Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-07
OLD SOLDIERS GROWL.
SOME PLAIN TALK ABOUT SOL
DIERs' HOME MATTERS.
Eastern Veterans Charged with Board or
Refused Admittance-Strong Indica-
tions of epotism-Subordinate Officers
Charged with Drunkenness.

The following growl at things in gen
eral at the Santa Monica soldiers hom'
was received yesterday at the HERALI
Office. Some of the assertions seem t.
denote bad state OF affairs in certain
particulars:
EDITORS HERALD: The near approach
of the coming session of Congress il
looked upon with interest by many o
the inmates of this home, number
knowing the house will be Democratic
fearing their pensions will be taken from
them; the more sensible-minded are
glad OF it. We hope an inquiry will be
made as to the management of the
homes, and il they are to be run in the
interests of the old soldier or for the
benefit of the board of managers and
their friends and broken-down Mug
wumps. Lo, the poor Indian, for many
years occupied the time of the spoil
hunter. Is the old soldier to take their
place? Did congress in 1882 do we'll in
placing in the hands of any one man the
power that General Franklin, the presi-
dent of the aboard of managers, Yields
It would occupy too much space to at
tempt to give even an outline of how a
position with no salary can be made to
pay, but fancy it would be an interest
ing subject for some one to trace the
various supplies furnished these homes
and who manufactured them, who COM
posed the firms. People talk of nepo-
tism methods. The board some time
ago passed resolution refusing the
right of admission to this home of any
member of home east OF the Rockies
unless he paid 80 per month board, in
utter disregard of their own laws. The
board on their last excursion. here
brought an ex-member of an eastern
home with them; he was at once admit
ted. and today is holding position as
clerk in headquarters. And why? He
had been General Franklin's clerk, and
must be cared for. Along comes
some poor unfortunate, gasping for
breath, slowly dying with asthma. in the
hopes of prolonging life in the change of
climate. He has left an eastern home.
Well If he can pay, he is admitted !;
If he can't, he is not. Is the government
running boarding houses? They claim
it costs more per capita to run this home
than an eastern house. | should fancy
that was poor excuse to cover the ig-
norance aud stupidity of the official in
charge. But is it that? Is it the cost of
maintenance of the inmates, or the gen.
eral expenses? Work is being done
here every day thai will have to be done
over again in two years. allude to our
water system, and in speaking of that
calls to mind the new receiver which is
being built; $1,000 has been appropri-
ated and is being spent, and how? !
think it would make a practical engi-
neer tired, providing he was not hand
ling government funds. And here comes
in the old soldier again; he can get
work at 40 cents per day working on the
dam, but what seems queer to him is
that he has to sign blank payrolls, and
If he leaves he can obtain no other en-
ploymept in the home. Nepotism again.
Even our worthy treasurer, the right
man In the right place, has for his head
clerk the nephew of Colonel Brown, the
man who runs the home. In the hands
of experienced manipulators this home
Is bonanza; anyone can see, but those
that don't want to, and it is too evident
that in the minds of some of the officials
that the inmates are of the least i'm
portance. A little incident to show:
They wanted to erect building in addi-
ton to the new laundry and ran short OF
money presume, and cut our dining
room in half and used it for the pur-
pose. The labor alone. in tearing down
and erecting, would have bought new
lumber, showing the massive brain that
directs the swelling of the general ex-
penses, not to speak of the exposure in
stormy .weather OF US poor unfortunates
standing waiting for our meals. One
might say Well, why don't you wait in
your quarters until your meals are
ready? Well, we might, and 50 with
out; we have three tables and only
bugle call for the first; the rest look for
themselves or 60 without. Another
thing, unfortunately many of us are ad-
dicted to drink God alone knows the
cause thereof.s will admit, it is diff
cult question for man, or any man
to handle, but why retain men in posi-
ton who are habitual drunkards, as one
in authority over one Of the companies,
who was recently seen rolling around
with one of his optics decorated with all
the colors of the rainbow. Nothing was
said to him, nothing done, whilst some
poer uneducated unfortunate has the
walls of wrath poured out upon him.
One can imagine how man, such as |
udVc Qc6CIlDtu III CudiSC Vi q COlupdny
If he takes dislike to man, can vent
his petty malice upon him, can imagine
what court martial composed of such
men would amount to; and just such
board is convened here to try offenders !;
contrary to the rules and regulations OF
war, by which we are presumed to be
governed. Of course it is but human
nature, but you can safely say that
never was the old saying so we'll exempli-
fed, "puta beggar on horseback and he
will ride him to the diel," as here. OF
course there are some few exceptions,
very few. The majority swell up ready
to burst; and in their arrogance and con-
ceit, forget they are nothing but paup-
ers, forget they swore to that fact, when
they became inmates of this home, and
in their dealings with their comrades
treat them like so many dogs. We are
paupers together here. all on one level,
but many of them forget it, and mayhap
it won't hurt some of them to be remind
ed of it, and more especially some who
write for your friend, the Times.
Yours respectfully,
AN OLD SOLDIER.
Pacific Branch National Home for d.
v. s., Los Angeles county, CAL, Novem-
Der A, 1891.
Death of a Distinguished vermonter.
ST. ALBANs, VT, Nov. 6.-Ex-Gover-
nor Gregory Smith, president OF the