The National tribune., 1903-10-01
OWNERSHIP OF TIE SOLDIERS. HOMES.

A great many Of our soldiers have be-
come much exercised over a sensational
article in Socialist paper. which has
been copied and enlarged still farther by
certain journals Of the yellow type. These
allege that the Soldiers Homes do not be-
long to the United States, but to a certain
mysterious contribution Of irresponsible
men, who do with them and the money ap-
propriatcd for them pretty much as they
please. without any supervision or check.
The following paragraph gives the drift
of the articles:
What becomes Of the vast sums taken
from the soldiers and public donations for
these Homes. if the Government keeps
them up and pays all expenses? There is
something rotten in misunderstanding
like the corruption in the postal system.
Think Of the old soldiers living on the
private domains of some persons zap
pointed by Congress- Hasn't Congress
got enough confidence in the name Of the
Government to hold the title to lands that
it is spending millions to improve? This
is only another Of the CRAFTS the Republi-
can party. aided and abetted by the Demo-
cratic party, to get money out Of the pub
lie Treasury for private benefit Bold
about it?''
This is the most absolute nonsense The
Soldiers Homes were created by the act
Of March q, 1886, appearing in Sec. 1925
Of the r. S., which constitutes Board Of
Managers, consisting Of the President and
the Secretary Of War, Chief Justice, and
such other persons as may be associated
with them. who shall have perpetual sue
cession. with power to take, hold and con-
vey real and personal property, establish
a common seal and sue and be sued in
courts Of law and equity" There were to
be nine active managers, to be elected
from time to time as vacancies may occur,
by joint resolution of Congress. These must
be citizens Of the United States and resi-
dents of loyal States. These II members
shall elect from their own number Pres
ident two Vice-Presidents, and q Secre-
tary. None Of these shall receive any COM
pensation beyond their travelling and other
actual expenses. The Board is empowered
to procure from time to time sites for Mil
itary Homes fer persons who had served
the United States during the war Of the
rebellion and were now disabled, to provide
suitable buildings on these sites and to
make proper regulations for their govern
ment The Homes were to be subject to-
the inspection of the War Department.
and all their accounts and operations, and
the Board should make an annual report
to Congress on the first Monday Of every
January. The Board was directed to
visit the Homes every three months, ex-
anime their condition and audit their ac-
counts. Since that time Congress has had
the Homes under careful consideration,
and from year to year has passed such adj
ditional laws relating to them as seemed
needed In 1894 an amendment was
passed giving to the President of the Board
a salary not exceeding $1,000 year and
to the Secretary not exceeding $1,000 n
year. In the same bill was the following
mandatory section:
'That hereafter. once in each fiscal year
the Secretary of War shall cause a thor
ough inspection to be made of the Ma
tional Homes for Disab Volunteer Sol
diers, its records, disbursements, manage
ment, discipline, and condition, such in
spection to be made by an officer of the
Inspector-Generars Department, who shall
report thereon in writing, and said report
shall be transmitted to Congress at the
first session thereafter"
There is no department Of the public ex-
penditures wore carefully looked after and
more thoroughly under the absolute control
Of the Government than the Soldiers
Homes. Their ownership by the United
States is absolute, and is in the customary
form for institutions Of that kind. The
method is copied from that of the States
for asylums and similar institutions,