The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-04-16

LHGI the DOdTU udQ last year mdQS q
trip to the South Monica (Cal) home
at a cost of $4,000 He appreciated, he
said, all the subtle and powerful
INFLUENCES AT WORK
to keep General Franklin on the board
He reiterated and reaffirmed the
charges he had made, and concluded
with the statement that as long as he
had a place on the floor he would de-
fend his comrades against the bru-
tality of the contemplate man at the
head of the LeavenWorth home.
Mr.. Curtis (Rep. n. W replied to Mr..
Blue in calm and temperate speech. He
asked the house to consider the charges
preferred against General Franklin, the
president of the board OF managers, and
Governor Smith. The charges, he said,
were old. They had been investigated
and the official report did not substanti-
ate them.
The affidavits produced by Mr.. Blue
were entirely ex-parte The trouble at
LeaVenWorth arose out of the complaints
and charges made by the post surgeon,
Dr. Weaver. He reviewed the testimony
in the official report of the inveStiga ton
to show that the charges had heen
IN NO WAY SUBSTANTIATED.
He read many testimonials, to the high
character and ability of Governor Smith.
With regard to General Franklin, he said
to those who knew him ne needed no
defense. He had been urged Tor re- cleo
ton by the members of the board VINO
know his high character and nualidca-
tons.
In conclusion, Mr. Curtis paid high
tribute to General Franklin.
Mr.. Steele (Rep. Ind) a member of the
board of managers, made an impressive
defense of the board. Mr.. Blues state
ment that what he did not know about
the Soldiers Home would fill a book he
said was true, although he had been an
active member of the board for four
years.
But he continued, what I know
about such charges as are brought in here
would fill library. Every member of the
board is deluged with all kinds of litsra-
lure, ana can assure the house that all
these charges are carefully investigated
from time to time by subcommittee of
the board" He eulogized
THE WORK OF THE HOMES,
which since their establishment had cared
for $1,000 soldiers and had expended S4O,-
GOO, 600 without the loss of a farthing The
Kelley league, he said, was formed in
1882. over 1900 soldiers had taken the
cure. and there had been only thirteen
lapses. He denied that any one was
forced to take the cure. He had read a
telegram from Governor Morrill, OF Kan
sas, endorsing the management of the
LeaVenWorth home and saying that ne
was responsible for the organization nf
the Kelley league at that home lie also
read kilograms from reputable citizens of
Leavenworth
AT the proper time" interjected Mr..
Blue, L will show the
MOTIVE OF THOSE TELEGRAMS,
including that Of the governor of Kan
saS. General Curtis said that all charges
against Governor Smith had been inVes-
tigated."
He continued: HAS the charge that he
was drunk in February last been inyes-
Jigated?"
p, Perhaps not, but judging from the
character OF the witnesses and testimony
he brings here, it would require great
deal of additional and better testimony
to induce me to believe in the truth of
such charge as that"
Have you heard that a bad state of
affairs exists at the Togus llome?" asked
Mr. Blue.
Il have heard nothing that has not
been investigated" replied Mr.. Steele.
With regard to the charges that post
buildings were insured in companies in
which Mr.. Franklin was Interested, Mr.
Steele said that post buildings. were in
sured to the amount of s199,000. 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 (RepD Mass. 'in
tend to keep, as governor of the Leaven-
worth home, a man who was drunk all
during the war and is now in the habit
of getting drunk?"
Mr.. Steele replied that as a member of
the board he would vote to GUST Smith,
if proof were adduced that he had been
drunk.
At this point, Mr.. Poole Rep.) N Y,
who was one of Colonel Smiths COM
rades during the war. frequently, he
said, sleeping under the same blanket
and drinking out of the same canteen
with him, gave his PERSONAL estimate of
him as soldier and man. He denied
most emphatically that Colonel Smith
was ever drunk during the war, and paid
a high tribute to his bravery as a soldier
and ability as a man.
Mr.. Malone (Rep.) Pa, moved to
amend the resolution so as to provide for
a joint committee of the house and SEN
ate to investigate the charges against
Mr.. Smith.
Mr.. Henry Rep.) Conn, said few
words in eulogy of General Franklin.
With the understanding that a vote
should be had at o'clock tomorrow the
house at 5 o'clock adjourned.