The morning call., 1893-05-11
PROBING DEEPER.
Loose Management of the
Veterans Home.
Captain Merriman, Late Command
ant, Tells How Chairmen of Conn
mittees Ordered Supplies.


the management of the Veterans Home
at Yountvile met in the Flood building
last night and continued its labors.
The deeper the committee goes into the
conduct of affairs at the Soldiers Home
the more loose and devoid of business
principles appears to have been the man.
agement.
Chairman Loop, the members, and Gem
eral w. II. L. Barnes, the committees
attorney, were all on hand at the appointed
hour, and after some difficulty a stenogra-
pher was procured.
General Barnes had the following letter
read from Governor Markham:
Jerome DeGsyHsq.. Secretary Of Committee
SIR: Your letter OF May 3, containing tile In
formation that committee had been appointed
from the members OF the Veterans Home AS
SoclatiOn 10 investigate the affairs of the home,
and also requesting me to appoint an attorney
TO represent the State at such investigation
which is 10 take rlaee at room 81, Flood build
ing, May 10. at 80 2. NJ, was received Satur-
day afternoon. Absence at Folsom prevented
ali earlier reply.
Permit me to say am not quite clear in my
mind as to the proprlely OF appointing attOr-
ney 10 represent the State at this Time While
your letter does not disclose the nature of your
investigation other than the "aifairs of the
home" | assume that the newspapers have
stated substantially the objects of this inyeSIi-
CATION that are sufficient Tor all practical pur-
poses-to viii, the defalcation OF Colonel Royce,
The treasurer, and The position OF those sup
posed 10 be responsible for the proIer manage
menI OF The IouDtviIle home.
/ would therefore suggest that rs the com
mlttee has already been appointed fiom among
your own association YOU proceed with said
Investigation, ana when finished, IL deemed ad-
visaOle. The result be reported 10 me with such
suggestions as Ihe committee may MT 10
make. But be assured | rely most implicitly
upon the ability, integrity and earnestuess OF
your committee to render me faithful state
ms nj Qf q "
most unfortunate affair
very grave crime against the State and the
marion has been committed by one WHO had the
confidence of your association, and II Is due To
the old soldiers OF this State al leas that this
matter lie properly investigated and the blame
placed where it justly belongs.
Should anything occur 10 change my mind
and make II seem proper TO appoint an attorney
as suggested l VIII cheerfully do so, but at
present 1 will leave the whole matter In the
committees hands, confidently believing, as |
have said, that its good Judgment Will cause it
TO arrive al correct conclusions upon which my
acts as Governor OF the Stale may be based.
II. Ii. MARKHAM.
After the letter had been read. Captain
Merriman. the late c0mmandant. took the
stand, and testified that he had been COM
mandant from February, 1892, till April
q. 1898.
He was asked what instructions he had
received from the board OF directors when
appointed, and replied only the printed
rules aud regulations.
'Was there any restraint upon any of
the committees regarding the kind or guam
tity of supplies?"
mo, but it was generally understood
that the quality OF the goods should be the
best"
Did you ever take any pains TO inquire
what the prices were of the goods furnished
at other State institutons?"
NO. l knew that we sometimes paid
little more for articles"
rf hr,o g
directors that the invoice prices sent to
you by Root & Sanderson were higher
than current prlces?'
''Som etimes l did"
Ibid you ever address any communica-
tIon 10 the board upon the subject9"
ne, sir, | spoke of the matter in the
board, aDd l was told 1t was none of my
business"
Ibid not your letier-book contain all tie
information possible upon the subject of
the supplies furnished the homeo"
'Yes, sir"
Were any of the supply bills ever paid
by vou?"
"Yes, sir; on little local bills, such as
potatoes, o. K.-ed the bills"
"Was there ever book kept by you of
the effects of soldiers who died?"
mo, sir"
the board OF directors to do SOP"
mo, sir"
HAS there ever been any administration
on the estate of any soldier who died al
the nome 2?
mo, sir"
"Who has charge OF the veterans about
to die ?"
"Dr. Aiken"
Suppose a soldier dies, leaving a gold
watch. 500 in money and clothes-what
would become of them. ?"
They should have been taken charge of
the same as in the army. / did not inter
fese with DIR. Aiken
~ What nnnt did Snny he do s,T with the prOpertyF"
Did you ever require him to make any
report to you"
"No, sir"
Did you ever hear of DIR. Aiken send
ing the money of any dead soldier TO the
board of directorsP'
mo, sir"
HE never conferred with you on the
subject of the disposition of this money ."
No, sir."
"Don't you think IL would be highly
proper and decent when person diving
goes into an hospital that some account
able person should take charge OF his
effeets?"
Eyes, sir"
"Who was it that was annoyed when
you made suggestions about reform in the
matter?"
"The medical director was very much
pained and thought had no power TO
trespass upon his rights"
"Do you know how much business DIR.
Aiken has done at the home as q notary
public"
mo, sir"
"Dc you know that notary public
must file an annual statement of funds
receivedp'
Yes, sir"
"And that from 1891 to 1898 he received
s5l52"
NO, sir; did not know the amount"
As the hour was late the committee ad-
| journed. Captain Nerrimau will be placed
on the stand again and examined on an
| other subject which is now being inYes-
| tlgated.
w. C. Burnett asked leave to say word
and stated that DIR. Aiken had called nj
his office and said he had sent money left
| by deceased veterans TO Defaulter ROyce
10 be sent to relatives ana friends of the
deceased. General Barnes replied that
Defaulter Royce's accounts show no such
thing.
81 suppose you will place Aiken on tho
stand" said Burnett.
''Oh yes" replied General Barnes. 1--WE
think too much of him TO let him go as he
got off up at Yountville."
General Barnes then asked that the
firms of Root & Sanderson aud Thompson
& Beard OF Napa be notified to send repre-
sentatlVeS 10 the next meeting OF the COM
mitiee, as he had some data about prices
upon which he desired TO base few ques-
tions which he would ask of those firms,
maiden dImpled, dainty, fair,
With hazel eyes and crumpled hair,
was asked what the height OF bliss
She promptly answered. ' 'Tis a kiss,
Provided that the kssers wont
Neglect teeth-cIeansing SoZoDoNT"
tsf hxrin fha war mir trl
rested by Officer Boyd on Tuesday, was sent by
Judge Conlan yesterday TO The Boys aud Girls