Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-05-18
COX GETS The WRONG STEER
Captain Palmer Explains Attack Of
the Ohio Congressman.
SOLDIERS HOME BOARD WORKS
Members DO Not Waste Public Time
Nor Money Nor Charge Inmates
for Drinks and Cigars
Junkets.

with reference to the attacks " Con-
gresham Cox, a democrat from Ohio who
made charges against the National Home
for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, alleging
that the management OF the Danviile
branch was extravaganza, Captain Henry L.
Palmer, second vice president of the board
answers The congressman.
Il feel less inclined to blame Mr.. Cox"
said Captain Palmer. for the many mis-
statements in his speech for the reason
that 1t is apparent that much of his in
formation comes from soldiers, who for the
best interests of all concerned, have been
disciplined
The closing of the canteen has in
creased nv difficulties of control and
proper government. Men who think they
y must drink, who were satisfied with three
or four glasses Of beer day with only
~ per cent alcohol-now drink bootleg
whisky, which makes their presence in the
home unbearable. l believe, however, that
some provision should be made to care for
these men as incurables, making them
hospital patients under proper discipline
and segration.
Mr.. Cox is reported as stating that
no department Of the government is guilty
of wasting public funds to the extent found
abled soldiers Exactly the reverse of this
statement exists. No department of the
government can show better record for
economical, honest disbursement of the
funds provided by congress for the main
tenance and conduct of the homes without
stinting to wrong degree the inmates.
The figures given as to cost of homes, Dan
Vile, for instances, 27SOOO, granting Mr..
Cox figures to be correct-is not an eX-
travagant or unwaTranted expenditure for
plant to house and care for over 5000
men, so per cent of whom need hospital
treatment.
Cost of Administration.
Again. he states that with an average
number of 1856 in the homes in 1898, the
a cost of maintenance was $2627l4S, while in
= DOS, with 1879 inmates-an increase of
only per Cent-the expenditures were
t5.26S,96s an increase of 100 per cent,
planned by the fact that the last item
covers the cost of the new homes erected
since 1898, together with repairs and re-
constructing of homes built of wood forty
five years ago; it also covers cost of
gardening, parking building roads walks
etc, charged to maintenance, increasing
the per capita tax, some years 100 per cent
over preceding years.
The reference to tunketng trips is ridl-
Culously wrong. He says in a two-days'
session of the board at Dayton, o., the
bill for liquors for members of the board
exceeded $3.50, which amount was taken
out of a fund made by the soldier inmates
not true. AS matter of fact, there were
not exceeding eight members of the board
present at that less than two-days' ses-
sion; not half of the members drink at
all, and not 1 cent for drinks cigars is
ever charged to the government. The Of
Ulcers at Dayton have at their own ex-
pense, as ] believe, with their wives pres
ent, given dinner complimentary to the
board, of, managers on the eve of their
departure on completion of the annual in
spection.
mot one penny is paid to any member
of the board for services rendered, except
to the president, and small allowance
$500 a year-to the member who serves as
secretary. Every account for actual ex-
pense for travel and board while making
the annual inspections demanded by con-
gress, has to be itemized and sworn to
before a notary public before payment The
figures and every item of expenditure by
the board of managers or by the Officers
of the homes are open to inspection and
the reports made to congress and published
annually. Junketing trips as M. Cox
calls them, are made for the benefit OF
the inmates-our comrades-made to insure
correct management and good treatment tC
the soldiers; complaints, If any, heard with
out the home officers being present, al
the work performed by the managers fol
charity's sake and for the honorable trus
imposed upon them by congress, costing
them at least fifty days in a year of valu.
able time to look after the honest and
careful expenditure of from $1,000 900 to 49,
for the nineteen state homes nearly al
much each year-$100-for each inmate IL
the state homes.
Personnel of the Beard.
.'Mr. Cox names the members of the
HOrd, Major James w. Wadsworth Of
New York, the president, for twenty year.
member of congress- chairman of tn,
committee on agriculture, one of the very
wealthy citizens of New York state; Gen
eral Thomas j. Henderson of Princeton, Ill.
Anow over 50 years old twenty years a mem
VDer OF congress- one Of the most honoreC
citizens of that state. a man who was {
personal friend of Abraham Lincoln; m,
humble self from Nebraska, second vict
president; Colonel Walter y. Brownlow o
Jonesboro. Tenn, secretary; has been ,
member OF congress for the last twelve
or fifteen years, is the appropriation
committee; John II. Holley OF La Crosse
Wis. one OF the prominent bankers o
Wisconsin; Major William Warner OF Kan
sas City, Mo, who is at present UniteC