Leavenworth Soldiers' Home

Washington, Jan. 26.- Colonel A. J. Smith, the governor of the Leavenworth soldiers' home, against whom charges of mismanagement were brought by Represen tative Blue of Kansas, was the chief witness before the congressional committee investigating the matter. He entered a general denial of the accusations made against him and asked for a further hearing. He said Meirs Powell's testimony in support of nis affldavit filed with the committee at the last session could not be answered by him (Smith) ilow. Colonel Smith represented to the committee that with the large membership of the home it was absolutely neoessary to hold over them the fear of dishonorable discharged in urder that discipline might be enforced. The majority of the inmates of the intitutions were sobei', reputable men. He declared that there had been a conspiracy, which culminated about the time of the congresslonal investigation last Slimmer, and the witness asserted it was for that reason there wére many more cases of dishonorable discharges than usual at that time. Colonel Smith also ascribed the increase in arrests to the enlarged membership. In many instances the more money a pensioner received the more liquor he drank. He offered to show the papers accounting for every cent involved in the administration of the Keely fund, bilt the committee decided that that phase of the case should have been disposed of at I,ea ven wort h, although the colonel was permitted to raake a defense of the Keely cure. During the hearing Representative Blue emphatically declared he would not consent to Iet the investigation extend beyond this session oL congress. Represehtative Warner will proceed to Leavenworth to take further testimony desired by the committee.