The morning call., 1894-09-07
ADVERSE CRITICISM AROUSED

Inc Hgntlng spirit In an old soldier is un-
cOnquerable, and from all indicat ons con-
tagious as well. The soldiers home at
10untVille was designed to be, and in
some respects is, the most peaceful spot
on earth, but the fighting spirit still
t1ourishes, and in this particular instance
has taken complete hold of the board
directing the destinles of the institution.
This picturesque retreat for aged and
disabled veterans of many a hard fought
battle is a STATE inst tuition maintained at
the expense of the groaning Taxpayer, and
In every particular its management and
routine are supposed to be as open as day
to those WHO wish TO investigate. Theo-
retically this is correct, but as a matter of
cold truth the directors from time imme-
mortal have been as silent as the tomb
when the inside workings were sought to
be looked into, and on the contrary as talk
ative as parrots when questioned as to the
number of inmates, monthly expenses and
acreage SURROUNDING the buildings.
And so when it was announced on
Wedn esday last that the commandant, g.
II. A. Dimpfel, had suddenly and uneX-
pectedly handed in his resignation, to take
effect Immediately, several members of
the board lived up religiously to its time
hOnored custom and prOfessed to know
nothing whatever of the causes leading up
to the meteOric drawing out of Colonel
Dimpfel as head of the inst tuition. He
was enjoying good health and drawing his
salary regularly and promptly, but sud
denly and without warning or apparent
reason be resigned and Medical Adviser
McAllister was temporarily installed as
cOmmandant until the board at its next
meeting appointed some one permanently
to fill the position. The affair. as might
be expected. created a good deal of sur
prise, and speculation was rife as TO the
probable cause and INSIDE facts" Secre-
tdry j. j. Scovlle knew that the resigna-
tion had been presented by Colonel DimD-
fel and was expected by President Bur-
nett, but OF the why's" and "wherefores"
he knew nothing. He was simply carry
ing out the aforementioned and moth
eaten tradition.
AS matter of fact the causes leading
up TO the retirement OF the commandant
have been well known for several months
although not officially communicated. The
board OF directors, or such of its members
as have attended the meetings, followed,
OF course, by an executive session. have
been aware that the conduct of the head
official at the home was not calculated 20
assist him in enforcing discipline or prom
erly administering the affairs of the insti-
tuition. He had at one time occupied the
position of captain and storekeeper in the
ICSuldl dLLy5 ANU dS Ou6 VI lIlS directors
expresses II, had acquired habits of con-
viz viality, which he found some difficulty
In overcoming. This state of affairs was
brought strongly into notice about three
months ago, when Director Currier ascer-
tanned through personal observation that
the cOmmandant on one occasion was not
at himself, so to speak, and displayed too
much familiarity with the SOnoma County
vintages. At that time several members
of the board urged that COmmandant
Dimpfel be replaced, but his friends among
the directors succeeded in holding him in
spite of all opposition.
While tue fact is not definitely known,
and will not be until Sunday next when
the board meets, it is stated on reliable
authority that the directors who insisted
upon shielding Dimpfel three months ago
were the ones who urged or compelled him
TO present his resignation at this time.
"They were not ready to appoint sue
cessor at that time" said a gentleman
familiar with the affair, ''but now tina they
have found man suitable to themselves,
and they appear TO be in the majority, they
have sprung the resignation a few days
before the directors meeting. The board
is unequally divided on many points and,
of course, the appoin tment of a comman-
dant is an ImpOlta undertaking."
The remarks concerning the division of
the board, upon investigation, prove to be
founded On fact. There are said to be
eight Republicans and three Democrats,
but whether this is the real cause Tor
division is not known. Certain it is, how
ever, that a harmOniZlng unanmity of
opinion has Got existed for some time
past. Matters have not been helped in
the least within the last few days, when
The minority ascertalned that the name Of
+. K. Upham of Berkeley, formerly of
San jose, had been slated by the majority
to succeed Dimpfel as commaudant. Up
ham is retired army officer, drawing a
salary from Nhe United States Govern
ment, and is a member Of the Loyal Le-
giou. He was also an applicant for ap-
pointment as governor of the National
Soldiers Home at Santa Monica, but for
number of reasons was not successful.
These reasons, it is limited, will be urged
against him at the coming meeting of the
board.
There appears to be decided opposition
among certain directors tn the appointment
of retired army officer tN the post OF COM
mandant at Yountyil!e. 1t is being urged
that there are many well-edueated, active
and competent volunteers in the ranks Of
the Grand Army OF the Republic who are
fully qualified to fill the position and
should receive recogn tion. The salary is
q fair one, but when it is added to the pay
allowed by the Government to retired
army officerss it reaches an amount too
large to please the minority.
They claim that some deserving volun-
tser should reap the benefit, and argue
from statistic that the old soldiers at the
home are more liable to receive kindly
treatment NJ the hands of one of their
comrades tan from regular army men,
who are claimed to be too exacting in
discpline for the comfort of the veterans.
I'VE intend to oppose the appointment
of Upham,' said one of the directors
yesterday, land we shall strongly urge the
selection Of volunteer sol iier for the post
of cODmandant. There is, and has been,
too much wire-pulling among the board of
directors, and the sudden retirement of
Colonel Dimpfel plainly proves my asser-
ton. UphaIn was MT deemed satisfactory
TO conduct the National Home at Santa
Monica, aud | see no reason why we
should pick him up, more especially when
he is already drawing a good salary. Sun
days meeting will bring out the facts"
In the meantime the rival factions are
working quietly and laying in copious
quantities of ammunition to be discharged
at the YOuntv lie meeting.