Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-20

draw two salaries and live at the ex-
pense of the government at a National
Soldiers home in his state when not
performing his congressional duties.
Who Pays Managers Salary?
1T has been stated TO the members
of the home by the governor and the
present local manager, Ex-Governor
Markham that there was no salary
attached to the office. The people of
California would like to know who pays
the expenses of the local manager;
how he supports himself and family
without a salary. 1t seems to us that
the only solution of the question is
the eradication of the evil Repeal the
law of 1867, creating a board of man
ayers of Soldiers homes and place the
homes under the direct management of
the war department. as recommended
by Theodore Roosevelt i'm his message
to congress last December. The mem
bers of the Pacific branch would pre-
fer being under the rules and manage
ment of the war department direct,
under officers who were educated in
the rules and know their duties and
their application to such homes. and
who can bear the light of any investi-
cation when it comes.
"As now conducted the board of man
ayers seem to be a law unto them
selves; they can be called to account
only when the political complexion of
congress is changed. The people at
large, as taxpayers have right to
know, through their congressman and
senators, who is responsible for the
present condition of affairs, where over
500 men in the last three months have
been compelled to eXpend over a third
of their pensions drawn in March to
prevent starvation"
Charges from the East
The following discussion of the Ma
tional Soldiers home problem taken
from a Dayton. Ohio, newspaper was
circulated al Sawtelle yesterday:
evidence accumulates to show that
the management of national soldiers
homes needs radical change. In the
very nature of things. the veterans
ought to be under military supervision,
like their juniors now in active service.
The war department is organized and
differed civilly and in a military sense
for such supervision. The present con-
troll is arbitrary, selfish, costly. 1t is
welded for the benefit of comparative
ly few persons and most of these have
no interest in the old soldier except for
his utility as a means of getting money
out of the government. A single fact
ultullOutu ny 1ilSptIApl GCilti d w l.
Wood in his recent report TO the war
department speaks volumes on this
point. He stated that while the mat
tresses purchased by the government
for use I'm the barracks of the regular
army cost only s1.S61a each. those
bought by the board of managers of
the military home cost S643. Even at
that the latter are of inferior quality.
1t is evident from General Woods re-
port that he looks upon this instance as
typical of the graft which is practiced
at all the branches of the home and
in all kinds of supplies.
Finds Rations Poor
1T is useless to say now, as has been
said for years past, that expressions
of discomfort come from the least
worthy among the veterans. General
Woods statement is official and he
finds that the rations are poor in quail
ity, meager in quantity and yet costly
to the government. And the COM
plants of former times came from the
most trustworthy mong the old sol
diers. They would be perfectly satisfied
with the regular ration of the army or
it's equivalent. But it is openly said
by men scattered al the way from
Maine to California that sometimes
there is not food enough to go around
and that even this is occasionally un-
eatable.
Cannot Plead Ignorance
There was an excuse for abuses of
this sort half a century ago. because
then the government had almost for
gotten how to feed and care for more
than a few regiments of soldiers, and
contractors were quick to discover the
weakness. But after the lapse of all
Csf1 fg r4f
things should continue wherever the
relics of the old volunteer army are
found seems almost incredible. The
government can no longer plead igno-
rance. 1t can only admit that it has
neglected its business and allows its
appointees to enrich themselves at its
expense. officials from the highest to
the lowest. not all but some, have en-
riched themselves at rate which their
salaries certainly did not warrant. open
and signed accusations on this point go
unanswered The fact is that they can
not be answered truthfully except by
confession.
Nobody supposes that the war de-
Lartment is perfect. But its organlza-
ton is as complete as any in the world,
and the safeguards are effective. It's
secretaries and clerks as we'll as its
military subordinates know what to do
where soldiers are concerned. 1t may
have some red tape but certainly no
more than the civilian system under
which the veterans now suffer. The in
fiuence of President Roosevelt was all
on the side of a change, and doubtless
the long experience of Mr.. Taft as sec
retary of war win cause him to take
the same side
Lobby Against Change
Meanwhile it is said that the pres
ent management is lobbying industrl-
ously at Washington against a change.
Some Of the arguments used in the past
in behalf of the management have been
demolished by General Woods report
What is more, the perfunctory pre-
arranged inspections have at last been
replaced by the unexpected visit. This
obvious device has long been asked for
by veterans who felt themselves to be
cheated out of that which the govern
ment promised them. Thus, even if the
board Of managers succeed in prevent
ing a change, they viii not find the flu
ture so halcyon and vociferous' rs the
past has been"