Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-05
Nebraska

W aAaaAAANAE VI lNhlAh iANAiNNlEH aH bNN
instance, which we wish to relate. shows.
Comrade Bishop and wife were not long
ago admitted from Lancaster county. While
the daughters Of the farm boss are out
west the rooms are locked up. Mrs. Bishop
was bedrldden. Her daughter came along
from Lincoln and remained a few days
with her mother, and was Informed that
there was no room for her. and Il was
against the rules to keep her. She re-
turned TO Lincoln. Becoming anxious
about the care the mother should receive,
and the latter being very III, abe came
back. on her arrival. DR.. swlgart met her
and notified her that she would not be
permitted to stay-they would look after
the mother. The mother was regarded as
being on her deathbed by the daughter,
and she pleaded with the doctor to permit
her TO stay a few days. He refused. She
went to C-ommandant Barnes. but a deaf
ear was turned to her-the rules OF the
home would not permit II. She was told
she had to leave. She went out OF tho
building ana stood at the corner, weeping.
Adjutant MacEraw happened to como along
some time later and observed her. He
wanted TO know what the matter was.
The young woman gelated her story. She
was Invited TO the adjutant's home and
told that under the circumstances she
should remain and see her mother from
lime 20 tlno. The next day qnc was called
to the commandant's office and ,Mr.
Barnes tried to make her believe she had
misunderstood him. The mother has since
passed away. Economy and modern rules
seem to demand harsh things in such
cases, but easy things with reference to
the care and keeping OF the daughters OF
the farm boss.
Wha sheldon Did.
Upon Governor Sheldon's first visit to
the home early rlsers saw him going about
the barns the cattle yards, the various
other buildings unattended. He was in
vestigating for himself. He talked 10 the
individual members. His visit TO the smok-
ing and card room was significant. He
Immediately gave orders that 1t should be
cleaned up, be repainted and that, instead
of the '"detail" appointed hitherto to
clean up, the men changing about, a regu-
lar Janitor should be appointed for the
room; that he should be responsible for its
cleanliness, I'm order that the rooms might
be more habltable and pleasureable, and
that a reasonable salary be paid such a
man. The order was carried out. A few
days ago the man was told that he was
dlscharged-in the interest Of economy the
expense Of $40 per month could not be con-
tlnued. The wife Of the farm boss, how
ever, is stlll on the payroll at SIS per
month for the keeping Of their own rooms
and aside from that, a team OF horses,
the property OF the farm overseer, has
been kept at the home barns. One Of them
Is supposed to be a trotting animal; is not
worked on the farm, and yet the state
pays for its "shoeing'' at 81 per shoe.
Further economy Is now ordered in the
commissary department. We have been
supplied with fine, sweet butter from the
St. Paul II Is said too, that,
notwithstanding the fine quality, the
adjutant has made a considerable saving
In this item. Orders have been issued that
after July l a local grocery firm, dealing
mostly In country butter, would furnish
the butter. and judging from past expert
enees. we shah not be surprised to get the
rancid butter usually sold under such con-
ditions.
Management Most Inefficient.
eW believe, as members OF the Institution,
securing our information at first hand,
observing, the arrangement OF affairs every
day, and conVersing with our comrades in
the home daily, we can safely say that It
Is the general consensus OF opinion at the
Institution, regardless of party, that we are
now having the most thoroughly incom-
petent, weak, inefficient administration
ever known since the establishment OF the
home. The record o. 8 arg on Swigart under
-Commandant Beltzer ought to have been
sufficient to nave made his candidacy for
the place impossible. We understand, too,
that Governor Shallenberger was opposed
to appointing him, Mr.. Barnes, however,
insisted upon his appointment. Mr.. Shall
lenberger wanted to appoint McGraw as
adjutsnt and Mr.. Barnes had another man
in view. AS a compromise Swigart and Nc
Graw were named and now the governor
merely tells us that Mr.. Barnes Is the com
mandant-this after a brief Interview with
the Little Giant" the DemostheneS OF the
unterrifisd. while the mediclne-mixer. ex-
Senator Ashton. held the whitewash pail.
Can the old soldiers Of the state expect
more sympathy and a greater degree OF
solicitude from the present commandment?
His war record, as far as we have been
able to learn Il. is as follows; Enlisted In
the Ninth Iowa oward the close OF the
war; went as far as st. Louis with his regi-
ment, felgned sickness or was really taken
sick there and placed In a hospital; dis
charged four months later from the hos
pital without having been under fire or
seen an armed rebel. And yet, ought the
old soldiers of the state not be given more
consideration even from a man who does
not pretend TO have been q soldierf
c. H.. VAN NESS,
d. II. MAYNE,
e. II. JONES.
Three. old Soldiers Of Different Political
WH.Nth