New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-01
PENNSYLIIIi VETERANS COhFLtiN.
INMATES OF SOLDIERS HOME AT ERIE SAY
PENSION MONEY Is ILLEGALLY TAKEN
FROM THEN.

philadelphia Nov aD-Staie Senator p \. Glib
SON OF the Erie County district to-day met Gov
ernor Hastings at the Stratford Hotel THIS clY, py
anpointment and laid before him petition which
he had received from inmates Of the soldiers an"
Sailors Home al Erie The petitioners ask the
Senator TO take cteps to recover for them pension
money which they have received from the Natioral
Government and which they alcge has been Il
legally taken from them by the trustees OF the IN
stitution The petition is signed by one huhured
inmates Of the Home who assert that an assfe-
gate OF si02 a month * taken from them and that
the amount taken from the inmates OF the Home
since 1855 In which year It was organized. aggre-
yates nearly 800 coo and is being added to al the
rate Of $1,000 a year.
The method Of taking this money from the old
soldiers the petition sets forth il By rule adopted
by the trustees OF the institution which compei'
the inmates 10 turn over to the Home all pension
money received in excess OF 81 month. on penalty
~ discharge The petition sets out that the Ma
tonal Government gives to the Home 800 FOR each
inmate each year with the proviso that there is no
State law exacting any portion OF the pension
money given the inmates: in the latter case the
Government pays only $50 apiece. There Is no state
law authorizing the forfeiture OF any of the pen
sion rnoney OF the inmates. and the Home received
the full 800 though the trustees. az alleged nave
adopted rule OF their own. taking all OF the In
mates pension morey in excess Of 81 month,
The petitioners say they informed that this
nancy IS placed In the hands 81 Louis Wagner, OF
Phiadelphia treasurer Of the Board OF Trustees
of the Home and that II Is used In extending
relief to dependent relatives Of the pensioners III
the Home. The petitioners say they have TO de-
pondent relatives. and that their money Is taken
without any apparent design Of using II for any
purpose either for the benefit of the Home. rela-
lives or inmates Themselves
In connection with the alleged exaction OF the
pension money the petition says:
''Under this rule have paid into the Home up
10 this date sums varying from so TO nearly 800
each and the whole or these moneys are now re-
taincd bv Louis Wagner treasurer OF the soldiers
Home and are in deposit in IL bank IN Phlladel-
Dha Of which he Is president, ana uS"d ~ MN as
he sees fit not cent Of which Is paid INTO the
Treasury Of the State. as there is no state law by
which ii can receive II The State does not Deneht
by IT, The United States loses money 10y IT.
The petition further says.
THAT when the Board Of MANAGEMENT OF the
Soldiers Home Erie ccrines to the General
Government. in their report. In order to draw Slo
per caolta. that the state under authority of law
does not ask or take one dollar o.. the pension
money and at the same tine eXacts from us all Of
our pension over s. per month. they are committing
Il fraudulent and criminal act against the General
Government
The Governor. after the conference with Mr.. Glib
SON took copy Of the petition and the accom-
panyirg papers and informed the Senator that he
would take up the matter at once and institute a
full investigation.
General Louis Wagner * one OF the most prom
inent citizens Of Philadelphia and has for years
been active in financial and political circles. He
was formerly director Of Public Works. and H. now
president OF the Third National Bank and OF the
Board Of city Trusts Il prominent Mason and a
member Of many other organiza tions.