The San Francisco call., 1896-02-22
WILL Be INVESTIGATED,
Department Commander Wilson,
G. A. R., and the Lyon
Post Charges.
Commander Norton Explains That the
Resolutions Were Not to Be
Made Public.

The charges made against the manage
ment of the Veterans Home at Yount-
vile by Lyon Post No. s, G. a. R., of Oak
land, last Tuesday, was like a thunder
bolt out of clear sky" to quote the words
OF one of the directors of that institution.
The general query among Grand Army
people is why the charges were first
made public without proper investi-
CATION or why the authors did net
wait till the time of the Grand Encamp-
ment at Santa Cruz. In few days the
election for new commandant for the
home will come up, and in some quarters
il is thought possible that the charges
have some connection with that coming
event. However, 1t is known that the
matter will be brought before Department
Commander Charles Wilson, and fully
investigated.
In an interview that official declined to
state what course he would take, but ac-
knowledged that the charges were 100
strong and too sweeping To be passed over
in silence. He said:
while l do not wish to be reported as
making decision, and while some of the
charges are too important to be treated
lightly, | must consider several of them as
i'll advised, to say the least. l am sur
prised to hear of those abuses. as it was
thought everything was going on properly
at the home. Regarding the canteen or
saloon, as Lyon Post calls it, l am per-
sonally not in favor with any liquor being
sold there, but what can be done when
many of those old soldiers will drink
liquor?
IF they cannot get it at the home they
will get 1t outside OF the grounds where no
limit is placed on their drinking. Can
teens have been established at military
pOsts as the smaller of two evils
However, the whole question will be
examined and correct solution found in
due time
The most prominent candidates for the
| position of commandant at Yountville
are Hon. L. c. Seymour, past department
commander, of San Bernardino; H. T.
Smith of Oakland, George Waltz, w. Nc
Neil, J. Sheppard, ]. Inness, H. Berdell of
| San Francisco:
The publication of the resolutions passed
| by Lyon Post, 6. A. r., of Oakland, WAS
| a surprise to most of the mem bers of that
post, as it was not intended that they
| should be given to the public. The plan
was 10 get the resolutions we'll introduced
all over the department and bring them
| up at the Santa Cruz encampment.
Commander George A. Norton of Lyon
| Post No. 8 said yesterday:
"The action Of Lyon Post in regard to
the Veterans Home was the result of
Iudhg lCpOito blidI nave DeGu III ClrCuIa-
| tlon for several years. 1t commenced
while former member of Lyon Post was
a director and the notorious Royce was
| treasurer. Since that time earnest efforts
have been made to reform the conduct of
affairs there, which have been only partial
| ly successful.
Il believe that great step was taken
| toward reform when General Thompson
was elected commandant, put almost from
| the commencement of his official career he
| has been shining mark for certain
| directors to get rid of in some way. AT
| last these men have succeeded. 1t is un-
necessary to say that the resolutions were
not intended for publication. 1t was not
| authorized by the post or its officers. ]
see that Director Arbuckle in an interview
| denies and admits one and the same
| charge, /. e., that in regard to Treasurer
Curriers' salary. He also admits the
saloon, but calls it canteen; that the
expenses of the San Francisco office are
$4,000 per annum lit was charged that they
were $4,000. Perhaps Commandant AR
buckle could find other expenses to amount
| to the $1,000 additional.
81 am not inclined to find fault with
Commander Arbuckle, for believe he has
| done his very best to fight the combine in
| their schemes.
THE resolutions published by Lincoln
| Post, rejecting upon the action OF Lyon
| Post In this matter, might mean some
thing provided it were not a weil-knowr
fact that the ring could have been broken
long ago had it not been for the aid ano
comfort it received from certain memb bers
of Lincoln Post. The whole matter will
now be left subject to the action of the
| next encamDmpnf ~