St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-07-29
TWENTY-FIVE DISCHARGED.
AND TOLD TO EARN A LIVING
DURING THE SUMNER
MONTHS.
NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS
Received by Governor CIough-
Trustee John Gilman
Talks.

Dictated their displeasure in so Wig
orous a style that Gov. Clough has
heard it, and it is entirely probable
that something of an investigation
will result. The trouble is over the
dismissal from the home of twenty
five or more old soldiers, whom the
authorities concluded could make a
living for themselves. The discharge
is nothing more than a forced fur
Tough, for the men can come back
and be reinstated in the home when
the winter comes, or if it is ap-
parent that they cannot earn a liv-
ing.
At the meeting of the board of
trustees, held several months ago, it
was decided to have REORGANIZATION
OF all the inmates of the home. The
institution was not crowded at the
time. There had bee something
over 400 inmates in the home lin
midwinter, but good many of these
had gone away, as is common with
the coming of spring. While all
the inmates of the home had been
subjected to the regular eXamina-
ton when they were admitted, ex-
perience had shown that it would be
we'll to be little more careful and
particular. Some of those who were
admitted to the home as single men
were subsequently discovered to have
matrimonial alliance. Then there
were others, who, after admission
to the home, ventured out into the
world and got married. Half a
dozen casds Of this kind had oc-
Cured within the last six months.
Some of the inmates who have thus
been discharged regard it as a hard
ship and an injustice, and have COM
planned to the governor.
| Congressman Loren Fletcher, who
takes quite an interest in the old
! soldiers, has also been seen in re-
| gard to the matter. This and other
things will be considered at the an
| home, which will be held in this city
in two weeks. The law under which
! the home was established provides
| that all Union soldiers, sailors and
marines who participated in the War
of the Rebellion, and who, through
wounds received in the war or from
other causes, are physically unable
to make a living, are entitled to adj
mission to the home. It seems to be
the opinion of the trustees that a
good many of the veterans who have
! been at the home are yet all right
| physically, and are therefore not
properly eligible to live at the home.
When the board directed the COM
| mandant and the surgeon to make
a new examination of all the inmates
OF the home there was no objection
to the proposition. 1t is thought that,
Notwithstanding the grumbling of
some Of those who have been dis
charged after the new examination,
| and the criticism Of some of those
who were not personally affected by
the action, the trustees at their an
nual meeting will conclude that that
examination and the attending re-
! suits are all right. Some of the in
mates of the home are quite severe
in their criticism of the officers in
charge. They say that things are
run with a high hand, and that Com
mandant Mcmillan and Surgeon
Greenlee are exceedingly arbitrary
| Some of the inmates communicated
these impressions to the trustees
| some months ago and an inquiry
was Instituted. The inquiry was not
a searching one, probably for the
reason that the trustees put very
little credence in the complaints.
NO ONE TESTIFIED.
The substance of the charges
against the officers of the institution
was stated, and every inmate in the
institution given a chance to come
forward to testify in regard to the
matter. But none of the veterans
seemed disposed to say anything to
the trustees, and the matter was
dropped.
A week ago Gen. Averill, inspector
Of national soldiers homes, visited
Minneapolis, and spent couple of
days at the soldiers home. The gen
eral had visited the institution be-
fore several times, and he declared
it one Of the best managed homes
| 49, IiAO OOOIiI4 LII leCl, II Is So1U
that Gen. Averill said that the Min
nesota home was conducted better
than any other state home in the
country. Some of the men who are
dtspleased with securing an sun
sought furlough thought that the
new departure was due to Gen. Av-
Grill. They thought that the general,
after sizing up the inmates pretty
carefully, concluded there were quite
a number of men in the institution
who were as able-bodied as ever,
and believed they should be required
to try and make their own living,
The government is specially inter
ested in these state soldiers homes
for the reason that it pays the state
500 a year for every old soldier cared
for in the home. 1t would, therefore.
be to the interest of the general gov
eminent to have the managers of the
state homes particular as to who they
| admitted, SO that the number of in
mates might be kept down to the mini
mum. So far as can be learned. how
ever, Gen. Averill had nothing what
ever to do with the new departure.
The trustees had determined upon a
new examination of the inmates be-
LCfe Ten AFer1lI had visited the home
this year, and the action was entirely
independent of anything the general
said Gen. Averill was of the opinion.
though, that the plan of having a new
and careful examination of the in
mates was an excellent one In regard
to the complaints and criticisms John
Gilman, of Minneapolis, a member OF
the board of trustees of the homo.
says:
1T would be impossible to run that
institution so that all the inmates
and their friends would be satisfied.
We are doing the very best we can fer
the comfort of the inmates. and the
same time keep in mind the interests
OF the state. Last winter there were
over 400 inmates in the home. Now
there are about 26o No man who car,
not DO work will be turned away fror->
the home. The twenty-five or morc
who have been discharged since the
new examination was r.adfe. are
Thoughts TO be able to go oHs tbs KIND