The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-19
Soldiers, Home Pensions.

To the Editor of The Globe:
In the Minneapolis Journal OF l4th INST.
appears an article entitled Soldiers Home
Pensions in which statements are MADE
that are not correct.
First-The law of 1893 as mentioned
gives a discretionary power only TO c the
diers' home to take all their pension
money in excess of 81 per month. me
practical effect is to shield the board or
trustees from criminal prosecutions under
the laws of the United States govern
ment, and to prevent a recovery in civil
actions for amounts so taken.
Second-That no part or portion OF the
money taken from the members of the
Minnesota Soldiers home has been or VIII
be expended for the benefit of old soldiers
or their dependent ones, outside the MIN
done in violation of the criminal laws of
the United States government, and as
evidence that no part of pension money
taken as mentioned is appropriated IS that
Mr. fowler, president of the board of
trustees of Minnesota Soldiers home,
when pressed to the wall, stated to a
Joint legislative committee of the last
legislature assembled, that no part there
of was taken and donated for outside
relief. The United States government do
mates for the support of each veteran in
the Minnesota Soldiers home $500 per
capita for their yearly support, less one
half of the gross amount taken off their
pension. The practical effect of taking
the old veterans pension is that it takes
81 of the old veterans pension that 81
may be fumbled by the board of truS
tees, and make the proud state of Mime
sofa a penSioner of the national govern
ment, and exile and Danish from the
state the old pioneers and veterans and
compel them to seek protection of their
country'S flag outside Minnesota and a
Sepulcher among strangers. The state
loses by above practice, as estimated,
81 900 yearly, or in gross amount between
$50, 900 and 500, 900.
Be 1t remembered that one-Seventh Of
the citizens of Minnesota were in the
eranized without reward or bounty from
the state and at its close Minnesota owed
not 81 900 of state war debts. Had her
veterans been paid 500 each, it would
have amounted to over S2,400,0OO. Had
Minnesota veterans, all poor men, taken
the large bounties given by local and
states of the East, It would have more
than built two such edifices as Mime
sofas new capitol building now in erec-
ton During the Civil war the greatest
seourge of earth or hell, the Sioux out
break, came in Minnesota. and Minneso-
tans fought armed rebellion with their
homes on fire and the scalps of thousand
of their loved ones dangling from the
belts of the sayages. A few are left
of the Minnesota pioneer veterans. Some
are exiled and baniShed from their state,
and forced to seek protection of their
countrys flag and graves in other states;
others are enfeebled and gathered together
in the Minnesota soldiers home, and are
traduced, belied and robbed while living.
When dead, are stripped to their burial
clothes and buried In nameless graves,
, when our beneficent national government
furnishes without cost tombstoneS to all
the old heroes who defended its integ-
rity in the days that tried islI men,s souls.
National Soldiers Home, Milwaukee, Wis,
March 16, 1904.