The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1911-02-17
REPORT ON HOME
THE LEGISLATIVE PROBE CON-
MITTEE FINDS MATTERS
BLACK AND WHITE
HOUSE may WANT PAPERS
The Documentary Evidence in Hands
Of Committee May be Called
for in the Final Clean
Up Of the Case

PieTre-The following is the con-
illusions reached by the Home inye5ti-
eating committee:
While the resolution providing for
the appointment OF this committee
merely contemplated the finding OF
facts, the committee feel that a state
ment of their conclusions and recon-
mendations will not be out Of place,
therefore, we submit the following:
!. That the action OF the command
ant and board of commissioners OF the
Soldiers Home in suspending and dis
charging Frank Fassett, George Gov
ertson, J. c. Horner, DR.. II. S. Smith,
harsh, yinQictiVe. unjustifiahle and not
in keeping with the split and purpose
of the institution and recommend that
these members be reinstated to mem
bership in the Home.
2. That the action of the Com
mandant and Board of Commissioners
in discharging j. M. Pinkerton and
Fl. A. Foster was, in the opinion or
your committee, warranted by the
facts disclosed. However, we deem
these men sufficiently punished ana
recommend their readmission to the
Home.
3. Regarding the case Of DeCamp
Wilmington. Edison Moore, Frederick
Beherns and Samuel Chapman, the
matter of their admission was by the
rules, left to the discretion of the
Commandant. Your committee are OIL
thn an;yfn, {hnf Tho p1ottn- IF rocciny
upon the qualification Of appli cants as
to residence and property should be
left to some authority OF the county
in which the applicant has formerly
resided.
4. That the treatment accorded to
VIM. II. Anderson. while he was Il
member OF the Home. was, consider
ing his condition. the best that could
be given and afforded no just cause
for complaint.
5. That the action of the Com
mandant in ~suspending James Barton
and James Randall vas warranted un-
der existing rules providing for the
suspension Of habitual d~runkardS, but,
in the opinion Of your committee,
some other method of treatment OF
u~nfortunates OF this class should be
devised.
6. That no blame should in any
way attach TO any one connected with
the Home for the condition surround
ing the case of Reuben Smith.
Z. That the action of the COM
mandant in ordering J. A. Glass to
vacate the room occupied by him as
a barber shop vas without any just
cause and wholly u~nwarranted.
8. That tie expenditure OF the SIM
Of s5,670.4S Of the money approp,iat-
ed for the repairs to sewerage was
wholly unauthorized and illeaal.
Q. That the members OF the Home
generally have been we'll treated, are
comic tably quartered, are furnished
with sufficient quantity and variety
medical attendance. and appear to be
satisfied with the Home.
10. That many improvements have
been made to the buildings ana
grounds by the present Comman4ant.
and he is entitled to the highest
commentator for the ability he has
displayed in the management Of the
business affairs Of the Home.
II. That, in the opinion Of our
committee, the unpleasant cond ticns
which have heretofore existed at the
state soldiers home are due largely
to a combination OF circumstances,
some OF which are as follows:
First-The present law requires that
the members OF the board of commits
sioners and the commandant of the
Homo Chutl fr yntovanc ~ TIM C;vft
war. This requirement necessarily
confines the selection OF men for these
positions from a class which at pres
ent, has an average age Of x ears,
and prevents the appointment OF
younger and more active men.
Second-The fact that the members
Of the Soldiers Home are considered
residents and voters Of the city 0
Hot Springs. and as such, are Kermit
ted to Participate in all municipal
elections has been. in the opinion OF
your committe. no small factor IN
bringing about conditions detrimental
to the welfare Of the Home.
Third-The present rule, promulgat-
ed by the board of commissioner for
the government OF the Home, provides
for the suspension of members TO-
periods ranging from thirty to ninety
days, who frequently become public
charges on the city OF Hot Springs
and upon Fall River county. gives tn
citizens of this neighborhood JUST
cause for complaint.
Fourth-The LEGAL government o.
the home is military in it's character
the executive being denominated a
"Commandant,' and all subordinate
positions, being designated by min
tary titles. Military rules and tactic
prevail to a large extent. In the opin
on of your committee, these condi
tons are apt to lead to the strict an
arbitrary enforcement Of discipline
and what was intended for a Homo
for the comfort OF men in their de