The morning call., 1893-08-20
WINED THE BOYS.
How the Veterans Home
Got It's Money.
MERRIMANS PECULIAR BILL.
Director DeaIe and the Ex-Command-
ant Indulge in Threats and Nearly
Come to Blows.

Director Deale of the Veterans Home
Association is a venerable old gentleman
who persistently dresses In solemn black,
and cultivates bunch of chin whiSkers.
which have grown white. As TO his upper
lip, he is clean shavsn as woman. In
spite of his years the captain is as belliger.
ant as pugilist, and he demonstrated this
fact last night at the meeting held at 32C
Sansome street. 1t all grew oat of claim
made By Captain MerrimaD, eX-command-
ant of the Yountvile Home, for services
alleged to have been rendered when the
bill to appropriate money for the main
tenance of the home was before the Legis-
lature last winter.
Before the meeting was called TO order
Captain Deale intimated that there was to
be trouble and openly asserted that he
could prove, among other things, that
money had been used openly to buy votes
at the home. and that this fact had become
so notorious in Napa County that 1t had
grown to be scandal. He for one was
tired of it all and proposed to expose
crookedness wherever be could IND II.
When at last the meeting got under way
and the Merriman claim was brought up
for con sidpration the fighting director
planted himself firmly upon his feet and
declared it to be his intention to fight the
thing to the bitter end.
''This bill is fraudulent" he shouted,
growing very red in the face, land if it is
allowed by this board l will swear out an
injunction to prevent its payment"
Il ask that you go into executive session
to consider this matter, as there are
q Dumber of things / should like to ex-
plain privately TO the comrades present" 3"
suggested Captain Merriman.
"NO Won don't. HoU can't cOme anv
such game as that" yelled Director Deae
81 want the world to know what is done
here and | object to star-chamber pro-
ceedings."
There was no motion for an executive
session and the captain started in like a
cyclone.
al repeat" he said. "that this bill is an
outrage and this board has no right 10
allow it. In the first place Captain Merri-
man had no right to leave his place at the
home TO go to Sacramento to act as lobby
ist, and if he die we have no right to pay
him for 1t out of the money allowed us by
the people. Beyond that. Captain Merri-
man told me no later than last night that
there was no 5000 item of this kind in his
statement. and after the meeting in these
rooms he followed me up the street and to
bind what he said tod me that if Major
Graham made such a charge it was lie 20
Il made no such statement to you, sirp'
ckimed in MerriInan.
Il say you did, and if you deny it you
state what you know to be untrue"
Don't talk to me in that way or ="
-'Pll talk to you worse than that if you
don't quit interrupting me, and If the chair
don't stop you. / will" and the captains
white beard fairly curled with rage as he
advanced toward Merriman with his fist
clenched.
81 don't believe that this board owes
you cent and l want to know right here
by what authority 5000 was taken out of
the canreen fund and put in your pocket
under the preteXt that il was TO pay for
ge} Glg bill through the Legislature.
ST 'aYgain that it Is an outrage and you
2lniw it. ], defy this board to allow any
such bill"
Captain Merriman arose to explain. He
said in nervous tone: II was sent to
Sacramento by Colonel Royce to work for
the Oil, and before going consulted with
Directors HYDE and Hart, who thought
should go. / spent more than 5000. but
that is all L charged
But how was this money expended 81
oueried Director Arbuckle. ''Of course
We all know that it costs money to secure
legislation, but 1t seems to me you could
give us an idea OF what became of the
money"
"Well," hesitated Merriman, 81 calculate
that it cost me at least SIS for wine and
cigars for the member of the Legislature
and then | stayed up all of one night
entertaining the engrossing clerks to keeE
bsttOm of the heap. I ou gentlemen kno "
that ii man who tries to do those things
can't sit around like a bump on a log, and
he has to treat the boys pretty we'll"
That's ali nice to talk about. but il
don't 90 down with me-" shouted Captain
Desle, who glared at Merriman.
Captain Deale. you are an older man
than | am but
Il may be older. but am able to take
care of myself. Ii you don't stop your
threats I'll settle it with you right mere
and I'm not bit afrsid of the result"
'Come to order, gentlemen" gasped the
chair, with severe look. II cannot sit
here and c0untenance such proceedings" ="
well. then. you make this man stop his
talk, for if you don't l WILL; and [ will
add right here that il Captain Merriman
says anything more I'll hold him To per-
sonaI account inside or outside of this meet.
ing"
A panied expression crep: over the ex-
commandant's face as he relapsed into
meditative silence and sank back in hi:
chair with sigh.
Director Arbuckle essayed the role oi
peacemaker.
''If Captain Merriman can show" he
urged, that he went to Sacramento at the
suggestion OF certain members of this
board to assist in securing the passage oil
this bill, and in doing so incurred expenses
to the amount of $500. /. for one, think he
should be reimbursed. At the same time,
l believe the bill should be itemiZsd, and
dislike to vote to allow IL otherwise"
There was more wranging and then a
vote was taken which resulted: Ayes
Arbuckle, Hyde, Herrick and Stevens
noes-Burnett and Deale.
5urnett in voting explained that he
voted no because he did not and could not
behave that the board to whose care was
iptrusted the money given by the people
nad any right to vote it away to any ooe
LOT actlng as lobbyist in securing it.
''Al right, gentlemen, have it your way.
out just remember that I'll have an in
Junction out early Monday morning" and
Captain Deale rushed out leaving { te other
members OF the board TO 90 into five
minutes executive session and adjourn.