The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-29
u
VETERANS ANGRY.
6. A. R. Crusade to be Made
Against Abuses in the
Kearny Home.
WRONGS OF OLD LEROY HURD
A Favorite Until Re Supported the
Bill to Protect the Veto PEN
sions; But Then
OF OLD LEROY HURD


The members of the Grand Army of the
Republic in New Jersey are thoroughly
aroused over the manner in which they
believe inmates of the Soldiers Home at
Kearny are treated by Major Rogers,
Manager of the institution. They declare
that Major Rogers, who has held his pres
ent position for seventeen years, has OUT
lived his usefulness and should be re-
moved. . They also attack his methods
of running the financial end of the institu-
ton, and will demand a rigid investigation
by the next Legislature. The entire an
fuence exerted by the G.. A.. r. VIII pc
used in the present campaign ana at
Trenton this winter for the purpose OF
bringing about a reform in the methods OF
managing the Soldiers Home.
Al bill will be introduced at the next
session of the Legislature, by Colonei
Wildman if he is elected and by some
other person present if he is NOT, proVlo-
ing for the removal of the present Board
or Managers of the Home and a radical
| change in the system of governing the
institution. AT present the Home Is III
| charge of seven managers who are ap-
pointed by Supreme Court Justices n
| who hold office for life. Ihelr po"ea IL
their decisions on matters relating to the
Home. Major Roger is responsible for
his actions to this body ana a 70 no wb pne
| they have nominal charge OF the lone.
leave its management entirely TO MAJOR
Rogers. and abide by his decisions on aii
ment of the institution. Thus 1t VIII pc
| seen that Major Rogers. power IS apso-
lutte. 1t is to terminate his despotlc rue
that the G. A. R. will seek legislation.
| The Legislature will be asked to pass a
law providing for the government OF the
| Soldiers Home by the a board OF seven
shall be members of the Department of
New Jersey, G. A. r. Those DIRECTORS
are to be appointed for terms OF three or
five years but for no longer. Samuei u.
Hayter, the newly elected Department
Commander is agitating in favor OF the
| movement, and made it the subject OF MS
first general order.
The crusade against Major Rogers has
been FASTENED by recent events. Within
| a few weeks two veteran soldiers, FORMER
inmates of the Home, have died in power
the institution by Major Rogers, and, It
is alleged, without being given a proper
hearing before the Board OF
The most glaring case and the one which
will be specifically brought to the atten-
ton of the Legislature and Governor
Griggs is that of Leroy Hurd, a man q
| years old, too afflicted by disease to work,
who was turned into the streets for an
alleged breach of discipline and ungen-
tlemanly conduct, which it was proven he
never committed. He died on the street
in Newark of hunger and exhaustion, in
the early part of this month. 1t is all
legged by James Freeman, former Postmas-
Houten Post, C.. A. R., who investigated
| the case of Hurd, also by Others who are
familiar with the details of the case, that
Hurd was expelled, not for any. breach
of discipline, but because he dared go be-
fore the last Legislature and fight for the
passage OF the bill providing that no
State official should have the power to
take from the veteran any portion of his
| pension money.
This bill was made necessary. 1t is
| charged, by Major Rogers, who years ago
of the Home to pay out of his pension
twelve dollars a month, four dollars for
Rogers has been taking this sum monthly
from the old soldiers, many of whom have
whole families to support on their pen
sion money, he has been turning thous-
ands of dollars annually into the State
treasury as a surplus over and above all
the expenses of running the institution.
There is now over 500. 900 which has accu-
mulated in this manner The United
States Government. pays 800 annually for
the support of each inmate of the Home
and the State make am annual appro-
support of the institution. This, it is de-
clared, is sufficient to pay all expenses,
and there is no excuse for the four dol
lar monthly assessment, which is proved
by the surplus.
Hurd and others, who really suffered
by the assessment, decided to appeal for
relief, and Hurd, who was a scholarly
man, was chosen to go before the last
Legislature and present the claims of the
veterans; The bill was introduced by
was General Donnelly, one Of the man
ayers of the Home, who opposed the bill
and who brought all his ability in play
argue for the veterans, however, that
both ranches of the Legislature passed
the bill, which was afterwards vetoed by
Governor Griggs because of the s~olicita-
! tions of the managers of the Home.
Previous to his going to Trenton Hurd
had always been shown every considera-
ton by Major Rogers. Hurd was an
invalid, and for seventeen years had been
unable to sleep in a bed, being obliged
to take his rest sitting in a chair. His
teeth were all gone and he was unable
to eat the food regularly provided the
inmates of the Home. Major Rogers, in
consideration of his condition, used to
give him eggs and other nourishing things
from his own table. When Hurd return
| ed from Trenton, however, it is charged.
all this was changed. He had all his
privileges curtailed and was constantly
cuse or another. He was no longer given
the food he could eat, but was furnished
only the regular fare. Finally he was
accused of having used insulting language
to several members of the w. c. 7. T..
who were holding services in the chapel
and was expelled from the Home and
luIneu lilu lHc SlleelS, Without DelnS ac-
corded a hearing, and despite the fact
the ladies of the w. c. r. u. whom If
was alleged he insulted, made sworn
afidavits of his innocence. Major Rogers
I would not consider the affidayfts nor
would he permit Hurd to examine the
witnesses or alleged witnesses against
him or properly present evidence in his
favor.
The following sworn affidavit, made by
James Freeman, shows the methods OF
Major Rogers at the alleged trial of Hurd.
| Mr. HrPamQnN will nrhSnpf fhir - q, l-.,.x
In case the G. A. r. Is successful in Sc
curing an investigation of the manage
ment OF the Home. 1t Is as folows:-
"a comrade of Phil Sheridan Veteran
Association, of which I am Adjutant. re-
quested me to go to the Home for Dis
abled Soldiers, on Tuesday, May ii. to
mate of the old mans ward, and who
was under charges, was treated fairly in
the investigations
II went to the Home and found H,Ird
He Is a man n years of age, and suffer-
ing from disease. / found him to be a
very intelligent man. and one above the
average in education and breeding. I told
him / was requested to call upon him
to find out with what he was charged
and to intercede for him with Major Rog-
erS.
H told me he was charged with ustne
vulgar and profane language to a number
Of aides connected with the Women's
| Christian Temperance Union of Newark
He also said that he did not think Major
Rogers would treat him fairly, as he had
taken an active part IN an effort to sion
the taking away Of a part of soldiers
pensions.