, who,
with scores more, are anxious to appear
before any commission if necessary.
ToDAY's INSPECTION.
The G. A. r. people of this city held
an impromptu meeting yesterday after
noon to take action in the matter of the
charges against the management of the
Soldiers Home. Comrade Tarble asked
such of the members of the various posts
as he could conveniently see to be pres
ent at Logan Post hall at p. m.
A considerable number were on hand
at the time set. Recorder Francis was
chosen to serve as Chairman, and W.
III. Whitsun as Secretary. There was a
good deal of discussion over the charges,
and different members of the organiza.
ton stated their experience at the Home.
Tho haliof Uoa avpraaaad that fha i'll