Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-05-22
Cox DenounCes MANAGEMENT Of Soldiers HON

Icy of deceit and concealment In its
relations with Congress, and | ask the
gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Gard
ner1 and challenge the gentleman
from Indiana mir. Crumpacker1 to run
through the hearings conducted by
the committee on appropriations and
gee whether the men representing the
administration in New York did not
conceal facts. The gentleman from
Minnesota INF. Tawneyl and the gen.
tleman from Iowa Judge Smith, two
of the ablest men in this House,
sought in every way, as the hearings
will show, TO get facts with reference
TO the post fund, and ! ask the gentle
man from Michigan 10 see whether
Judge Smith was able to clear up the
mystery OF the post fund.
"Dissraeefui Abuses"
One of the most disgraceful abuses
OF official power was witnessed during
the past year, and I want TO cali the
attention Of the House particularly to
the duplicity with which the whole
thing was carried through, because q
Tremeditated attempt was made to de-
ceive the people, and congress especi-
ally.
The official report OF the proceed
ings CT the board of managers, held in
New York City, December s, 1903,
says:
THE president of the board report
ed that he had suspended admissions
and readmissions 10 the Central
Branch for the purpose OF relieving
the crowded condition of some of the
barracks. applicants being diverted to
the Marion, the Danyille. and the
Mountain branches, in which there Is
an abundance Of ROOM"
On that very day there was lodged
at headquarters in New York City q
statement Of the vacant beds in the
four branches named: the Central, the
Mountain, the Marion and the Dan
Vile, and while the president Of the
board reported that the Dayton Branch
was crowded and that admissions had
been suspended. the truth is that Day
ton had 19I vacant beds, the Marion
home I23 vacant beds and the Noun
tain Branch l5s vacant beds. SO that
the statement was rot only based up
on pure falsehooG, bet the purpose Of
this whole transaction was misstated
and concealed. Official orders issued
from headquarters in New York. IN
der date of November 4. 1903. told the
real story. They gave instructions TO
the governor at Dayton to convert two
barracks, Nos. % and 30. into quar-
I tiers fer civilian employees with fam
lies The board Of managers well
knew that II would be unsafe 10 off,
ciaIly proclaim any intention OF clos
ing up two barracks in the Dayton
Home AZ the very beginning Of the
severess winter ~e nave known in
many years. and denying further ad-
missions In order that civilian employ
ees and their families could be
brought In and given quarters and "a
lions.
Let ne digreSs here 20 briefly dis
cuss the subject Of rations and ancth-
er policy OF the board. which is unfair
, to the soldiers. The act OF March 81,
1ss6. provided that the officers Of the
homes IN the entirety should be Sc
iected from disabled officers" The
act Of April n. 1892. removes the dis
ability qualification. but provides that
they shall be appointed from honora-
by discharged soldiers" u was not
Unit. 1897 that this Law vas changed
in The least. and this amendment pro
vides that only surgeons and assistant