The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-19
WHAT THIS WAS BASED UPON.
SECRETARY BEEbEE ACCUSED OF
FAILING TIC ANSWER AN M.
PORTANT1 LETTER. u
SYSTEM Of DISTRIBUTING FUNDS.
Mr.. stoc1xweI1 Ipcr,I3d
It-Henry EIIinsst6n Tells His
Experience at the Home.

tHe HOUSE coIRlInlCt6e on soldiers home
were tackled yesterday by the commit
tee, and the examination of witnesses
proved the source of not a little fun.
which was participated in by witnesses
and committee men alike.
Judge Hicks, as usual, conducted the
questioning, and with great difficulty
kept Mr.. StockwelI and his witnesses TO
the introduction of testimony strictly
on the two subjects considered. The
first subject taken up was that of pen
sions. It was intimated in the list Of
charges that pensions were unlawfully
withheld from the inmates of the home.
Mr. Stockwen entered general pro-
test against the method of substract-
ing parts of pensions from the enveI-
opes received by the veterans when
| Judge Hicks stated that the only cues
ton the committee could possibly con-
slider was whether or not the pensions
were withheld from veterans contrary
to the laws Of the United States This
rather nettled Mr. Stockwell
IF L had supposed" said he, that I
was to be made prosecutor, and was
to draw up a specific indictment in this
matter I would have done so. / had
supposed that this twas the committee
Of the legislature Of the state, and nor
committee representing this institu-
ton at Minnehaha," This over, Judge
Hicks motion that the committee con-
fine itself strictly to evidence of any
wrong distribution of money, or any in
justice done, was carried, and the COM
mittee decided to bar out any discus
sion of the policy used
Chas. B. Trowbridge, who has been In
the home since October, 1895, said that
Capt Castle had made the statement
that considerable of the money with
which the pavilion had been construct
ed came out of the soldiers relief fund.
This, witness seriously objected to. but
being questioned : by Capt Caste,
stated that he was drawing a pension
of Sc month, that he received vaIua-
BILE medical attendance at the home
ard had asked for and received no aid
for his family.
Frank c. Dougherty, another inmate
told of the case of William Coombs. of
Co. {, First Minnesota, half of whose
pension of SIS. he had formerly sent reg
ularly to COomb's wife in Sherburne
county. that the agent at that place
had died, and that although the wife
" as not now getting relief, Secretary
Beebee, of the home had failed to re-
ply to his letter frquiring about the
matter. Mr.. Stocltw Ell n ext =efttd the
case of William j. E5ry mes. Cex-sthwar1]
Of the home. He said Byrnes' pension
had never been taken from him.
and he asked why. the exception
mad been made Capt. Castle ex-
planned that in view of his long, and
or WI
been allowed by the board to draw his
tull pension and was. further allowed to
remain a member of the home, subject
to any call for duty which might be
made
To Mr.. Stockwelrs question if Mr.
Byrnes had not been discharged for
incompetency as hospital nurse, Capt
castle replied in the negative and said
that the discharge was owing to pro
Vlsional disability, Brynes being an Oh
man. Mr.. Stockwell thought the ex-
listing system of distribution of funds
Ey county agents was delegating a
good deal of power to individual men.
III reply to this question, although not
considered germane Capt. Castle ex-
planned that the discretion had to be
given to as competent men as possible
in the county, and thai no complaint Of
unta1rness or partially had yet been
made. G. G. Philippe and Capt Souie
testified substantially that Martin Tib-
belts had been discharged from the
home on a cold night. in October for
no apparent reason and without being
supplied with adequate clothing when
his uniform had been taken away
Capt. Castle asked Commandment Nc
MILAN to give the facts in the Tibbetts
case. and they are about as follows:
''Tfbbetts, who is a frail old man of
seventy years, had stated to the COM
mandant his desire togo to Illinois. in
which state he had served. He was
urged by the commandant not to leave
but, upon his own insisting, was given
an honorable discharge, application for
such being duly applied for and issued
Mcmillan had sent an orderly with
Tfbbetts to get him suitable clothing
If Tibbetts had none of his own beside
his uniform, Mcmillan was authorized
to buy new clothing for discharged in
mates in his discretion but was adj
vised that he had clothing CT his own
Philippe and Soule had testified 10
dividing their own scant wardrobe to
mt out this poor old man. Mcmillan
continued that, instead of going to II
linois, Tibbetts had gone to a farm
where he had staid until the farmer
being discouraged, had brought him
back to the home, where be now Is an
inmate of the hospital
This case being disposed of to the
satisfaction Of the committee and ap-
parently to that of Mr.. Stockwell, the
latter trained one of his big guns or
the committee with the case of Henry
EllingstOn, who had performed four
years service in the War of the Re
bellion and had been dishonCrably dis
charged from the home last August
for gross INSTRUMENTATION. Mr. Stock
we'll said he knew Ellingston for a man
of sterling integrity high moral char
acter and of studious habits. He was
surprised at his discharge, and hal
taken him in as an inmate of his own
house, where he is now residing. He
had reported the matter to Capt Cas-
tie, whose assurance he had that Ell
kingston would be reinstated If the
facts were as related to him. He fur
Their testified that Ellingston had, at his
suggestion and at the invitation Of the
commandant, visited. the latter's office.
but was not now living at the home.
Ellingston. a weird-looking old man,
with wrinkled features, piercing grey
eyes, was sworn and testified in sub
stance that he had dfsregarded several
invitations of the conftnandant to APP
pear and drill for the G. A. r. encamp-
ment last September. Ellingston re-
fused to comply, and Mr.. Stockwell
sought to explain thatit was owing to
an antipathy to secret organizations
in general and the G.. A. r. in paIticu-
lar.
Witness, in his own unique fashion,
recounted that he had mental reserva-
tions, that he considered Mcmillan a
rattlesnake. and had said so. and upon
being asked if he were crazy had been
discharged without being provided with
suitable clothing. Since then he ad-
mittod he had heeus offered an honor