The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-16
THREE OF THEM CONSIDERED
FACTS ABOUT THE ALLEGED
DRUNKENNESS, THE PURCHASE
OF THE MANGLE,
AND ALSO THE SMOKE CONSUMERS
Vouchers Produced to Tell Just
What Was Paid for the Articles
i'm Question.

home, having cited a number of wit
nesseS, secured the services of a pretty
stenographer, began it's investigation of
the ground for several charges which
have been made against the manage
ment of the institution since the be-
ginning of the present session.
The result Of the examination of wit
nesses on three of the dozen sugges-
lions made for legislative investigation
can hardly be very gratifying to Mr.
StOckWell who submits the allega-
lions, for the reason that in three in
stances yesterday the props were eff
fectually pulled out from beneath the
limitations of mismanagement. The
full committee listened attentively to
the evidence which failed to establish
any of the charges thus far considered.
The committee decided to take up
the consideration of but three of the
suggestions made by Mr.. StockweH,
namely; the cost of the smoke consum-
ers, the conditions surrounding the
purchase Of the laundry plant and the
matter of drunkenness among the vet
erans
Mr.. Stockwell himself was the first
witness. He lives near the home, and
says that during the last nine years
he has had means of observing that
the old soldiers get drunk especially
after receiving their pensions, and an
noy, by their coarse language tipsy
actions and insulting conversation, the
respectable passengers who use the
cars between Minneapolis and Mime
haha Falls. These old soldiers would
imbibe too such an extent that they
are utterly unable to properly care for
themselves and were a nuisance to the
community. T ; had several times, he
said, lodged complaints with the com
mandant. Being questioned by Capt
Castle, Mr.. Stockwell admitted know
ing the existence of rules for the pun
ishment of drunkenness at the home,
but thought that the commandant was.
perhaps, too lenient. He had rarely
ever seen the regulars from Fort
Smelling intoxicated. Being asked by
Commandant Mcmillan for the name
of any one Of the numerous instances
of inebrlety he had referred to- Mr.
Stockwell said he was unable to fur
nish it.
the same thing, had seen perhaps 100
or $50 men drunk during the last year.
possibly there were some repetitions
but could give no names. Never had
made any complaint to the committee
at the Soldiers home or even to the
police authorities, because he under
stood that the home was not in the jul
risdictiOn of the municipal court The
soldiers made it very bad for ladies
travelling in the cars, and in this con-
dition were found mostly riding from
the city.
J. e. Slower, who lives about a quar-
ter of a mile from the home, bore much
the same testimony and cited the in
stance Of a veteran named O'Keefe,
who was accustomed to go about the
grounds improperly dressed, and who
had frequently come suddenly upon
ladies in search of wild flowers. StO-
yer had made complaint to Capt. Nc
MILAN, but never knew that anything
had been done. Capt. Mcmillan rose,
at this point, to explain that he had
talked to O'Keefe, had told him that q
repetition of the offense would call for
his dishonorable discharge, and had
never heard any more complaints
about O'Keefe. Mr.. Slower said that
vulgarly approached on street cars, and
there might be in all 800 cases of intox-
icatiOn. Capt. Castle asked witness if
he had never complained to the board
of trustees. Witness said that he had
never had the opportunity.
Mrs. Frank Valesh had camped at
Lake Amelia, near the home, and had
seen a number Of the veterans the
worse for liquor who lOunged around
the camp, making it unpleasant for the
ladies. She had also seen vets riding
in the street cars half seas over" and
using bad language.
A E. Nash had also had experience
with the inebriated warriors. Although
he knew none CT them by name eX-
cept one Chase weighing 300 pounds,
and having a fondness for liquor. Mr.
Nash thought that the number of in
stances given by the others had been
over-estimated, and that probably
twelve individuals would cover the
thing.
Commandant Thomas Mcmillan tes-
titled to the stringent rules on drunk
enness adopted by the beard Of trus-
tees and said that this was a vexed
topic, not only in this but in soldiers
homes in other states. Nearly every
case had been punished, by putting on
the special limit rule, and that in spite
Of this many cases went to the city
lookup, and some to the woFkhouse.
Mr.. Mcmillan did not deny the presence
of drinking veterans. but suggested
that 25 per cent OF the members had
suffered impairment Of their intellects
resulting from old age, exposure and
other causes.
Mr.. Stockwell's contention that the
city police were lenient with veterans
was Immediately seized by Capt Castle
and Judge Hicks, who pointed out that
a off
board Of trustees of the home were
most responsible.
Capt. Castle read the home rules to
show how vigorous was the effort to
stop overindulgence in intoxicants. The
pith Of the testimony introduced show
| ed that while there was considerable
! dissipation among some of the old SOL
| diers at certain times, that no effort
is spared by the executive committee
to keep 1t in check. 1t developed that
while the gnod-for-nothings are con-
stantly being discharged, others are
as constantly taking their places.
| The laundry plant matter, by dint
OF series of direct questions was
| Strengthened out until it appears to be
q very simple matter. A new mangle
was shipped by a big eastern firm to
Simpson & Henderson, who, after using
1t for sixty days, found 1t too small for
| their purpose and sold it to the home
| and ordered a larger one from the East.
Simpson & Henderson paid 1881 for the
first, added some improvements and
sold 1t TO the home for 5000, which was
IEe amount Of the bill sent the home
for the larger machine consigned TO the
! home but delivered to Simpson & Hen
| derson. This firm paid the difference
between $1,000, the cost of the second
machine, and $500, the bill which the
home paid for the first mangle.