Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1902-02-07
COL. Inns ADMINISTRATIONS.

Soldiers Home Commissioners Van Os-
del and Nash Speak of the Iu-
mored Clothing Shortage.
Hon. Abe Van Osdel, of Mission Hill,
member of the trustees of the home
at Hot Springs, was in Yankton yester-
day en- route to his home from Hot
Springs, where he attended a meeting
of the board of trustees. In speaking
of the quasi charges that have been
made against Col. Arthur Linn during
that gentleman's regime as com
mandant of the soldiers home, Mr..
Van Osdel said that the investigation
which has been made has revealed ab
solutely nothing upon which to base
the slightest charge against Col. Linn,
and that he is vindicated beyond any
question. If there is any censure de.
served it must go to the quartermaster's
office at the home during Col. Linn's
administration, and the mostserious re.
Election that can be made against anyone
is slipshod methods in book. keeping,
and the mixing of accounts that result
from that. The cash accounts and tn.
expenditure accounts balance substau
TALLY.
The trouble has been that the quar-
termaster would issue clothing and
other articles from his store and not
always charge them under the proper
heading as he should have doue. so
that when the time for balancing ac-
counts arrived it has seemed that
much property of one kind has disap-
peared and is not accounted for, white
there would be a surplus of anothe
kind. Inspection of the books and the
examination of witnesses have shown
that the trouble is the result of poor
bookkeeping and not of Col. Liuu'.,
administration.
Col. Arthur Linn's friends all over
South Dakota will be glad to read Mr..
Van Osdel's statement. Not because
they ever questioned Col. Linn's integ-
rity, but because their opinions of his
good character are completely verified.
-Yankton Press and Dakotan,
ANOTHER VIEW.
N. g. Nash, editor of the Sioux VAL
ley News, and member of the board of
control of the Soldiers Home, is in the
city attending the meeting of the
South Dakota Press Association.
Asked about the interview with Abe
Van Osdel in a recent issue of the
Yankton Press and Dakotan, Mr.. Nash
said that the interview was misleading,
in that it assumes that Irresponsible
ty for the management does not rest
with the person in charge but with
subordinates.
The board some time sgo directed
the public examiner to examine the
records and management of the Home.
1.-THE examination showed that I'M
businesslike methods prevailed, and
have prevailed under some former ad-
ministratiuns" said Mr.. Nash. "Anat
tempt wa made to secure the facts as
to the condition of the clothing ac-
count, but the adjutant general was re.
~luctant about giving the information
necessary to a complete showing. An
examination of the issue sheets of the
quartermaster and a comparison with
the invoices and the inventory showed
a shortage u~naccounted for as follows:
Thirty-two overshirts, 424 undershirts.
GA pairs drawers, l25 pairs socks, 30
coats, SO vests, 80 pairs pants. 2 caps.
AZ pairs s%uspenders, 81 hats, 30 jackets.
"a pairs mittens, Z pairs gloves, 26pairs
overalls, 8 pairs slippers, ofthe approx.
innate value of sl,030.
"Learning that the shortage was re.
ported, Colonel Linn Informed the ex-
aminer that a complete record was
kept in the clothing ledger and that an
inspection of this would strengthen the
whole matter. The shortage was re-
ported to the attorney general who was
requested to suspend any action until
the January meeting of the board. At
this meeting a critical examination was
made of the clothing ledger and it was
found that the clothing ~unaccouuted
for as shown by the ledger was as
stated above. The board has made nc
attempt to place the responsibility for
} this shortage"
Heretofore no bond has been re.
quired of the commandant. A bond is
required by the present board. This is
not intended as Il reflection on the
present or on past commandants but is
simply regarded as a business PROPOSE
tombstone Falls Argus-Leader