Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-20

TNHE charges made by the veterans
of the Sawtelle National Soldiers
II home, with the departure of $50
veterans from the institution on ac-
count of alleged shortage of food sup
ply, has resulted in an agitation which
has become national in scope. Inc
matter has been brought to the atten-
tion of President Taft and the war de-
uartment and within a few days the
movement to have the management OIL
the homes taken out of the hands OF
the New York commission Whlch now
controls them will crystalline in de-
mand for a thorough investigation and
reorganization, voiced by residents OF
the eleven national and tWenty-nlne
state soldiers homes, members or the
Grand Army of the Republic Women's
Relief corps, Sons of Veterans ana hu-
manitarians from one end OF the coun-
try to the other, VINO nave peen pr
foundly moved by the Sawtelle reVela-
tions. Expressions of sympathy and
offers Of support reached Sawtelle yes
terdav from state homes at Monte Wis
ia. cal, Lafayette, Ind, Grand RAPIDS,
Mich, Roseburg, Ore. Columbia Falls,
Mont. Hot Springs, S. D., and other
state soldiers homes.
Line Up at Lunch Counter
The vehement assertion of their
rights by the veterans was productive
of one SUBSTANTIAL meal, served FRIDAY
but Yesterday the customary bill OF rare
appeared, and grizZled forms again
were seen lined up at the lunch coun-
ters of the eight new 'beaneries' whlch
have been opened in SaWtelle since the
shortage in food supply began: Ohcle
Billy. an Ohio veteran, who enjoys en-
viable fame in SaWtelle as war MS
torian, was unable to climb up on the
stool account OF
his rheumatism, and stood at the side
of the line munching a stale doughnut,
A veteran, whose name is withheld
on account of the fact that it's disclos-
ure would, he fears, mean his dls-
charge, propounded number of bel
ligerent questions TO the manageiheh'
and is still awaiting their answer.
"CoI Cochrane stated June IS that the
fauIt of the shortage was with congress
having cut the appropriation $1,000, lie
said 1.-THE statement made does not
agree with the facts in the case. The
public would like to know If congress
has made any appropriation or allow
ance for the feeding of the 1870 male and
female employees in the home; if so,
we have never heard of it. These citi-
zens are employed contrary to the
specific act of congress, passed in 1882,
stating that members of the home
should have employment while able tc
work. Ine SdlHe ISSOlutIoH iOASiiSN ~
Spanish war veterans whenever llieln-
bers of homes
"According to the statements of our
doughty governor, published in Los
Angeles newspaper May 30, 1903, the
qualifications necessary for an adjutant
employe were that in no case should
said employe be one who ever had been
a member of "a home. In years eX-
penses the feeding of 125 to 130 citizen
employes certainly requires some ap-
preparation made for the feeding of the
propriation. Will our governor state
If there was an appropriation made for
the feeding of the citizens?
Believe Funds Ample
"Veterans believe that the funds ap-
nronriated by congress were sufficient
for the maintenance of the home, #
properly handled These funds are di-
vided quarterly with the privilege to
draw on the incoming quarter to the
amount of 10 per cent to apply on any
shortage. The leak is easily discovered
through the above facts.
1.-THE board of managers, in their lit
finite wisdom, seem to be above all
laws of congress. They make rules and
regulations for the government of the
home, create offices and official titles
without the authority of law. To whom
are they answerable?
Perhaps the governor OF the Pacihc
branch may be able to put the public
wise ais to the why's and wherefores
of how the present chairman of the
hoard of managers secured his position,
after being defeated in a Republican
district with a normal majority of
60OO In his state? Perhaps from the
same source the public at large may
learn why or how a congressman can
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