Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-07-18
Protest Entered by the
City Of Augusta.
City Solicitor Speaks for Vet.
Grams and Poor Department.
His Communication 10 The President Final.
y Reaches Togus Home.

City Solicitor Frank L. Dutton re-
| Gently Interested himself in the cause
or veteran of the Civil War who had
fallen into distress. and who arrived
IN this city from Woonsocket. r. T.. in
destitute circumstances. The man
was Abrose Schouler. in poor health
| and without funds and he came here
with the intention of entering the
Eastern Branch, y. II. d. V. s., at
Togus. not being familiar with the
usual technical requirments for admis-
sion to that institution.
SchOuler experienced considerable de-
lay in having his application for admis-
sion to the Home approved it is UNDER
stood. and his case was called to the
attention of the city solicitor as the
man was found in the city in deSti-
tute condition, and unable to care for
himself.
AS the case was one Of frequent oc-
currence, Mr.. Dutton took the matter
up and wrote directly to the President
of the United States. His letter was as
follows:
June ed, 1906.
Theodore Roosevelt, President OF the
United States, White House, WASH
ingtOn, d. c.
Dear Sir:-The Eastern Branch Ma
tional Home for Disabled Volunteer
Soldiers is located at Togus, on the line
of an electric railroad four miles from
the city of Augusta. My attention
has just been officially called to q case
where one Ambrose Schouier. of Woon-
| ynf Ie.ln a,
to this Home and upon the charity OF
friend in Woonsocket procured n
railroad ticket to Togus where he ar
rived penniless. He had with him his
honorable discharge from the service
and his pension papers. He was in
firm and unable to work. He pre-
scented himself with his papers at the
office Of the adjutant. He was in
formed that before being admitted he
must procure certain afIidavits for
which blanks We're furnished him.
These blanks required his own affidavit
before Il notary public covering his
regiment. enlistment, disability. etc.
and the affidavit of a surgeon that he
was unable to labor. These afIidaNits
might easily have been prepared for
him by the officers and surgeons at the
Home. But they did not do so. He
was not given food or shelter at the
Home or allowed to remain. Without
money and among strangers he came to
Augusta and called upon the overseer
of the poor for assistance. A cOmrade
gave him fifty cents for the notary fec.
but he was unable to get gratis the re-
ouired surgeons certificate. He be-
came q charge upon the city of Au-
eusta. The matter was brought to my
attention and after q conference with
the governor of the Home he finally
consented to admit the veteran pending
the completion of the papers and to
have the Home surgeon make the
necessary examination.
Your attention. and through you the
attention Of the war department, is
called to this case because it is one of
frequent occurrence, having happened
| in some form almost weekly for
several years. The City of Augusta is
mot only put to annoyance and expense
but these veterans are subjected to
Itechnicaltes and delays which a
courteous clerk might easily remedy.
| Is it not possible under the law for
| the 10 shelter anu lieu llItSt
soldiers when they come there pending
the examination Of their application
for admission?
There is another matter in connec-
ton with this Home that has given us
considerable trouble. Many of the
soldiers in the Home are men broken
in health and spirit, without ambition
hope or pride. Frequently one of them
commits some infraction of The Home
regulations and is dishonorabIy dis
charged. Such veterans are turned
cut without money or friends upon the
charity OF a public altogether too for
getful Of their former services. Many
Of them haze been sent to Jail for
vagrancy 10 mingle with the criminal
classes. Is there no remedy for this
error in the administration of this
Home?
Racnnaff,,1lx-