Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-05-22
Congressman Cox Denounces
Manasement Of Soldiers Homes

Representative James M. Cox, o
Ohio, delivered a rather startling
speech in the House of Representa-
tives on Thursday, May 12, while The
suncry civil appropriation bill was un
der discussion. Mr.. Cox severely ar
sa;gned the management of the sol
diers homes maintained by the gov
eminent, and dwelt at some length
upon the death OF Veteran Mahaffey
at the Phoehus entrance Of the Viz
ginia Branch last October. Comply
ing with innumerable requests from
veterans and others, this paper repro
duces from the Congressional Record
the speech practically in full
Mir. Chairman, the sundry civil ap-
preparation bill carries over $5.0O0,5Oo
Tor soldiers homes. Over $4,20O,0O OF
this amount goes for support ana
maintenance OF what are known as
the national military homes, and 1t is
TO this part Of the bill that / will ad-
dress my remarks
I assume this house that since. by
the very nature OF things, these homes
aud their members have been placed
in our hands, We can well afford to
pause for the first time In many years
and get a glimpse OF things behind
the scenes in these institutions.
The most sacred responsibility
which rests upon this government is
the care of the men who are liNinS
cat their last days in the national NIL
itary homes, a duty inspired by ma
tons gratitude and imposed by sta
fute in words so plain that so long as
one of these old heroes remains no
man can mistake the intent OF this
republic.
In the first days OF peace, and while
the nation was yet bleeding from her
wounds, every community, with ten
der ministrations, assumed the care OF
its sick and wounded soldiers.
AS these results of war were so
widespread. the government, this
great machine of popular Will, organ
lied the movement into a systematic
and what is believed 10 be an orderly
institution of relief, and these nation
al military homes We're created and
the gates thrown wide open in hospit-
able welcome.
The law creating the homes was
passed March 8, 1866. IL provides that
the President, the Secretary OF War
and the Chief Justice shall serve as
ex-officio members of a governing
board, and that in addition to these
three officers, eleven managers OF
II, ~ hxs t.tn
hutton OF Congress. The fact that upon
representatives of the three co-ordi-
nate branches OF the government was
imposed this great responsibility i'm
piled very clearly the wish OF the PEG
pie that this most sacred function
should have every safeguard thrown
about II. There are very few In
stances in our scheme OF government
where the three branches are drawn
upon to make a legal entity.
BY the end of 1867 four homes had
been created.
IL was provided in a subsequent
law, passed In 1884, that the Secre-
tary of War shall cause "a thorough
inspection to be made OF the National
Homes for Disabled Volunteer Sol
NitIct It's lttOsuc,
agement, discipline md condition.
such inspection TO be made by an of
f:cer OF the Inspector Generals De
partmeRt, who shall report thereon In
writing, and said :epor; shall be
transmitted to C.,ngrcss Al &c G-st
session thereafte-."
The purpose fthis section OF the
law doubtless is that Congress shall
give the closest possible attention to
the administration OF the Soldiers
Homes, and that the interests Of the
soldiers shall be as nearly as possible
In the hands OF the representatives Of
the people.
In this connection ] ask members
CT long service in this House to recall
the time when conditions in these
homes, as reported by the War De
partment, or the recommendations
which the inspectors have submitted.
have caused either discussion or leg
isiatiou. More than that. how many
years has Il been since the internal
Affairs OF these Institutions have
claimed the attention OF Congress
The country and Congress alike have
assumed that conditions were salts
factory. while the truth is that the
board Of managers. free and unfetter-
cd in its sway. has not only developed
into q revolutionary organization. but