The morning call., 1892-08-07
VETERAN SOLDIERS HOME.
The Directors of the Y0untyilIe
Institution Meet.
Flourishing Canteen-A Suggestion as to
Curios-Comrades With Grisvances-Ths
Case Of Patrick McGonigls.

a meeting Of the board of directors OF
the Veterans Home Association was held
at their hea dqnarters. room 81, Flood build.
ing, yesterday afternoon. Those present
were: w. c. Burnett, William j. Ruddick.
Samuel Deal. Z. Z. X. Royce, Z. ID. Ham,
w. III. II. Hart and NJ. d. Hyde. Vice
President Burnett occupied the chair, Presi-
dent Waymire coming in an hour later, but
In season to decide point Of order.
communication was received from d.
Lubins chairman of the historical commit
tee of the State Fair, inviting the assoeia-
ton to exhibit its archives, original dOcu-
ments, curios, pictures of founders of the
home. at the State Fair to be held in Saera-
mento next month. The communication
was ordered filed, after a few flashes Of
levity in which suggestions were made that
among the curios an exhibition might be
made OF the old soldiers.
A communication from Fl. Moore, men,
Der Of the home, was read. Mr. Moore is
employed as cook, ana asked that his
compensation of 20 cents per diem be in>
creased 10 $50 month.
RAISED HIS PAY.
On motion of Judge Ham the pay of Mr..
Moore was fixed at 30 cents per diem, thas
being considered sufficient remuneration
for frying ham and eggs at YOuntviIle.
the death OF the f0lowing-named mem bers:
David Mitchell. July 13; Charles Blum,
July %; Robert c. Buzan, Augusta; Thomas
OConnor, Augusta
An honorable discharge was ordered
granted to an ex-member named John
Ulhoss. Mr.. Ulhoss had dropped away
from the freside without asking leave Of
absence. This is a proceeding he never
pursued In the field. During the war he
would have scorned TO ask his captain for q
leave of absence.
Treasurer Royce reported that there was
money on hand to pay all bills incurred
prior to July l. He also said there would
be surplus in the treasury II Uncle Sam
and California would pay their back dues.
The buildings and grounds committee re-
ported that the last payment had bean
made on the erection of the canteen, which
had cost 1898; also that the institution
was already on paying basis. Director
Hobbert subsequently reported that the
canteen was doing fOuriShing bar trade,
having cleared $40 a day profit since the
suspicious day of its opening. The machine
which says, "this is the amount of your
purchase" had registered S211 in Is days.
striking feature of the traffic at the can
teen was the demand for steam beer The
veteran members had bias for this Grade
OF malt liquor. There was also quite a run
on tobacco and certain brand Of cigars.
THE INMATES AT THE HOME.
The commandant of the home reported
416 members in the home. II sick in quar-
tiers. 40 in the hospital and 10 absent with
out leave.
The stage having been reached where the
comrade-dIrectorS call IN the comrade tANR
bers the veterans in waiting came in one at
time to recite their grievances. The first
ushered in was Private McGonigIe The
old man, with the diamond dust of age on
his stubby beard, told his tale of woe He
had walked the streets and slept he did not
know where and even then lad food
hunger. The record showed that he had
been discharged twice for drunkenness and
INSTRUMENTATION.
Judge Ham of Napa, director and CON-
rade OF MeGonige's, told how the suffering
veteran had come TO him and represented
that he only wanted enough financial aid to
enable him to pay his ferryage, how he had
provided the snDpliant with the needed
sum and how lie had followed him into
Napa beer joint to discover TO his horror
MeGonlgle dumping schooner of steam
beer into his arid esophagus.
COmraGe-Direct0r w. 81. Fl. Hart sug-
gested loosely that McGonige when he
wanted money to pay his fare FROM NaDa
intended 10 take a schooner.
Treasurer {. h. K Royce contributed his
mite of experience of McGOnigle's iniouity
as an unworthy c0nfiiant in matters which
appealed 10 his spirit of war comradeship,
whereupOn it was unanimously resolved
that the hospitality OF the Y0uutville Home
should hereafter be denied to the old and
MGoNIGLE's WAR RECORD.
As though recoiling from their stern de.
cree, one OF the directors then asked Nc
Gonigle about his war record.
i have been 10 years in the service, SIR"
he replied Three years in the Second
United States Artillery, six years in the
navy and one year On board the revenue
cutter Lincoln"
Such protraeted sacrifice on the land
and on the sea Of McGonigle's leisure in
time OF war and peace seemed to Inspire
his comrades on the board with a fresh
sense OF their obligations to him, and they
releuted from their stern decree so far as to
direct that he be provided with a suite of
rooms at the What Cheer caraYansary until
such time as Governor Treichel of the
Natlona! Soldiers Home at Santa Monica is
able to take him in.
James ORlley was the second applicant
for relief. He, too, was an old man, dis
charged Tor beating a cOmrade with his fist
Mr.. y Riley was not asked about the sieges
In which he had spread wars wide desola-
ton. A point of order was raised by
Comrade-Director NJ. ID. Hyde as to the
propriety OF listening to one side of great
truth. He thought it was inimical to the
discipline OF the institution to send recreant
members back to the home without first
hearing what the cOmmandant had to saw
as well as the dismissed veteran. 1t was
ultimately decided that Mr. 0'RiIey should
establish his headquarters at the What Cheer
House until Comrade- Director Ruddek had
interviewed Major Merrlman, the COM
mandant.
After hearing two other trivial complaints.
accepting the resignation of Comrade-
director Royce from the executive commit
tee and electlng Judge Ham 10 the vacancy,
the board. on motion OF Mr.. Hyde, dropped
into the oblivion Of an executive session.