Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-23
WILL INVESTIGATE THE HOME
Governor Holcomb Orders an Inquiry TO Be
Held at Grand Island,
RUNoRs TO Bt sfrED AND EXAMINED
Conmnndnnt Wilson Asiss that His
Conduct lie Investigated that
tbe Reports Circulated
May Cease.

LINCOLN, Feb. 22--tspecal Telegram
Governor Holcomb today received a letter
from Colonel John w. Wilson, counandsrt
of tho Soldiers Home at Grand Island, in
which the colonel requests that, as reports
have been circulated derogatory to his good
name and efficiency as commandant OF the
home, a thorough and opcn investigation Of
the reports he made at the governors earliest
convenience. March 10. at 10 o'clock,
Is the date set, at Grand Island
Governor iolcomb will request in
formation from Adlnant General Janice
u. Gage, who presented the resolution adopted
by the Grand Army of the Republic,
Comrade Goniell who introduced the resolu-
tlon and from Mart Howe, who circulated
the reports He will also ask others who
have industriously kept the runners lying.
Other persons who are included with colonel
Wilson in the derogatory stories in circua-
tlon will be asked to be present at the hear
Ing in person or by representatives.
Governor Holcomb has written TO Adjutant
General Gage a letter acknowledging the lat
ter's communication. enclosing the resolution
adopted at the Omaha encampment. In his
communication the governor says:
While the resolution Goes Tot say as mucn
i take 1t that ii relates to certain rumors
which have been put IN circulation concern
ing the conduct of the commandant of the
Soldiers Home and affecting his character
and standing, not only as citizen, n9t as
state. These rumors have. reached me
through other sources, and beg, to assure
you and through you those who, passed
these resolutions that l have availed my
self Of every opportunity to ascertain
or reasonable Foundation to even warrant
the rumors referred to. and. as yet. have
xryhif iptn
h. predicated. ! have endeavored to have
charges of q specific nature presented ass, as a
some person claiming to know authentic IN
formation whereby m might en- sI mysef IN IN !9s
a thorough and official investigation regard
After reciting the fact that Commandant
Wilson has written asking that his admin
istration be investigated, and saying that the
Investigation has been set, the governor says:
My conception of public duty leads me to
character than mere rumors. before making
an official investigation 10 ascertain the
or hep V to ali
If apparent inaction seems to have char
acterized the authoritles in invessstigat,ng i,
emphasizes my confidence in the ability and
,mpa,tia,ity of the Visiting and Examining
the statute in regard to the management
of this institution, The. board, with one ex-
cepton was appointed by, the preceding ad-
ministration, and has had years of expert
ence and an intimate and personal aequaint-
ance with the management of the affairs of
this institution The statute provides that
the management of the home shall be
vested in the board, which shall visit the
conduct and management of the affairs of
the same define the duties OF the officers,
sary bylaws for the government of the in
stitution and its inmates, etc. / have every
ment, its affairs have been carefully looked
after, and to hastily entertain every rumor
70 the contrary is to discredit the work of
The Soldiers Home is an institution mi in n
ence appeals to our nob'est and most patri-
ote iPulsss and to keep i in the ha highest
blance of reproach either upon its manage
ment Or its otlicers is my earnest desire, and
Washington's birthday was not generally
observed In Lincoln. The state capitol was
closed for business nearly all day and the
city and county departments followed suit,
but the business houses were open all day
and appeared to be doing fair amount Of
trading. The Lancaster county teachers
held a general meeting in the rooms of the
county superintendent with program ar
ranged to celebrate the birthday of the Father
of His Country, and to keep in memory the
life works of Abraham Lincoln The rooms
were taatefully decorated and flags and
drawings adorned the blackboard. strik-
Ing centerpece Of the decorations was a
and Lincoln, draped with the national colors
In the afternoon Chancellor MacLean ad-
dressed the meeting and j. w. Crabtree Of
the university talked on Lincoln. and was
followed by Prof. Bell of the Lincoln Nor
NAL with a talk on Washington.
Prof. Saylor, city superintendent Of schools.
is making inquiry into the charges OF DR..
RICHTER that germ-infected book from a
diphtheretic patient was taken to a school in
the city, causing the death Of Lillian Coates,
a 7-year-old pupil. Prof. Saylor says that
DR.. Righter merely advanced the idea as
theory, and a possible solution Of the
problem Personally, Prof. Saylor does not
believe the child contracted diphtheria from
this book.
Ex-Clerk Of the District Court Elias Baker,
who Is charged with a shortage of several
thousand dollars, says that at present he does
not know how much Is due from him to
Clerk Sam Low. He says he has not been
able to thoroughly check up his books, but
that his former deputy, David Harris, now
Of Omaha, is In Lincoln, and was going
through the books with him for final check
ing. Mr.. Baker thinks there is between
$4,000 and SIS 900 due him in uncollected
costs and fees. but stringent times have pre-
vented the collection OF these amounts. He
says that as soon as he knows definitely
where he stands, he will be in position to
settle. Friends Of Mr.. Baker say he is
possessed OF ample means. but at present
IL pressed for ready money.
Omaha people In Lincoln At the Lindel-
]. ID. Harris, Irving Il. Baxter and wife, NJ
J.. Brace, b. l.. Baker. At the Lincoln-P
L. Knappen, M. Uhl, c. ID. Hibbard. f.
Lehmer
NEW STATE UNIVERSITY REGENT.
victor Rosewater Appointed to Sue
cccd Henry ID. EstabrOok.
LINCOLN, Feb. 22.-(Special Telegram J.
Governor Holcomb today appointed DR. Vic