The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-16
BLUE KICKS UP BLUE BLAzES.
THE SUPERINTENDENT OF 4 SOL
DIERS' HOME GIVEN FITS.

ment Institution at LeavenvOrth.
Kan. Alleged - GEN Franklin
Called on TO Resign From the
Board of GOvernOrs-Beer Guz-
Hing and shady Financiering.
Washington, April 15.-In the House to-
day Mr.. Bartlett. dem. Of Georgia report
ed the views OF the minority Of elections
committee No. ]. upon the contested cleo
zion case of Goodwin VS.. Cobb, from the
Fifth Alabama district, and they were
ordered printed.
Mr.. Bell. dem. Of Texas called up the
unanimous report Of elections committee
No. g. in the case Of Norman VS. Lat
timer. from the Third district OF South
Carolina. recommending the adoption Of
resolutions declaring Norman not elected
and Lattimer. dem. entitled TO the seat
held by him. The report was agreed 10,
and the resolutions were adopted.
After an hour spent in considering pri-
vate bills Mr.. Hull, rep, of Iowa called
up the joint resolution providing for the
election OF four governors OF the board in
charge of the national soldiers homes, 10
succeed those whose terms expire the pres
ent month. The resolution includes Gen.
W. B. Franklin of Connecticut 10 succeed
himself, Gen. T. J. Henderson Of Illinois
TO succeed Gen. John c. Black; Gen
George W. Steele Of Indiana. to succeed
himself. and Gen. George L. Beal Of
Maine, to succeed Francis Fessenden-
Mr.. HUI said that Mr. Blue, rep, Of
Kansas. desired to discuss the resolution,
and endeavored TO come TO some under
standing with him regarding the limit OF
debate.
pers. said he held in his hand a number
oh rrrin
the man Smith, governor or the sohlers
home at Leavenworth, for whom he was
responsible. with brutal and oppressive
treatment of inmates Of the LeaVenworth
home. He thought that the House would
hear what he had to say in behal1 OF the
1900 Kansas veterans incarcerated IN that
Mr.. Hull had suggested that the debate
DE limited to two hours, but AFTER Mr;
consent that 1t go on without limitation
Before beginning the discussion Mr..
Blue moved that the name OF Gen. FRANK
lin be struck out of the joint resolution
and that of that splendid soldier and no
bic Christian, Gen. Q. o. Howard De IN
serted. He had read a portion Of Senator
Plumb's remarks in the Senate six years
ago in which he advised that no man be
reelected as a member of the board OF
managers after having served full term
of six years. He then called attention TO
the fact that If he were in that place when
Gen. Franklin's term had expired, ne
some other man. The condition which
Senator Plumb described six years ago,
said Mr.. Blue, had become intensified, and
now, even more than then, was Gen.
Franklin the dominating spirit OF the
board. II had been charged, ne said, that
his opposition TO Franklin ana SInltn was
based upon personal grounds. This, he de-
MED, saying that his fight against them
was born of a desire only TO relleVe men
from the oppression of the drunken and
brutal governor. and secure for them such
treatment as should be accorded 70 men
who gave their best services in defense g, OF
to lay bare the facts. let the consequences
be what they might.
Mr.. Steele rep, of Indiana-Does the
gentleman say that the governor, Smith,
has been drunk within the past three
years2
vomiting, crawling drunk.
Mr. Steele-It is my understanding that
he is the head of the National Kelley
League, elected at Harrisburg last year.
Mr. Blue-Yes, for profit. He receives
100 a year as head of the league and
that is not all he receives.
Mr.. Steele-If Gov. Smith is a drunkard
] do not know it. think would know it,
and / do not believe IL.
Mr. Blue-If what the gentleman does
not know about these national homes
was put into a book it would make a
large volume. He's gorged with misinfor-
nation.
from ex-Gov George 7. Anthony of Kan
sas, referring to one he (Anthony) had
written to Gen. Curtis, a member of the
committee on military affairs, in which
he protested against the reelection Of
Gen. Franklin as a member of the board
of managers, because it was through his
Pranklin's) influence that smith was re
tanned as governor of the Leavenworth
home. Smiths administration, the letter
claimed had been accompanied by scan
dals, and that Smith was unfit for the
position for several reasons. This letter,
Mr.. Blue said, he had been informed,
Gen. Curtis had not mentioned to any
member of the committee on military af-
fairs. If he was mistaken, he should be
glad to be corrected.
Gen. Curtis rep, of New York, respond
ing TO this challenge, said he would in
his own time do justice to Gov. Anthony
and TO others also. He declined to an
swer then Br. Blues question whether
or not he had informed members of the
committee of Gov. Anthonys letter.
Mr. Blue then read affidavits, letters and
kilograms, approving his fight against
Gen. Franklin and Smith, and to show
that Smith was at the present time, or
In the very recent past, indulging in in
aoxicating liquors. Some of these were
from members of the home, who pleaded
that their names be not used, for. if it
were known that they had complained,
they would be compelled to Ego on the
road" that is, be discharged from the
home.
Mr.. Steele inquired if these ahidavits
were not made by former inmates who
had been discharged.
Mr.. Blue replied that he did not know
as to all, but as to several which he had
read, they were not; they were by men
who had never been in the home
Mr.. Talbot, dem, of South Cardinal
thought l had read somewhere that Kan
sas was a prohibition state.
Mr.. Blue-So it is, outside the military
reservation. daughter)
Mr.. Blue read from the report of the
inspector general, which showed that the
beer saloon in the home paid a profit
in the last fiscal year of over $4,000.
Replying to questions as TO whether
he had any charges to make agansi
Gen. Franklin's personal character, Mr.
Blue said that Gen. Franklin was either
grossly negligent, grossly incompetent oil
not honest, and that he had in his hand.
government funds that ought to be pait
over to the treasury. In connection witt
this last statement, Mr.. Blue asserted tina
when the congress separated the offices
of president and treasurer of the board
which Gen Franklin then held. he Drank
lln) took a man named Friday and mad
him treasurer, and he (Franklin) CONTROL
ed the funds of the board as he formerly
did
Mr.. Morse of Massachusetts desired t
know if the matters complained of at tn
home were not due TO the existence o
a beer hall in connection with the insti
tuition, and if this ought not first 10 b.