The San Francisco call., 1904-04-03
BELLS CHARGES
ARE RESENTED
Grand Army Encampment at
Los Angeles May Take Up
Congressman's Imputation
ASPIRANTS FOR OFFICE
Candidates From the
South Will Be Chosen to
Succeed General Shafter

General Skaters successor as de-
partment commander of the Grand
Army Of the Republic will be chosen at
Los Angeles during the coming week.
1t is conceded that the honor belongs
to Southern California. The delegates
to the encampment will probably elect
the candidate that presents the strong
est Endorsements from that portion of
the State. The leading aspirants are
Charles T. Rice of Riverside and former
Adjutant General C. c. Allen of Los
Angeles.
Reference will probably be made in
the encamDment to the vehement at
tack of Congressman Bell on the man
agement' of the Veterans Home at
Yountville. Grand Army men are sur
prised that Bells statements in the
House of Representatives were not
challenged by some one of the Repub-
! lican Congressman from this State, as
the reports of the Yountville institution
are accessible. According to the Asso-
ciated Press account of what took place
liz the House, Bells utterances did not
reflect credit on California and were
distinctly defamatory of the board of
directors of the Veterans Home.
The following message has been
wired from this city to Washington:
Hon. Victor H. Metcalf. House of Repre-
seutatives Washington D. c.: Statement
made by Congressman Bell is misleading
/ Every veteran depositing his pension at the
home is entitled to receive It back in cash
The canteen at the home is conducted by
The proceeds go into a fund expended ex-
cltsively for the benefit OF the members of the
home; Strict rules and regulations governing
checks have never been issued against pension
veteran himself Records show that of 5000
a month deposited $1,000 a month is paid back
in cash. The policy OF the home management
Is to discourage the spending OF pensions foI
liquor.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS. VETERANS
By SAMUEL w. BACKUS. President
Senators Perkins and Bard and Rep
resentatives Gillette, Metcalf, Need
ham. Daniels and McLachlan have
been informed that during the month
of March. 1904, $4,000 of pension money
was paid to veterans at the home. In
addition thereto the sum of $4,000
stands to the credit of pensioners in
the Mutual Savings, San Francisco
National and First National banks of
San Francisco. This information will
California and in justice to the Grand
Army and the management of the Vet
erans' Home.
Whenever the fact comes to light
that some prudent old veteran has
saved a considerable sum of money he
is surrounded by outsiders. who tell
him that he is being cheated at the
home and ought to take his money and
leave. Not long ago an old soldier who
came into an inheritance of $1,000 from
Iowa was invited to make his perma-
nent home at a saloon in Yountville,
where the kindest treatment would be
accorded to him. The old man accept
ed the invitation. He was treated so
kindly that when all of his little for
tune of $1,000 had been expended for
liquor and on lewd associates the pro-
prietor of the place hired a wagon to
have the old vet taken back to the
home and sent a keeper along to roll
the sick and aged bankrupt from the
wagon to the steps of the command
ants office.
Incidents of this kind are not rare
The warm friends of the old soldier
have no fondness for him as companion
or client after his money is gone.