The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-16

tixation wax made for the purpose of shield.
ing Governor Smith. 1t Is an open secret,
ne continued. that the COMMITTEES on milf
tary affairs voted once hve TO four against
General Franklin's reappointmenf. inen,
BY spme occult influence TO which l 90 not
committee was induced TO change MS vote;
Mr.. Blue said the inspectors reports would
private corporation holding government
property in It's own name and puying ana
selling at its own sweet VIII In conclucins
his arraignment Mr.. Blue charged tnat IN
der Franklin's management last year s1o,-
900 OF government property nad Deen con,
demned or destroyed, and that the board
had last year made trip to the st. Monica
home at a cost OF $500. He appreciated, he
said. all the subtle and powerful lnnuences
at work TO keep General Franklin on the
charges ne had made and concluded with
the statement that as long as ne had
FADES against the brutality OF the contempt
ible man at the head OF the Leavenworh
home. - ~
Blue In calm and temperate speech. ne
asked the House TO consider carefully the
charges preferred against General Frans : IA
the president OF the board or managers, anu
Governor Smith. The charges, ne SAID, were
old They had been investigated and the Of
fetal report did not snbsiantia,e them: me
tireiy ex parte- The trouble at LeavehMoIssn u
arose out of complaints and charges made
the post DR. ths o a re
OF the Investigation to show tnat s.'e enarsess
had heen In. no way substantiated. he read
ab any q 70 smith With regard to
General Franklin. he said TO those who know now
him he needed no defense. He had ~ os zen
board who knew his high character and
auaiiications In conclusion, Mr.. Curtis paid
msenihcent personal tribute 10 Seherai
-vR. srFFr.F-s SPEECH.
Mr Steele, member OF the board of man
ayers. then made his Impressive defense of
the board mentioned previously. Mr.. Blue
statement that what he did not know about
the soldiers home would. MI book. he
said. was true although he had been an
active npember OF the board for four years.
But" he continued, what l know about
such charges as are brought in here would
mn library. Every member of the board is
de;uged with that kind of literature. and
can assure the House that all these charges
by a subcommittee of the board. He eu-
3 logized the work OF the homes, which, since
their oils nsa s es6e1 1O without te
s sis q WAS farmsd in ss sssy sOders
had taken sne cure and there had been only
thirteen lapses He denied that anyone was
forced TO take the cure. He had read tel
egram from Governor Morr:l. OF Kansas,
worth home. and saying that he was re-
sponsible for the organization OF the Kelley
League at that home. He also had read a
. 's,sS5sm from reputable e'''1en' ., e-ssA'
"Atfhe proper time" interjected Mr.. Blue,
II win sh9w the motive not Of those felsgr nins
General Curtis said that all the charges
against Governor Smith had been investi-
he was drunk in February last been in
.sPerhaps not" replied Mr.. steele. ''but
Judging from the character or the witnesses
and testimony ne brings here IL would re-
quire great deal OF additional and better
testimony 10 induce me TO believe In the
truth OF such a charge as that,
Have you heard that bad state. of
affairs exists at the Togus Homer asked
Il have heard of nothing that has not
been inve<tig ated. -, replied Mr. Steele. With
regard to the charge that post buildings
were insured In companies In which General
that post buildings were insured TO the
amount OF $4,000 There were seventy-two
policies: of them five were in companies In
which General Franklin had an Insignificant
interest.
do you. as a member of the board
INQUIRED Mr.. walker. intend to keep ,, as !,
who was drunk all during the war and Is
now in the habit Of getting drunk?'
the board he ', would '', vote to GUST Smith
proof Swere adduced that ne had beer
drunk.
At this point Mr. Poole who was one
of Colone. Smiths comrades during the war
Frequently. he said sleeping under the
same blanket and drinking out of the same
canteen with him, gave his personal est
mate of him as a soldier and man. HI
denied most emphaticaliy that Colonel Smith
was ever drunk during the war and paid
high tribute to his bravery as a soldier ant
ability a man.
Mr. Mahon moved to amend the resolution
20 as to provide for a joint committee o.
- ~, ir1uA float 20 H<
charges against Colonel Smith.
Mr. Henry. of Connecticut, said few
words in eulogy OF General Franklin. Will
the understanding that a vote should b.
had at o'clock tomorrow the House, a
o'clock. adjourned.
At the opening OF the session Mr.. Bel
called up the report OF elections committee
No. 2 on the case Of Norman VS.. Latino
from the Third district OF South Carolina
which was unanimously In favor of thu
sitting member, and 1t was adopted withou
division