The Washington herald., 1918-10-04
TO AIR CONDUCT
OF VETS HOME
Inquiry by Congressman
Said to Reveal Shock
ing Conditions.

west will be demanded in a resolution
offered today in Congress by Repre-
sentative W. Frank James, of Mich
igan.
Complaints concerning the manage
ment of the institution were received
, by Mr.. James several days ago. 1t
was stated that conditions under
which the inmates Of the home were
forced to live were unspeakable. and
that the funds set aside by Congress
had been misappropriated. Special
complaints were laid against the last
superintendent, Capt. R s. Copeland.
who resigned from his position at the
head OF the institution last Saturday.
Late last night Mr.. James, accom-
| panied by several Spanish war vet
Grams, visited the place and made a
quiet tour OF inspection. Mr.. James
/ declared that the results OF his per-
sOnal investigation had convinced him
| that the complaints were justified.
and that the matter should be taken
'up Immediately by Congress.
Garrett Beds Called Filthy.
! Mr.. James discovered that the civil
( and Spanish war veterans for whom
! the establishment is conducted are
/ quartered in the garret, while the
superintendent OF the home" occu-
pies the rest Of the fifteen-room house.
/ The men are provided with narrow
| iron cots, some OF them furnished
with a double deck" about fifteen
| or twenty OF the cots being placed
| in each attic room.
| The bed linen. Mr.. James declares,
, was unspeakably filthy He was told
| that the blankets had not been laun-
dered since the home was established
| and he states that from the appear
ance Of the one sheet allowed each
| cot, the same rule had been applied
to all bed coverings.
When Mr.. James visited the home"
one of the inmates was III In the gar
( ret dormitory. Downstairs, on the
| second floor, members Of the Ladies'
| Auxiliary OF the Spanish War Vet
Grams have furnished a room especially
for men who are taken Ill in the place
Mr.. James was told that the room is
never used by veterans stopping at
! the institution.
| The men are not permitted to be on
! the wide lawn, or in any part of the
/ house but their garret and q small
room on the third floor. One towel a
week is allowed for the use Of all in
! mates.
/ He discovered that the tableware
used in the dinng-room consists en-
( tirely of agateware. served on a table
! covered by soiled oil cloths.
Two Meals a Day.
A sample menu for the day was
secured by the Michigan Represen-
, t1tive to be used in presenting his
7 resolution before Congress.
| Breakfast, served at o'clock
Stew. usually OF what is termed
by ex-soldiers SOW belly" bread,
coffee.
Dinner. served at 4 o'clock-meat.
potatoes, bread and tea.
The men are given only two
meals day.
In August the expense account
for the establishment, Mr.. James
was informed, contained among
various items, bills for 16 pounds
OF meat per day. At that time
there were only three men in the
establishment.
! Appropriations from Congress
and the District allow $4,000 per
gear for the upkeep of the home
$500 per month.
Mr.. James intends to ask that
Congress make inquiry as to what
use has been made of this $500 per
month for party of men averaging
around six and seven. There are
six men in the institution at the
present time.
Would Find EK-Superinten5ent.
Copeland resigned from the insti-
tuition and left the city last Sat
urday. it was stated. Mr.. James in
tends to ask that he man be found
and questioned as to his MANAGEMENT
OF the place.
The home was esta blished several
years ago as a temporary refuge for
veterans of the civil and Spanish
wars. The men are not expected
to stay longer than ten days,
Mr.. James stated last night that
If the home is not to be used for the
veterans. 1t might help the govern
ment solve the problem Of caring
for the war worker.
However" he said, ut should he
used first and last for the beneft
of the veterans OF our last two wars
as 1t was originally intended to be
used"
H. B. Snyder. president Of the hoard
Of trustees for the institution. stated
last night that the board had no con-
rol over the affairs of the home-that
the management rested entirely upon
the District Board of Charities.
Earlier in the day officers Of the
Board OF Charities stated that their
only connection with the institution
was to prevent the superintendent
from exceeding the $500 monthly al
lotment appropriated by Congress and
the district.