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

WASHINGTON. D. c., April 15.-In
the house, the report of the elections
committee on case of Gordon VS.. Lat
inner, Third district of South Carolina,
in favor of the sitting member was
adopted without division.
Mr.. Hull Rep., Iowa., chairman of
the committee on military affairs, call
ed up the resolution for the APPOINT
ment Of VIM B. Franklin Comm
Thomas j. Henderson Qll), Geo. L.
Beale (Maine), and George W. Steele
Qnd) as members of the board of
managers of the National Soldiers
Home.
Mr.. Blue (Rep. Kan) who has on
several recent occasions severely criti-
cized General Franklin, asked two
hours to discuss the resolution. He
said he held in his hand Cfourishing a
lot of papers, charges against General
Franklin, and Smith, the manager of
| the Leavenworth home for whom the
former was responsible, for
CRUEL AND BRUTAL TREATMENT
of the inmates of the home at Leaven-
worth. Kan, where he said 1900 sold
| iers were today practically incarcer-
| ated. He proposed to offer an amend
ment to substitute the name of that
gallant soldier, General O.. O. How
I ard for that of General Franklin.
Mr.. Hull declined to make any con-
cessions as to the time, and Mr.. Blue
opened his attack. His purpose, said
| he, was to free the LeavenWorth home
,4o1
at it's head.
do you know he has been drunk?"
asked Mr. Steele, member of the board.
L do, vomiting, puking drunk, and
will produce the proof"
''Is he not at the head of a Kelley
organization?'' inquired Mr.. Steele.
He isl replied Mr.. Blue, "at $1,000
year"
q do not believe he was drunk"
said Mr. Steele.
1.-The gentleman" replied Mr.. Blue,
| contemporary, lis gorged with mis-
| information regarding these homes"
Continuing, Mr.. Blue had read sew
! eral letters criticising General Frank
! lin and Governor Smith, one of them
alleging that Governor Smith was not
only drunkard, but a corrupt man.
HAS LETTERS.
Mr.. Blue said he had letters from in
mates of the Leavenworth home, if
their names were known, would be
driven to the road by Governor Smith
He read a telegram from E. ]. Ander-
son and others, urging him ITO fight
! General FrankMn's reappointment and
telling him that $4,000 soldiers in Kan
| sas were behind him. Another letter.
read by him, said that the writer had
| enough evidence to hang Smith.
Mr. T21I1a raorpludpd his array of Ita,-
timony by reading an affidavit from
| an inmate of the Leavenworth home,
/ charging Governor Smith with drunk
enness, cruelty and great favoritism
He claimed that Governor Smith main
tanned the biggest saloon in Kansas,
under the shadow of the flag the SOL
diers fought to save. Last year, he
said, the
PROFITS OF THE BEER HALL
alone were $4,000 That saloon, he
| said, was run by the man who was the
head OF the Kelley league.
Have you any charges to make
against the personal character of Gen
eral franklin" asked Mr.. Hill Rep.,
Comm
Il charge" replied Mr.. Blue, with
great elaboration and emphasis, "that
the inspectors reports shows that Cen
eral Franklin is either grossly negli-
gent and Incompetent or that he is not
honest. He knows of these beer sa-
looms; he knows of Smiths conduct,
and if the reports are true he holds
in his hands, in violation of the law,
trust funds that should have been
turned into the general fund.
For years." he continued, The was
general treasurer of the home. When
the law prevented him from continuing
in that capacity, he picked up Man
Friday and put him in as general
treasurer"
Mr.. Blue charged that THE inspectors
reports showed that balances had
been forced"
DO you charge misconduct against
any other members or member of the
board?'' asked Mr.. Hull.
Not at present" replied Mr.. Blue.
st charge no member except Franklin,
because 1 am not conversant with their
acts
AN AFFIDAVIT.
Mr.. Blue also read an affidavit,
charging that a contract existed
whereby the Kelley cure was given to
some inmates for IS, while others were
charged $40 What became of the diff
ference, the affiant said, he did not
know.
Had not the board made an investi-
CATION of Governor Smiths admins
tration?" asked Mr. Hull.
Amy investigation made by the
board of managers replied Mr.. Blue,
lis a roaring farce. No man in the
home dares to testify, and l charge
here and now that the investigation
was made for the purpose of shielding
Governor Smith. 1t is an open secret
that the committee on military affairs
voted only five to four against Cen
eral Franklin's reappointment. Then,
by some occult influence, to which I
do not care 20 refer, one of the mem
bers of the committee was induced to
change his vote
Mr. Blue said the inspectors reports
would prove that the board of man
ayers was a private corporation, hold
ing government property in its own
name and buying and selling at it's
own sweet will In concluding his ar
raignment, Mr.. Blue charged that I'M
der Franklin's management last year