The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1911-02-17
REPORT ON HOME
THE LEGISLATIVE PROBE COM
MITTEE FINDS MATTERS
BLACK AND WHITE
HOUSE MAY WANT PAPERS
The Documentary Evidence in Hanos
of Committee May be Called
for in the Final Clean
Up of the Case

~Pierre-The following Is the con-
illusions reached by the Home lnVe3tl-
eating committee:
While the resolution providing for
the appointment Of this committee
merely contemplated the tndlng 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 s~uspending and dis
charging Frank Fassett, George o
ertson. J. c. Horner, DR.. II. S. Smith,
A. T. Gould and A. H. Lathrep was
harsh, vindictive. unjustifiable and not
in keeping with the spirit 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. NJ. Pinkerton and
H. A. Foster was, In the opinion or
your committee, warranted by the
facts disclosed. However, we deem
these men sufficiently punished and
recommend their readmission to the
Home.
8. 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 OF
the opinion that the matter Of passing
upon the qualification Of applicants 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. H. Anderson, while he was a
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 was warranted un-
der existing rules providing for the
suspension of habitual drunkards, but,
in the opinion of your committee,
some other method of treatment OF
un%fortunates 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 was without any just
cause, and wholly unwarranted.
8. That the expenditure of the sum
Of $5,670.4S Of the money appropriat-
ed for the repairs to sewerage was
wholly unauthorized and illegal.
8. That the members of the Home
generally have been well treated, are
comfortably CHARTERED, are furnished
with sufficient quantity and variety
of wholesome food, and all necessary
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 Commandant,
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 your
committee, the unpleasant conditions
which have heretofore existed at the
state soldiers home are due largely
to a combination of circumstances,
some Of which are as follows:
Frst-The present law requires that
the members of the board of commits
sioners and the commandant of the
Home shall be veterans of the Civil
a This requirement necessarily
confines the selection or men for these
positions from a class which at pres
emit, has an average age OF ~ years,
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 or
Hot Springs, and as such, are permit
ted to participate in all municipal
elections has been, in the opinion or
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 or the Home, provides
for the suspension of members fos
periods ranging from thirty to ninety
days, who frequently become public
charges on the city of Hot Springs.
and upon Fall River county. gives the
citizens of this neighborhood JUST
cause for complaint.
Fourth-The local government or
the home is military in its character,
the executive being denominated az
"Commandant," and all subordinate
positions, being designated by mill
tary titles. Military rules and tactics
prevail to a large extent. In the opin-
lon OF your committee, these condi-
tons are apt to lead to the strict and
arbitrary enforcement of discipline.
and what was intended for a Home
for the comfort of men in their de-
McLaughlin-The postoaace danaYt-