The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-06

that some of the charges would be closely ex.
| amined here by the pauper committee, ana
probably explanation demanded, DIR. Kill
bOurn caused them 10 be returned and the
present still exhOrbitant account returned,
which is understood to be considerably less
then the first bills; and these are also sworn
to. If the doctor swore to what was untrue or
was mistaken in the first instance, can we
trust him in h.s second sworn statement
This loose way of making contradictory atil-
davis ~ to the itemiZed accounts, ana the
fact that neither the superintendent OF the
asylum nor his assistant could explain how
the same occurred, to put it in the most
charitable light indicates gross mlsmanage-
ment, ineiciency or something worse on the
part of the officers, or the superintendent of
the asylum at Elgin The superintendent al
so in another conversation assured me that
there was no reason for the increase, and that
the same was uncalled for and unnecessary;
and he further said: And | give his own
words. IwiNtokecf my hat to the good pe0-
pie Of LIZ Sale county and assure them that
DMey pay this bin as rendered they ~W nee
CT again hare reason to complain.
This Is most extraordinary proposition
and coupled with Dr. Kilbourn's repeated ack-
nowledgement, that the increase in these bills
was unnecessary and uncalled for; the whole
thing looks like "A deliberate attempt to OBJ
tain money from La Sale county which 1t
does not owe. 1t appears like polite rob
berry; as if u highwayman were to meet you
Mr.. Chairman in a lonely place, point
cooked revolver at your face, and say while
politely taking off his hat to you, excuse me
good citizen of La Sale county, but if you
will give me your watch and money this
time as have demanded it, you will never
have reason to COMPLAIN of me again
understand that the Trustees of the Asy
lum have examined our accounts and have
decided that as they had served all the other
counties alike as to these extravaganza charg.
es, that La Sale county has no cause to cone
alatn The doctrine that as uniform system
of wrong makes everything right is new
one, and theory which your committee is
not yet prepared to advocate. Your commit
tee took pains to closely scrutinize a large
number of the items in the La Sale county
bills, and submit them herewith. Some items
for boots are as high as So per pair, which
for paupers is at least cXtravagant. Calico,
in one instance is charged 20 cents per yard
while from 10 to 1919 is good enough for
many farmers wives and daughters who are
far from being paupers,
The bills of the asylum against La Sale
wear 1875, S25431; and the year 1876, $751;
SO. Thus showing an increase from 1874 to
1875, of S7705, and from 1875 to 1876 of $3O7.-
81; and yet during the years 1874, 1915, and
1876, the number of paupers was almost the
same, to not exceed more then four or five
taking the average of those received and dis
charged. Here is something that is sadly in
need of an explanation, and unaccounted for
on any proof or even theory OF necessity,
there is no evidence that the inmates destroy
ed their clothing, and what is still worse no
proof that they received suits of clothes, boots,
hats, slippers &c. in such quick succession;
but the following figures taken from our
bills and compared with the bills from the
jacksonville and Elgin asylums will plainly
speak for themselves.
Christian Hanson, jacksonville, bill from
June t. to Aug. 26 1919, , months and %
days SrOS
Christian Hanson, jacksonville, June to
Aug. 25, 1876 2 months and % days $33l5
The time varies but 2 days yet the
increase is S26OI
Fergus Riley, from June to Aug.
cath, months and 10 days, 1879, T4G0
Fergus Riley, from June to Aug.
25, 9 months % days, 1876 $3.50
Showing about the same proportion OF in
crease.
Riley was in the jacksonville asylum from
Aug 3 1878 to Jan. 10, 1915. yr. 8 mos. Is
DAYS, and the whole cost was but $3.50
eight dollars and 50 cents less, for one year
) months and 10 days to the same pauper,
than in the Elgin asylum for less then 3
months.
Chrales Raider from April 2S, 1876,
to Aug %, 1916, Elgin 1918
Charles Raider from Oct. 10, 1878,
to JAN %, 1875, Jacksonville $500
1t will be seen that the Elgin asylum charg-
es S5175 for four months to this pauper.
jacksonville asylum charges but $500 for
one year and three months.
Aaron Gage at Elgin, June to Aug.
6, 1875, 1896
Aaron Gage at Elgin, July to Aug.
%, 1876, 1910
Patrick Gorden June / to Aug.
6, 1875, s1743
Patrick Golden, Z" May 25 to Aug.
Is. 1876, $1,000
John Kesler, June to Aug.
90 tst5, $500
IS, 1916, 1885
Mary McMonigle at Elgin, March 1
to May 10, 1876, months, days Sl3.16
The same pauper was at Jacksonville from
Sept oath, 1873 to Dec. II, 1874, year
months and II days at a cost of $131O. Thus
it cost &C cents more to keep this pauper at
Elgin 9 months and days, then it did at
Jacksonville year, months and II days.
But it is not necessary to extend the list;
these are fair samples Of the entire bills. In
addition, your committee respectfully sub.
mts the following figures as an evidence OF
the extravaganza, reckless acknowledgement
on something of a criminal name on the part
of some one in charge of the Elgin Insane
Asylum.
I'VE will take the case of Thomas Redell,
an insane but quiet and inoffensive pauper.
We find the following charges againts him.
1876 April 3, 2 shirts, 81 90
Nav 16. | pair Of slippers, 81 30
June l, l light coat %
% 1 suit of clothes. 1900
a 90 n hist, IN