The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-01

viding that whereas certain complaints
have been made against the state BOARD
of soldiers relief regarding the Soldiers
Home at Bristol, therefore IL was ex-
pedient TO appoint committee of three
20 Investigate the management OF the
Soldiers Home.
Mr.. &. III. Wilson wanted to know
what the bill was about.
Mr. Owen said it was generally known
that there had been great complaint
about the Home by the soldiers and that
these complaints bad gone unnotlced
la the first place it was necessary in
order to get into the Home TO declare
that they are wholly destitute, IN other
words TO declare themselves paupeIs.
That WIS certainly not the Intention of
the, founders OF the institution, as he
understood it,
The second complaint related to the
unnecessarily sever restrictions upon the
liberty OF the soldiers. Rules of course
were necessary, but they should be some-
what liberal in cases OF this Hi I'd.
The third point related To the pensions.
According TO the regulations now in
force all soldiers had to make
over their pensions TO the home
before they entered. This regulation
has since been amended so that
$40 per month is allowed. Mr.. Owen
thought this might not be unconstitu-
tional, but IL certainly was contrary TO
tuition. The state board OF relief now
received $1,000 from the government, and
he thought the soldiers ought to have
their pensions Tor their own use.
1. "A. Wilson said that as far as he was
concerned he thought that tue mem bers
were IN ignorance in regard to the act,
and he moved that, in order TO get time
TO look into the matter, IL be made the
special order for W ednesday next at 1l:30
Mr.. Owen said he had no objection 10
such action. lie bad introduced the bill
at tue suggestion OF many old oldiers
and wanted plenty OF time TO consider it,
The motion was passed
The Investigation OF the Soldiers
Home asked for by the above resolution
was prompted by number OF aflidavits
received by Mr.. Owen, from which two
extracts are given below, The afiidavits
declare that the soldiers are ill-treated in
many ways and that there is no cultiva-
tion OF home lite or social comforts at the
Institution.
Joseph ,. Coville asserts that he was
an inmate of he home. AT the temper
ary home in Wexford he was compelled
20 surrender mis- pension Ger, ificate. In
1892 his pension was raI,ei TO Sl2 90 per
month and back pay of 500 was due TO
him. lie applied TO the managers OF the
nome Tor his original certificate in order
TO have it cancelled aud get his new
papers. His request was refused In yio-
latlon says the affidavit of the amend
ment to Section 4, 7I5 L. ;. w. ;. approved
Feb. 2s, 1888. Mr. Osborne United
states pension official demanded and re-
ceiyed the original certificate.
AT night" as -efts MIR. Covell 81 was
summoned To ap car before Charles :.
Gray, chairman Ui the soldiers board of
relief lie informed me that the SlOO be
longcd To the home and II did not give
II To the home / must leave on n dishon-
orable DISCHARGE. plead, q that had
very sick wife and quite old aud de
pendent, but OF nu uss. | must leave the
home or give up tue money. | am IS
years ola aad am out Of the bomel"
To whom Il may concern:
May u be known that ! Owen Kelly wa. dis
charged from the knoie Island soldiers Home Tor
reasons unknown TO me. That now live ia a
shanty on reen farm. have no money only what
so am Grippe caused BY service In tie voius-
,sry service oi tue Ats war. have an
that my condition and position wln only bo made
worse if / Try 10 enter the Rhode Isl.nd soldiers
called 70 tne Home once aud threatened 10 5e
Kicked out OF the hume ~ reported again. do not
kicKed out Of the home demanded a discharge.
The wesson Post Oiice Stamp Manu-
featuring Company had its charter
au.euded so as 10 allow it TO construct "A
street railway la Westerly aud Hopkin-
ton, X. l., under the name OF the Pave a
tuck Valley Railroad Compa ny.
Other BiIis Acted On.
An act to authorize the Peoples Savings
Bank TO hold real estate with certain re
strictions was passed. An act TO incor-
porate the Sakonnet Steamboat Com
pany was passed. The act 10 extend the
une IN which the X W estern Rail
road Company is 20 be allowed
To complete It's road was extend.
ed TO Jan. I, 1896 The act TO
INCORPORATE the Johu ID. Sawyer Com
pany was passed. Act 10 change the
name OF the American Telephone ald