The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-12-31
R. |. SOLDIERS HOME
Charges Against the Management Of
Commander Hall.
ALL THE CHARGES DENIED.
A Petition Sent to q. A. X. Posts Alleging
That The Inmates Are Treated Like
Paupers and Criminals and That Their
Liberty is CurtaiI ed-The Investigation

Those persons who called to see Gov.
Brown or Adj Gen. Dyer yesterday, were
informed that they were not in but no
information as to their whereabouts was
forthcoming. 1t has since transpired
that the Board of Managers of the Sol
diers Home at Bristol, was holding an
Investigation of The management of the
home and this was where the two officials
mad gone.
A week ago last Thursday Department
Commander ID. S. Day of the G. A X. of
Rhode Island communicated to the board
OF managers of the home a petition, which
had been sent to Lawton Post of Newport
by one~&enjamin Foster and sixty in
mates Of the institution, alleging that the
Commander Benjtmia l.. Hall, had been
guilty or msmanagement, aud they had
been treated more like criminals and
paupers" than deserving veterans OF the
war. 1t was charged in the petition that
they had been deprived of tneir liberty.
aud had been scantily supplied with
clothing.
Tbs.board of managers, consisting of
Gov. Brown. Adjt. Gen. Dyer, Messrs.
Gcorge 4. Cranston, Andrew McMahon,
George Hendricks, Heury C. Luther.
Charles Z. Gray, and Philip 5. Chase,
secretary, went To the home yesterday and
publicly questioned many of tue In
ma es, especially those who considered
that they had grievances against the
Commander. An attempt WAS made 10
get the written statements of the dis
contented ones aud of the sixty who
signed the petition only five were willing
10 place their names To such a complaint
aud 10 was ascertained that nearly all of
the sig ers of the petition thought they
were signing petition to have their full
pensions restored, These pensions
amount to So or IS per month and accord
ing to the regulations when veteran
becomes an inmate of the Home he agrees
TO forfeit all but - per month, the sur
plus to go toward the expense of maiu-
tanning the home.
III has also been ascertained that Beu-
Jamin Foster, who seems to have instigat-
ed the charges. became an inmate of the
Bristol Home about YEAR ago. He en-
listed in April, 1861 and while on his
way TO the front with his regiment acci-
dentally shot himself in the hip with
his revolver. He was honorably dis
charged on account of this wound which
rendered him Incapable OF service. When
he entered the Home he claimed to have
enlisted three times which, however. the
records OF the adjutant general failed 10
snow.
When the inmates were called together
and those who had grievances were
asked 20 rise, nineteen OF them got up
aud when those who considered that the
management OF the Hone was what it
should be were also asked to rise about
seventy were immediately on their feet.
The investiga ion yesterday was there ore
devoted entirely TO listening To complaints
but there was nothing induced which
was OF conclusive character. One man
claimed that he had not had sufficient
CLOTHES I'd inquiry shove that he was %
big that clothing could not be bought to fit
him and some delay had been caused by
necessary alterations. Others who claim
ed that they had not sufficient clothing
admitted that they were not careful in
the use Of it,
The investigation will be continued
Jan. 10, when the remaining discontented
ones Will be given an opportunity TO be
heard. aud then Coinman Ter Hall and
the officers of the institution will state
their defence. Commander Hall was seen
by a NEWS reporter this morning and
stated that at tue end of the investi CATION
h. would be fully vindicated in his man
agement of the Home.