The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-06
SOLDIERS H0M.I|
INVESTIGATION.
First Witness Before Legislative Com
mittee Last Night.
MAJ. RANDoLPH'sz TESTIMONY.
Chairman OF Board Of Visitors Makes
aGcncral Statement Of Facts Gath
cred During Sixteen Years Ser
y;co on Board-Next Meeting.

The investigation Of Lee Camp Soldiers
Home was gotten under way last night
in the Senate Chamber, when the tlrst
witness to appear before the joint COM
nttce of the Assembly occupied an hour
in telling Of the management and admin
istration OF the affairs of the institution.
The witness was Major n. Y. Randolph.
chairman of the Board of Visitors of the
Home His testimony was confined to
general Statement of the facts he had
gathered during term OF sixteen years
on the Board.
The next meeting of the committee will
be held on Monday afternoon. in the
State Bank when the books, papers,
vouchers. etc, of the Board will be pro-
duced by Major Randolph for the lnspec-
ton of the members of the committee.
The entire membership Of the COMMITTEES
was present last night. The committee
consists of Senator Opie (chairman), Sen
ator Gold, Senator Tate, and Delegates
Pollock. NewhouSe, Parks, and Dupuy.
MAJOR RANDOLPH'S TESTING NY.
Major Randolph at the outset testified
as TO the food, and said that the per cap
tia cost, including officers as well as in
mates, was never in excess Of Is cents.
He explained that food was cheap, and
said that inmates raised a great deal OF
vegetables turing the summer.
Major Randolph, in reply to a question,
admitted that hogs raised at the Home
had been sold in open market, but said
that the money realized went to the fund
out OF which the institution is supported.
Major Randolph thought the pay of the
superintendent Of the Home was not
commensurate with the service performed.
1t is fifty dollars per month. with allow
ance as to food for the superintendent
family of six, and a house.
In regard to the handling OF the funds,
Major Randolph stated emphatically that
the morey passed through his hands alone
as chairman of the Board of Visitors, and
not a cent was at the disposal of any per-
son connected with the Home.
Thorough inspection was made of the
Home at stated intervals by a committee
from Lee Camp.
INVESTIGATION COIR Ted.
Major Randolph stated that the Board
wanted i thorough investigation. ana
that the committee should go to the Home
and examine every inmate separately The
charges limited by half q dozen drunkards
should be sifted
The witness denied with a show of spirit
that the inmates of the Home were treat
ed as paupcrs.
He admitted that il could not be ascer-
tanned by inspection of the monthly bills
for provisions what of the items might
have gone to the superintendent table,
and what to the inmates.
The incidents OF turnp-top cutting,
mentioned in the papers at the time the
Investigation was ordered, was recalled
by one of the committee. Major Ran
dOlph said that the board had investigated
the cases of the men who were ordered
TO be arrested for. diSobedience Of that
order, and the sense of the board was
that the superintendent made a mistake
in including among those detailed to cut
turnip tops men who had asked for the
investigation. He was convinced, how
ever, that the superintendent had no mo-
tive Of revenge in selecting the men he
did.
EASY TO GET LIQUOR.
Major Randolph said that it was an easy
matter for inmates Of the Home to get