Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-08-17
THE HOMES OFFICERS.
Men Who Have Charge Of Affairs at
Soldiers Home.
Competent and Reliable. the Business Goes
On With clockwork Regularity.

ToGus, Aug. l6.-(SpeciaD-If anyone
has the idea, that the officials of the Sol
diers Home have a sinecure in the posi-
tions they hold, they are much mistaken.
General Luther Stephenson, the present
governor of the Home, has held this posi-
ton for over IL years. When he came
here the average number of members was
about 900 now the average number will
not fall far short of 1900, an increase of 100
per cent, bringing a corresponding increase
in his official duties.
When he enters upon his duties in the
morning, all reports upon matters con-
nectsd with the running of the Home, re-
ceive his careful attention. All matters
connected with the discipline of the Home
are attended to personally by him.
When you understand that every ittm of
business receives his personal attention,
you can still have no adequate idea of the
office business. His private secretary, Geo.
A. Mitchell, attends to correspondence and
other duties incident to his position.
Courteous and gentlemsnly, he is general
favorite here.
The main bulk of the official business
at headquarters is, however, under the I'M
mediate and personal charge of the adult
ant, F. c. Goodwin, veteran of Battery ID,
| st r. |. Artillery. He received four or
five very severe wounds at the battle of
Winchester, Sept. 10, 1864. Has been in
the gresent position over Is years and
knows more men personally than any other
man here. He has four men, all veterans,
as his office force and the amount of work
performed is enormous, comprising as il
does, every detail connected with the admis-
sion, discharge, furlough or other change
made by each member.
Since Gen. Stephenson came here, head
quarters building, Co. G's quarters, the
of commissary of subsistence, the new
laundry building, chapel, Opera house, rsil-
road pas ssenger station, and two barns have
been built, previous to the present year.
This year the Keeley club house, new
boiler house and other additions have been
or are being built. All these buildings,
all these improvements have been com
pleted under his supervision. If you think
he is not a busy man, follow him for one
day and then say enough
The services of Mrs. Wheeler at head
quarters are almost invaluable. She is
,tenographer, typewriter, telegraph opera
tor, and attends to the telephone. She has
been here over five years. and is thorough
ly at home in her position.
Major John d. Anderson, the treasurer
of the Home, has held his present position
for over five years, coming from Augusta,
Me-, when he was United States pension
agent under President Cleveland's first adj
| ministration. The volume of business in
his office is very large.
The general expenses of the Home are
over $3.50, coo per year, under the follow
heads Current expense, subsistence, cloth
ing, household, hospital, transportation
construction and farm. Subsistence is the
| largest, amounting to over 100000 per
year; this being for food alone. The re-
mainder is divided among the other differ
| ent heads, and varies somewhat, according
| to circumstances, as for instance, construc.
ton may be much larger one year than an
other.
There is paid ont in pensions through the
reasurer over S200,0O0 per year, and il
would surprise you to know how large a
percentage of this is sen4away to the fami.
les of members. Mr.. Henry Pishon OF
| Augusta, is chief clerk and acts as pay mas
| ter upon occasion.
The office force is composed of six
clerks, all veterans, and all men who are
capable of filling good positions, but they
| are growing too old to compete with the
young and hustlipg element found in bust.
| ness centres, today.
Captain Aug. l.. Smith is commissary OF
subsistence and quartermaster. All the
business of the Home outside of pensions
passes through his office, and when you re-
member that there are 1900 men to feed
md clothe, new men coming in all the
time, clothing to be issued every week and
the daily needs of all these men to be
| looked after you may be assured that the
captain is busy man. His Office COM
prises Lieut. w. S. Oskman, com. sergt.
Lieut. J. w. Newton, Q. NJ. Sergt. w. b.
Finch, C. S. Sturdy and Theodore Kunz
all veterans, and all at home in their
places.
Thus in brief is given faint idea of the
official duties of the officers of the home
| They are all busy men.
The medical stsff is also busy, having an
average of about $50 men in hospital and
| an average of 80 daily from quarters at sur.
geon's call. DR.. Elwelrs and his assistants
time is fully occupied.
Ex Police Commissioner VIM. H. Lee OF
Boston, with three friends, were receiving
the courtesies of the Home, Wednesday, al
the hands of the governor.
| Visitors are numerous and Togus is at ts
| best
Captain Dick Gobell of Co. c is back
from short pleasure trip. He has an en-.
tirely new repertoire of stories and can fill
your ear almost any time.
Total number on morning report, 1881.
In hospital $50. General health very
good, indeed.
rnY rMofIHn Yappcc