The morning call., 1894-05-06
HOW SUPPLIES WERE BOUGHT
The, Veterans Home Association
Wrangled.
FIVE DIRECTORS
ELECTED.
e. d. Ham Accused of Pugnacity
recommendations of Which
Members Were ignorant.

A fiery and ardent debate, principally
over the question of purchasing supplies.
took place yesterday afternoon at a meet
ing of the Veterans Home Association.
The members had assembled especially
for the purpose OF electing to vacancies in
the board of directors. Twenty-Five of
them were present. ard when the prosi-
dent. Wellington c. Burnett. called the
meeting to order at 2 o'clock all was friend
ship and harmony. No one appeared to
have an inklng of the fact that E. D..
Ham Of Napa carried in his pockets two
written resolutions that we're to act as
veritable bombshells among the doughty
veterans.
The retiring members of the board of
directors were Samuel Deal, Mexican
Veteran: ". H. H. Hart, Eugene H. Her.
rick. George III. Stevens and III. L. Hob
bert. 1t was also necessary TO elect some
one to complete the two years of office re-
manning of the term of Colonel R0yce
resigned. Captain Deal. NJ. v, was quick
Iy reelected.
Ten nominations were made TO fill the
remaining five vacancies, and after twice
casting an unsuccessful ballot and the
withdrawal of four of the nominees from
the contest the following elections were
made: c. A. Fuller, James A. Garrett. G.
w. Stohl, c. 81. Blinn, j. 3. Barnett. The
latter gentleman was TO fill the unexpred
term of Colonel Royce.
The business of the meeting appeared to
be terminated to every ones satisfaction,
and those present were expectng to dis
band in peace when Z. d. Ham of Napa
rose to his feet and read resolution for
the consideration of the board of directors.
This related to recommendations adopted
49,
Army of the Republic wishing the Vet.
erans' Home Association to make certain
changes.
The greatest excitement was created by
this proposition. Many of the mem hers,
a quickly as they could obtain the floor.
asked for explanations respecting the
Crane Army encampment and all its works.
were so eager to supply that confusion and
cries of ''order" were the result.
Il should like to know what they want
us to do" asked one member.
I'VE cannot change these articles with
out the consent of the Mexican Veterans"
added another.
1t was finally decided that anv immediate
action would be premature, as the adjutant-
general had not communicated the recon-
mendatOns of the Grand Army encamp-
ment to the Veterans Home Association.
and most of the mem bers were in ignorance
of their contents.
1t was finally resolved that when the
sdiutant-general bestirred himself to send
the recommendations they should be
printed and circulated among the mem pers
of the Veterans Home Association and
that special meeting should be called on
the last Saturday In July to consider the
same.
A resolution was then read by E. ID.
Ham tina. supplies for the home should
nofn ha fAr brya
of being bought in this market. contracts
TO be made for six months. He backed
this resolution by speech, in which he
declared: I'm the month of Novem-
ber you paid cents for suga,
that you got for cents when
you advertised. You were giving 81 90
for potatoes, and yet they were selling in
open market for 20 cents. l cast no re-
fiections, but man who goes to Tom,
Dick and Harry for supplies cannot give
satisfaction. Ii we do not inaugurate this
change it will be forced upon us by the
Legislature"
discussion followed, and Marcns D.
Hyde, having finally obtained the floor
openly charged Z. ID. Ham of stirring up
strife whenever he attended meeting,
adding: "Translated into plain English.
he has charged the contracting committee
with corruption. OF my personal knowi-
edge | know his statements 10 be incorrect
| know they have gone from house to
house in this city and have cut down on
current prices. He says they have not
done this because they are not paid. Who
do you take those gentlemen TO be ?"
This last question was asked fiercely,
and E. ID. Ham Immediately responded to
it by saying hat Directors Fuller ami Ar
buckle had done their duty nObly. but
he added darkly. there are Others, fear,
may get on that committee"
tsrThat'r IN % rnarpd Mr. Hvda
YES" cried Mr.. Ham, "it is. There
was S133 difference in the groceries one
month"
I'm what year?"
when you were managingw shouted
the gentleman who had been accused OF
pugnacty. "You gave S4 80 for flour and
paid your own freight. and the very next
month they got i for 81 05, freight paid"
These challenges Mr. Hyde was unable
at the moment to reply to other than by a
deiisive laugh, for G. w. Arbuckle got
the floor and urged giving the veterans
good rather than merely cheap food.
who is going to supervise the con-
tractor?" he asked. "We do not want to
feed our old soldiers as we do idiots and
criminals. / plead that you develop in
this assembly honest men who will give
good food 10 the veterans"
Samuel Deal then spoke OF the canteen
evil. Il am not" be said, "a temperance
advocate, but l believe the old soldier,
when he does drink, should have good
liquor, and that canteen has been shame
fully mismanaged."
Action on e. ID. Hams resolution was
deferred until the adjourned meeting.