The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-03-27
Old Soldiers Home Muddle.

| Home, which broke up in a row fol-
lowing stormy session. Col D. A.
Dickert left the meeting and handed
in his resignation to the Governor,
declaring that he was not going to
have anything more to do with the
institution under present conditions.
Mr.. A. w. Todd, a member of the
board, this morning handed out a
statement denying the charges made
by Col Dickert.
Capt J. Pat Caldwell, until recently
commandant at the Confederate
Home, in a statement to-day, declar-
ed that he had been summarily dis
missed by the trustees because he had
stated before the legislative investi-
eating con- mittee that the services
of Major Richardson were not need
ed and that the 500 per month paid
to Major Richardson was just so much
money thrown away.
Capt Caldwell declared that at a
"rump" meeting of the board, attend
ed only by Major Richardson, Col
Dickert and DR.. Butler, he had been
fired" because of his statement that
the salaries drawn by Major Rich
ardson and Dr. Butler were so much
money thrown away. He charges
that DR.. Butler and Major Richard
son were not members of the board
at this time, having previouly handed
in their resignatiaons. Capt Cald-
we'll sent his application for re-elec-
ton as commandant to the board
yesterday, along with a statement.
He received a reply summarily re-
moving him from the office of COM
mandant.
In his statement former Comman-
dant Caldwell makes the statement
that it had been testified that it cost
25 cents per capita per day to feed
the old soldiers at the Home. From
daily report of those present kept
by him, Capt Caldwell claims that
there was daily average attendance
last year of 81, which shows total
spent for feeding, clothing and car
ing for the old soldiers last year was
s5,2O1.25. There was appropriated
last year for the maintenance of the
Home $4,000, besides $4,000 for
repairs, making a total of $4,000.
Under the Act establishing the
home members of the board cannot
draw salaries, but Major H. w. Rich
ardson and DR.. F. w. P. Butler were
on the pay roll at salaries of 500
and $50 per month, respectively, as
white help" 1t was openly charged
that Major Richardson did no work,
other than a general supervision, and
such were the charges and counter
charges of mismanagement and vast
full expenditure of funds that legis-
lative investigating committee probed
the matter. This committee report
ed among other things that the man
agement was too expensive, that the
charge of drinking by the inmates
was warranted, that the authorities
of the home had spent too much
money for liquor, that the physician
in charge was costing too much money
and that his salary should be reduced
and generally that neither the State
nor the Veterans was getting their
moneys worth.
In order to prevent members of the
board from drawing salaries a pro-
vision was put in the appropriation
bill to the affect that no part of the
appropriation was to be paid to any
member of the board under guise of
any employment whatsoever except
actual expenses for attending meet
ings.
Following the adoption of this
provision of the appropriation bill for
this year Major Richardson, who had
been chairman and treasurer of the
old board, and Dr.. F. w. P. Butler,
who was a member of the old board
and physician at the old home, resign
ed their places on the board. Capt
Caldwell, being fired" as command
ant, Major Richardson was elected
to the position of general manager
on salary and DR.. Butler was re-
tanned as salaried physician.
Confederate Veterans and the peo-
pie of the State generally are very
much dissatisfied over the continual
row that has been going on at the Old
Soldiers Home, the charges of mis-
management, wastful expenditures of
money, drunkenness and general in
competency. 1t is expected that at
the annual Reunion Of the Confed
crate Veterans in Aiken this spring
this matter will be thoroughly aired
>1J