The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-10
The Veterans Home Asso-
citation to Resign Its
Trust and Disband.
The QUESTION Whether or Not the
Home Is a State Institution
to Ee Set at Rest.
Annual Encampment of the D part
ment of California G. A. R. TO
Be Called to Ratify II.

TIE Veterans Home Association held
meeting yesterday afternoon at its head
quarters, 800 Sansome street, and decided
by unanimous vote TO formally turn the
institution over to the care OF the State
By resolution the association asked the
department commander, g. A. R., to con-
vene the annual encampment of the de-
partment of California. G. A. R., at an
earlier date than that previously set, that
the department may ratify their action,
so that it may come with unquestloned
authority before the present session of
the Legislature and be by it confirmed
and the institution accepted and provided
for by law.
The department commander and several
of the other high officials, as we'll as
number OF the council of ministration,
G. a. R., were present and took part in
the declarations OF the association and
concurred in the acLion.
This step has been in contemplation for
some time--has indeed, always been the
ultimate intention of the association. 1t
has been precipitated at this time by
the action of Secretary OF State Lew
Brown taking issue with Controller Col
gan as TO The status of the institution with
regard to the State.
The Controller holds that the home is
now a State institution and entitled TO
State aid. Secretary Brown holds that it
is not a State institution, and therefore
not so entitled.
AS for the mem bers of the association
itself they are prepared 10 say that it is
and that 1t isn't. In 1889 an act was
passed recognizing the home as a State
institution and allowing it certain APP
preparation for the maintenance of the
old soldiers. Inasmuch as the institution
is now wholly under the control OF the
association, the Governor or the State
having nothing to do with the appoint
ment of governing officials, the associa-
ton re cognlZes that, technically, the hcme
is not Stale institution.
The same embarrassing question has
been raised by the Federal Government.
The United States allows $100 a year per
individual Tor the maintenance of old
soldiers in homes provided by any State
Government. This money has been COM
ing along regularly, but recently the ex-
Derts delegated to go over the reports in
such cases have found difficulty in audit
ing them to their satisfaction. Some OF
the money received for maintenance"
has gone into necessary buildings. Imme-
diately the experts elevated their eve
brows. How can we audit sums for
maintenance charged against buildings ?"
they said. But the buildings are neces-
sary," was the reply.
what has that to do with it2 How
can the Government of the United States
be- expected to erect buildings on private
land anyhow"
There was the question again-"priyate"
land. The institution must either be
State or a Federal institution, they said,
in order to be properly entitled TO any
State or Federal aid.
The Soldiers Home is IN a perfectly
satisfactory and fourlshing cond ton.
Over 600 veterans of the wars-t..e Next
can war and the rebellion-find a COM
Portable and a cheerful abiding place
there. They will need considerable aid
from the State, III the hands OF the pres
ent Legislature, and in view of the dis
pute between the Secretary of State and
the Controller some difficulty might be
anticipated in securing what Is needed.
In view of these circumstances, the asso-
citation arrived at the conclusion that the
time had come to make the State tender
of the property, and this will be done.
The resolution adopted yesterday by
unanimous vote made this provision, and
authorized the proper officers OF the asso-
citation 10 take acton at once toward Sc
curing the permission from the proper
court to make the legal transfer. That
was to avoid the necessity of another
meeting, and so save time.
1uc otuel iesoiutIon, requesting tue ue-
partment commander to convene the an
nual encampment as soon as possible to
ratify the action, was then adopted.
The proposition OF the association does
not contemplate forfeitIng all interest in
the institution or its management. The
tender will be made with the proviso That
the directory shall still number eleven, as
now, and that the @. A. K. shall be repre-
sented on the board ey seven. the Mexican
Veterans by two and the Governor and
Attorney General or some other State
officers by the other two.
This board, which will be appointed by
the Governor, will have entire charge of
the institution, including the appoint
ment of the communicate and ali other
ofhcers at the home. This proviso will be
insisted upon TO guard against the home
becoming at any time in the future mere
political plum for the reward of ward