The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-29
OLD SOLDIERS EYES OPEN.
They Are Going After Some Candi-
dates of the Republican Party.


dates of the Republican Party.
To The st. Paul Globe:
am glad to see that the old soldiers of the
state are awakening to a realization that the
Republican party of Minnesota from its long
continuation in power has become corrupt,
and rotten to the core. and the advsability
Of change to other hands than the present
administration. The leaders of said party
have been loud-mouthed, and blatant in their
professions or love to the old soldiers. At
the same time they have been Ill treating the
unfortunates who have been compelled to &C
cept an asylum in the state soldiers home.
and have impoverished their families by the
exactions of all over 81 per month from
pensions Of those having families It has
been the aim Of the managers of said soldiers
home, aided by their adherents, to keep from
the people and old soldiers of the state out
side Of the machine. the true conditions of
things in its management
When Mr. Eustis told an old soldier that
the state had provided home for them, he
failed to specify the conditions by which en-
trance could be gained to such home or that
the United States government gave to a state
soldiers home 800 per annum for every in
mate in such home, being at the rate of
1888 1-3 per month. In 1895 the managers of
the Minnesota soldiers home represented TO
the state legislature that the home was over
crowded and asking for appropriation to
build another cottage which, after some pre-
lim1naries was granted, but the members in
the home were msrepresented Gen. Brock
fnridge inspector general national state SOL
d1ers' homes, says in his report the number
present in Minnesota soldiers home is 3O9
On this basis the state received from the
United States $1,000 Retained by the home
from pensions, $9,2S2S0. In the Minnesota
state report the cost of maintenance of the
soldiers home was $31 1884 for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1895, leaving q balance
over cost OF maintenance CT So, 04939 On this
table of pensioners for 1895 in the Minnesota
soldiers home 1 find one drawing $22 per
month; three at 81; two at SIG; four at S14;
seventyone at $12. all monthly pensions.
From these pensions are deducted all over
81 per month, and by adding the 500 received
from the United States it can be easily ascer-
tatned what the state should receive from the
two sources.
1t has been the aim and object of the
managers OF said institution to extenuate
tnelr taking Of the pensions by stating that
the overplus taken from the pensions of fhoso
who had families was given back to such
Families. 1t is incumbent upon the wives of
such pensioners to make affidavit that fhev
are in destitute circumstances and withont
sufficient income for their support. and If
satisfactory to the board of trustees of the
SolulSIS ISIISl luuu the applicants q. ven
orders upon stores for groceries, and rarely
to the amount eXacted from the pensions II
Is also conditioned in the orders that the re-
clp1entS OF such must take it out in monfhIv
allowances for the period of three months
and to buy only the bare necessities of life,
To get renewal the same formaIities must
be gone through again. By such a system
1t has helped to keep the Republican party
in power for these orders for groceries had
been given to partisan to charge for goods
any price he thought proper, for which there
was no remedy.
1t has also been conditioned thae to gain
admittance to the home all property must b9
surrendered of which the applicants are nos
sessed. When the lowest rate of pension was
Increased by the Democratic administration r.
Sc per month it did not benefit the 81 per
month pensioners OF the home. The over
plus was taken from them. Not an Increase
or arrears Of pensions but has been demanded
for the time the inmate has been in the
home, and for refusal has been expelled
These pension acts are Illegal and well
known to be such by the officials Of the Min
nesOta soldiers home. Every pension GER
tif1cate bears upon It's back a copy of sec
ton 4745 of the Revised Statutes of the United
States, approved Feb %, 1888. 1t contains
these words Amy pledge, sale, mortgage,
assignment, or transfer of any right, Claims
or interest in any pension which has been
or may hereafter be granted shall be void
and of no effect" Charles Venables.
Milwaukee, Wis, Sept. p.