Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-14
money, alleging that they were not receiv-


ing proper treatment and 1000
The committee expected to take Mr.. and
Mrs. Heiner by surprise, but when the
members arrived they were more surprised
than were the officials of the home. Mrs
Heiner was Just preparing to serve dinner
to the eighty-six inmates, but this work
had to be set aside while she and President
Heiner escorted the committee through the
structure. The dinner remained upon the
stove and out in the back yard the little
children played and licked their chops"
and worked up an appetite. The committee
went through the home like sleuth hounds
and nothing was left ''uninvestigated." A
door of a closet was found locked.
woman is Suspicious.
whats in that roomY'' demanded fe-
| male member Of the committee. I'VE want
to see in there"
There is nothing in that closet, and
| haven't a key for it." replied Mrs. Heiner.
TT hasn't been opened for months, but
will have It opened for you"
The committee waited expectGntly while
the house carpenter was sent for and took
the hinges of the door. The committee
| craned its necks into the closet and found
| nothing Just as Mrs. Heiner said.
who does the work around here?" de-
! manded a female inquisitor Of Mrs. Heiner.
81 do" replied Mrs. Heiner. For eight
| weeks we have been unable to get any help
70 stay with u.s. and have had to do the
| cooking and attend to the personal needs
OF the older members Of the home who can
not look after themselves"
Many OF the inmates whom Mrs. Heiner
| looks after are absolutely helpless. She
does the cooking herself with the assistance
of a few of the older girls, who as rule
| .
doing this she looks after the entire instl-
tuition and helps two teachers instruct the
young persons in the home. These two
teachers are the only paid employees at the
institution.
A number OF the inmates Of the hospital,
| which was found TO be in good shape, told
the committee that they did not get SUM-
| cient food, and one of them said he had
been fed last week for several days on
! bran mash" He paid $500. he said, TO be
cared for the rest OF his life and is now
suing to recover his money.
Some humorous incidents occurred during
the trip through the various rooms, and
on several occasions the committee was
nonplussed. Once, while a dozen or more
OF them were in the hall plying Mrs. Heiner
and President Heiner with questions, an
aged inmate tottered out to the group and
said:
well, ladies and gentlemen. l have to
go, so 1 will tell you goodbye. God bless
you ali, and you, DR.. Heiner, l want TO
shake hands with you. l never had a better
home than this. God bless you"
Difference of Opinion.
Some members OF the committee after
the investigation were of the opinion that
the case is one OF lack of funds, while
others maintain it is bad management on
the part OF Mr.. and Mrs, Heiner. In the
institution there are eighty-siX people, of
whom about fifty are small children. The
institution is maintained by public sub
scriptions and donation and by some
parties paying for the board of relatives.
which ranges all the way from SO to $50 a
month. DR.. Heiner said last year he had
collected and spent about 1890 in main
tanning the institution. and needed much
more money. The building is a three-story
brick and Is surrounded By fifteen acres
Of ground upon which is a small vineyard
a little garden and a number OF flower
beds. The location Is ideal for such a home
and the property is valued at $1,000
The state has no control over the institu-
ton and contributes nothing to its support.
This committee organized itself. as a men,
Der said. TO create public sentiment against
the Heiners so as TO run them out OF the
home or force them to allow members OF