The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-09

do with the smoke consumers. No
body asked the engineers opinion, but
the full board, at a regular meeting,
authorized their purchase, after care
fully examining the testimonials In
their favor
90 Investigate the purchase of the laundry
plant now being used by the home.
1t is claimed that this plant was purchased
year before there was any place for it,
and that during that time the new mangler
which was bought for the state of Mime
sOta was exchanged for a secondhand man
gier, said to have been used by Simpson &
Henderson, in their laundry in Minneapolis
In connection with this matter, it is sug-
gested that the committee call before them
}. M. Kelly, of the firm of Kelly & Lamb
plumbers and steam filters, of Minneapolis
The laundry machinery was pur-
chased, five or six years ago, direct
from the Eastern manufacturers. 1t
was shipped to Minneapolis transfer
red to the home and has been there
ever since. Not a machine has been
removed since it arrived there and no
one has ever before intimated that any
Of it had been previously used. If there
was any substitution of machines,
which We do not believe, it was done
en- route, as we paid freight bills di-
rect from the factory
"a Investigate price paid for clothing fur
nished the Minnesota Soldiers home.
The state of Minnesota is at present paying
$12. so to F. E. Tallant for every suit Of
clothing furnished 1t is believed that this is
at least 80 1-3 per cent in excess of their
real value; that such suits could, in all prob
ability, be bought at retail at a price not
to exceed $S 1t is also suggested that the
cost OF all clothing and supplies furnished
TO the soldiers home be fully investigated.
The clothing is purchased on COM
pet1tive bids, taken at frequent inter
walls. 1t is Of very superior quality and
costs $10.50 per suit. This is believed
to be very low, quality considered. But
II any lower bids can be obtained for
equal quality, we shall be glad to as
certain the fact, and purchase accord
ingly.
5) Investigate the method of dscharging
inmates from the soldiers home
1t is claimed that, in order to procure an
honorable discharge from the soldiers home
II is necessary to secure the approval of the
BOARD OF trustees, but, in the matter of dis
honorable discharge frem said home. the
co1nmandant has full power; that it has been
tne universal custom Of the board of trustees
10 uphold the commandant in such cases re-
gardless of the merits of the case .
investigate the circumstances Of the dis
charge OF Martin Tibbits October 1894 and
Henry Elllngston, August 1896
In most soldiers homes, the comman-
dant has the entire discretion as to
ADMISSIONS and discharges. AS the an
pllcants to this home have nearly al
ways been in excess of it's capacity.
the board has required that the execu-
wv SOlillil4lIeS pass ON all, so as to
carefully discriminate. AS MANY in
mates, in a moment of fretfulness or
restlessness demand a discharge. the
applicant therefor is referred to the
executive committee, more to secure a
tew days. delay than for any other
reason. BY this means many applica-
tCnS are withdrawn, when otherwise
the inmate would go away and then
probably return within month and
beg for readmission. The power to
dlshonorably discharge must always.
as matter of discipline, be left to
the discretion of the commandant It
IS a summary proceeding, and it would
De ridiculous to postpone an expulsion
until committee could pass upon it.
II the commandant cannot be trusted
with this power, he is not fit to hold
the position. That he has not abused
IT may be inferred from the fact that
In nine years not a single dishonorabIy