The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1916-10-28

~ hAAaHEAA " NAAAkNEH
viesPrssidsnt ires Pres Dsisnss LsAgss
Washington. D. c.
0lN September 21 the National
IQl Tribune published a four-col-
Hl umn editorial apology for
LII the surrender 10 Rome OF
the United States Soldiers Home.
Anyone can readily understand
how much more dlflcult Il is
for one exposing abuses in such
an institution 10 ascertain the inner
secrets than il Is for one who tries
to defend them. Members Of the
home have assured the writer that
they dare not disclose the intoler-
able conditions there because Of the
wrath that would persecute them TO
destruction IL they were TO do so.
But, since the National Tribune
has devoted much space to the al
legged financial efficiency Of the man
agement, which had not been crit
icised, il is time to turn the light
Of truth on this subject.
Many positions formerly filed
with high efficiency by deserving
members Of the home at moderate
salaries have been given over 10
civilians, most Of whom are Roman
Catholics, and to officials OF the
army who are retired on liberal sal
aries, and all at greatly increased
salaries at the expense Of the home.
Official reports Of the home show
that the present administration,
which began in 1910, spent, during
its first five years, all the income Of
the home and reduced its endow-
ment Of permanent funds on de-
posit in the treasury Of the United
States by S79,426.21. So has the
sacred capital trust fund, derived
chiefly from monthly deductions
out Of the meager pay Of enlisted
soldiers, disappeared under the pres
ent management at the rate Of near
ly sixteen thousand dollars per year.
Official reports Of the board Of
commissioners show the following:
July !, isIo-LThs Permanent
Fund. deposited In the United
States Treasury, amounted 20. .f3,t7S, 100 A
July ]. 1915 - Said Permanent
Fund. amounted to............ 3,Sfs,TsS.2i
Showing said fund impoverished. 8 7s.G2s.2i
The home is legally under control
Of a board Of commissioners ap-
pointed by the president. The mem.
bers Of this board are active officers
in the regular army, except the gov.
ernor Of the home, who is the ranking
member and chairman Of the board
and who is a retired officer in the
regular army. With the other mem,
bers Of the board occupied complete,
ly in the discharge of their regular
military duties, the management oi
the institution is left virtually in
the exclusive hands of the governor
whose advancing years have per,
mitted his secretary, the sergeant
major of the home. who is Roman
Catholic and knight Of Columbus
to assume in large measure direc,
tion of affairs in the name of the
governor. This fanatical papist ha'
succeeded in making it PRACTICAL,
impossible for members Of the hom,
to see the governor.
Salaries of Officers
AS retired officers Of the army
the governor and subordinate officer
of the home receive the following
salaries from the United States gov
ernment:
Per Yea
Governor. CLieut. General. retired :. ss.ss
Deputy Governor, MAJOR. retired zee. 500
ouArtsmAs;Sr. tcolOnsl. rrtlred) ....... SIS
In addition to the foregoing, tn,
home also pays:
The Deputy Governor. per year. so
The Secreiary-Treasurer. per year.. l.5o
The ouArtsrmaster. per year.......... l.So
Each Of these officers is provided
with a mansion on the HON,
grounds. None Of the mansions
cost the home less than $4,000
These quarters are provided witt
electric lights and gas. They ar
heated by the Home Central Powe
Plant and BY gas stoves and fur
naces. Coal in unlimited quantitie
for cooking and other purposes i
furnished to these officers by tn
home.
The amount paid to civilian EN-